It's Showtime!

This is no dress rehearsal; it's a live performance (and from New York)! The costumes have been fitted, product pitches have been committed to memory and the cast of new playthings are primed and ready to perform. It's Toy Fair 2004! After months of research, product development and overall

preparation, manufacturers' marketing plans are now set, as product has morphed from idea into item. The time for showing off their newest offerings is now.

And it's not a moment too soon for this industry. Following a year in which companies saw numerous retail and producer closings, Chapter 11 filings, price wars and a virtually unstable environment for conducting business, the toy industry is more than ready for a change of pace. Manufacturers are eager to showcase their latest offerings, hoping to interest buyers in making room on their store shelves. Retailers, in turn, are not only on the lookout for innovative product that can set their inventory apart from competitor stores, but for support from their suppliers, be it under the the guise of merchandising materials, in-store initiatives or other programs that can foster a true partnership.

Ultimately, if both sides' needs can be met, then the critics will surely deem the show a smash hit. Here's hoping all attendees and exhibitors break a leg!

Putting on the hits

Acting Out puts a little cha-cha-cha in children's clothing with its Musical Dress-Up Skirt.

A motion-activated music device is hidden within the skirt that continuously plays an original composition, so kids can practice their dance school moves or just prance around the house. An on/off switch allows for quiet play.

The four-layered, 20-inch skirt has an elastic waistband for easy dressing. One size fits most children ages three and up. Three AAA batteries are included.

Musical Dress-Up Skirt will be available in specialty and gift stores, clothing boutiques and children's furniture stores.

Hidden treasures

There be treasure in them new pirate-themed I Dig Treasures excavation adventures—The Curse of Pirate Island, The Secret of Skull Cove and the Pirate Treasure Mini-Digs—from Action Products .

The Velociraptor is the new I Dig Dinosaur giant-size excavation kit for ages six and up.

Brenda Blue and EZ O'Malley wooden stand-up characters join the Jay Jay the Jet Plane Wooden Adventure System. The Tarrytown Airport Control Tower with interactive features join new airport, village and landscape accessory sets.

Also from Action Products comes Shuttle Payload Specialist Amy Taylor, a fully-articulated female astronaut figure. And bubbling up from the briny deep, the Blue-Ringed Octopus Wild Climber, which has "real-feel skin" and a vacuum suction system for easy scaling.

Kidz Workshop EZ Build Wood Projects from Action adds a biplane with spinning propeller and locomotive engine. New Ocean Big Box playset comes with a sealife playmate and carry box.

Blast off!

Kids can explore the cosmos in the Aeromax Toys space suit, complete with mechanical faceplate and rocket sounds that authenticate the NASA experience.

Zippers, straps and buckles, along with knee and elbow patches and domed helmet, give the young space explorer a realistic look in this costume. The countdown to blast-off can be heard at a simple press of a button. An inflatable Junior Space Explorer spaceship lets kids navigate in style.

Pockets, patches and custom colors highlight the Get Real Gear Jr. Fighter Pilot suit with helmet and shield. A tan firefighter suit with red suspenders and helmet joins the Get Real Gear line.

The sky's the limit with the Aeromax foam flying saucer that lights up and glows when launched.

It's an art

Alex is artistically inclined and unveils a screen-printed hanging easel with a blue chalkboard center. Crocodile and Fish Chalkboards make a splash in any child's play area.

My Art Desk has an adjustable tilt and chalkboard top surface and with recessed cups and a paper cutter. Art To Go Portfolio contains 100 sheets of paper and drawing implements for artists on the move. Super Art Apron gives messy painters lots of pockets on an easy-wipe vinyl surface.

New Alex kits include the Best Friends Frames and Rock Painting Kits and themed scrapbooks. My Paper Factory lets kids create cards and photo frames with papermaking tools.

Add water to sand and watch as colors appear with the Magic Color Sand Kit. Paint Ceramic Beads and Paint Ice Beads have all the fixings to design painted jewelry.

Collectors' dreams

The Dream Pets are back. With a sharp eye on collectors, R. Dakin & Company, a division of Applause LLC , is reintroducing the classic menagerie of stuffed velveteen animals popular during the late 1950s and 60s.

Created from original artwork and design samples in the Dakin archives of 2,000 sawdust-stuffed animals, 24 characters will comprise the initial line. Originally made from 1957 into the early 80s, the new Dream Pets will be exact replicas of their ancestors, including the hang tag with name, stock number and date of birth. They are all hand-finished and individually numbered.

High flying

It's Z-Plane! Atomic Toys' radio-control airplane features a wingspan of less than 12 inches and a propeller design that works like a helicopter. The battery-operated plane has a range of 200 feet and comes in black or red with flame designs and an extra set of wings.

New Urbz two-inch micro figures depict popular urban sports, entertainment and music scenes in four-packs. They come with a collectible CD featuring an original soundtrack for each character. An Urbz Trading Card Game debuts this spring.

Atomic Toys is ready for battle with Z-Bots micro R/C robots with interchangeable components and weapons. The tiny Z-Bots have independent treads and an infrared battle system that has a damage display. Z-bots come with controller, a miniature commander as well as some interchangeable parts, which include two combat firearms.

Pint-sized playtime

The Baby Einstein Symphony Sounds Musical Pals from The Baby Einstein Company is music to baby's ears. Squeeze a character's tummy to hear a classical tune.

