(BigJigs $130.00) Bruuum! Brummmm! Drive right in and park your car. Travel by helicopter? No problem. There’s a pad on top for happy landings. This is a well-designed garage with a working elevator that will take vehicles to the top and middle floors. Take the ramp down and fill the tank before driving away. No charging place yet for electric cars, but that should come soon. We liked the quality of this garage with colorful graphics and smooth edges. But be forewarned, it’s

(Mindware $39.99 ) Kids love building with blocks and knocking them down. This set comes with 30 foam blocks, a building platform, and instructions. Truth be told, kids will not need instructions with this toy, but it will give you some good questions to ask and trial ideas for more-than-simple build and knock them down experiments. Use the blocks as early math language by talking about the shapes and sizes. It’s hands-on (or in this case, foot-on) physics for beginners. Enco

(Educational Insights $21.99) Preschoolers will have a great sense of accomplishment using the working toy drill to assemble this little convertible. Adults will need to load the three AAA batteries and the bit and demo how the switch on the drill works two ways— to put the 15 big bolts in and to get them out. Once built the toy can be played with as a working vehicle or they will more likely take it apart and put it together again. It’s something like a puzzle that they will

(Educational Insights $69.99) Younger kids will like this new Robot that they can command to draw free form with forward, back and sideway directions from a smartphone, tablet or computer. But, that’s just the beginning. When slightly older kids are ready for simple coding, they can use the pre-programmed designs and games as they get the hang of how Artie moves to coded directions. Gradually, as they use these moves, kids will be able to put together their own commands and b

(Mindware $6.95) Tuck this little game into your bag for road trips. It’s a fun twist on the classic, Tic Tac Toe, only here instead of Xs and Os, you play chocolate donuts against vanilla ones. The object to get three in a row horizontally, vertically or diagonally. But watch out for sprinkles! If you or your opponent has one with sprinkles it can be put on top of any donut and change the game! It’s a quick game with lots of chances to win. 5 & up. Ages: Early School Oppenhe

(Faber-Castell $7.99 ) We’re excited about these double-sided pencils with six skin tones that kids can use for their drawings. Do you remember never being able to find a crayon or color pencil that was anything like your own skin tone? These super soft and bendable double sided pencils can be blended so kids can create their own likeness or that of friends and family. This set has 27 pencils with three double- sided skin tone pencils. Ages: Early School, Tweens Oppenheim To

(Faber-Castell $14.00) Painting rocks has been a popular craft for ages-in fact since prehistoric times. This kit gives 21st century kids a chance to try their hand at it. Best of all, it has the added charm of glow-in-the-dark paints! The kit comes with 10 good sized rocks, a tray of six fluorescent paints, five glow-in-the-dark paint sticks, two paint brushes (thin and thicker), and an instruction booklet. Kids can give their works of art as gifts or use them to decorate th

(Just Play $24.99) Covered in fabric and standing just shy of a foot tall, this Buzz Lightyear has wings that open when you press his hand and he’s loaded with favorite phrases, such as “To infinity and beyond” and “Full Speed Ahead!” It’s a novelty toy, inspired by the new Toy Story 4 movie. Not likely to have a long play life, but sure to make a hit with fans of the movie. Marked for 3 and up. Ages: Preschoolers Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award 2019 Click here to purchase

(Manhattan Toy $17.99) Looking for a black and white puppy that won’t need walking? This stout little 7.5 inch pup has weighted legs that can stand up or sit back on its haunches. Lucky has a sweet face with standup ears, lined in pale pink. Soft but short plush that doesn’t shed. HIgh contrast black and white will make this pup visually interesting to infants. Toddlers and preschoolers will find it appealing for pretend play. Ages: All ages Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Awar

(Manhattan Toy $22.00 each) You’ll have trouble choosing between these two lovable Forest Friends. Both have long lanky legs and arms for easy grabbing and hefty enough bodies to fill little arms. Best of all, they have wonderfully interesting textures that add sensory appeal. Fran Fox, 16” tall, wears furry blue shorts that do not come off. Her non-plush body is nevertheless soft to the touch. Huck Hedgehog, 16” tall, has the same soft furry trim around the neck and his body