( Hex Bots $29.99) One of our favorite toys of the year. This gecko with a grey body, neon green legs and tail and red eyes crawls up...

( LEGO $29.95) A fun build for beginning builders. The red sightseeing bus is a double decker that comes with five mini figs including...

( Abacus $44.99) Another great science kit from Abacus that brings the home science kit into the 21st century by including Virtual...

( Mag na-Tiles $49.95) Magna-Tiles are a wonderful open-ended building system. Recently -- the company has added new themed builds with...

( Mag na-Tiles $49.95) Magna Tiles are always a hit with our testers. This is a new set developed by the inventor along with a super fan. The set will include 90 pieces that will allow kids to build their own racetracks with ramps, bridges and towers. We think this will be an interesting set for kids that love designing their own creations with this wonderful building system. Editors note: any set with magnets and small pieces need to be keep away from kids that mouth their t

( Thames & Kosmos $19.95 ) A fun twist on the classic Volcano Kit. There are three different ways to make the small plastic volcano...

( Jilly Bing $68) Seeing yourself represented in dolls is so important which is why we are delighted to tell you about Jilly Bing, an...

( Playmobil $89.99) The new Pirate Harbor with 165 pieces is the latest in Playmobil's pirate theme collection. There is a little...

( Super Smalls $75) Our testers love this company's smaller jewelry kits and were very excited when we mentioned that this year they have...

( Crayola $24.99 ) Imagine Spin Art and Spinning Tops had a baby - you'd have Colourwhirls. Set comes with four spinners and markers. You can create art together or play more competitively. It's also fun to do solo. Parents will appreciate the arena as a place to use the spinners in a confined space. There is a lot of prep here -- but an unusual art experience. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2025 Ages: Early School, Tweens