With Sing and Learn Friends, a push of a button combines classic rhymes and plush Baby Einstein characters. They trigger silly sounds as they top each other in the Animal Orchestra Stacker that plays Vivaldi while flashing lights.

Interactive matching games set to Baby Einstein music highlight the Musical Discovery Caterpillar and Ladybug that let little tikes discover animals, shapes and colors. For bathtime, new terry cloth bath puppets stand up to the tussling in the tub and have each animal name embroidered on its front. My First Buddies are soft, squeezable minis that smell like baby powder.

It's an art

Let the crafting begin with Paint the Wild wooden painting kits from Balitono .

With My Designer Box Purse Kit, kids can create a wooden purse lined in red velvet with chunky wooden bead handle that includes wooden beads, leather rope, glitter glaze, sparkling gems and paint.

A functional weather-resistant wood house can be built with My Birdhouse Kit, featuring a removable roof, drainage holes and ventilation slot. With My Horse Stable & Fence Kit, four-inch horses can call this stable home. Slated roof, hinged barn doors, open windows and a set of corral fencing complete the set. After making the My Jewelry Box Kit wood chest lined with red velvet, hooks and compartments, kids can personalize and paint the box by adding glitter varnish and gems.

Bandai brims with a host of favorites, new offerings

From Power Rangers to Strawberry Shortcake and Astro Boy to Thunderbirds , Bandai America Inc. has got it all covered for kids.

The Power Rangers' 12th season on ABC Kids, Power Rangers DinoThunder , gets the Bandai push with action figures, Megazords, vehicles, playsets, diecast, role-play items and trading cards, along with Raptor Cycles and ATV vehicles.

The Gundam Seed series, scheduled to air on the Cartoon Network Action Block in April, gets its own 4.5-inch action figures and deluxe battle-scarred action figures with dioramas, 7.5-inch action figures and a 12-inch Mega Size Gundam. New anime series Astro Boy , set to blast off on the Kids' WB! network in early 2004, will have a toy line that includes action figures, vehicles, role-play items (excluding such items as costumes, masks, accessories) and playsets.

Bandai America vehicles modeled after the Thunderbirds rescue crafts — featured in the live-action film based on the British television series of the 1960s — will hit store shelves by June prior to the August 6, 2004 movie release.

Kids can make additions to their Jagun Fighters collection with new stones and 3-inch and 6.5-inch action figures, as well as transform stone sets with three pieces that can be combined into an exclusive, collectible figure. Knights of the Zodiac on the Cartoon Network's Saturday Action Block is now touting action figures exclusive to the American market.

Combining action, adventure, humor and spunky pint-sized heroes, Bandai America's new Superior Defender (SD) toy line is based on the 3-D animated TV show, SD Gundam Force. The toys represent the characters from the SD universe, with 1.5-inch and 5-inch articulated action figures, vehicles, playsets and snap-together action figures of various skill levels, along with a new mega-size, battery-operated action figure

Sweet stuff

Little girls get more of everything they love about Strawberry Shortcake with an expanded line of scented dolls and toys with new themes, fashions, play environments and interactive features.

Highlights include the interactive Singin' Surprise Strawberry Shortcake who recognizes and sings tunes from an included song book; Berry Talkin' Apple Dumplin', Strawberry Shortcake's baby sister who learns how to talk the more that little girls play with her; and a line of ice cream-inspired fillies, which will also be featured in a new fall DVD release.

Bandai America's B*Stylin' Button Designer features an easy-to-use system that allows girls to customize, personalize and stylize their own buttons, crafts and jewelry accessories. New B*Stylin' Patch It is an easy activity toy for decorating jeans, jackets and other fabrics with creative patches.

All in the cards

Collectible card games based on the Superior Defender (SD) and Knights of the Zodiac toy lines debut along with a Gundam collectible card game in June. An assortment of trading cards based on Power Rangers will mark the first time trading cards have been available since the first season of the TV show over 10 years ago. Dedicated Web sites for each individual game will also be accessible to gamers online with rules, tactics, tips and even upcoming tournament information.

Beyond the basics

Basic Fun knows novelty is key and has the chains to prove it.

Introductions feature Astro Boy X-Ray based on the upcoming animated TV show and Disney/Pixar's The Incredibles movie; Spider-Man and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Squirtz Keychains; Mini Box Assortment with mints; a 75th anniversary Duncan Sports Ball Yo-Yo keychain; and The Simpsons Wooly Willy version. Basic Fun also marks the theatrical debut of SpongeBob SquarePants this fall with a keychain in the character's likeness.

Novice spies will need the Spy Gear Listening Device keychain that amplifies or magnifies sounds and the Spy Gear Night Vision scope keychain with a 25-foot secret night beam.

Tongue Tickling Tattoos are a lick away to favorite flavors and join Basic Fun's danglers, swimmers and water wigglers based on TV's The Fairly OddParents on retail shelves.

New Alex Clip Crafts styles from Basic Fun will feature Sticky Beads, Sand Picture, Clay Modeling and Scroller kits.

Slammin' Eggs can be tossed and slammed against any smooth, hard surface where it splatters like a real egg and reforms to its original form.

Disaster-free decorating

Now there's a way to decorate boldly and confidently like folks do on the popular TLC television series Trading Spaces without the potential for disaster.

B-Bel Inc. Enterprises is introducing scale model design houses under a new license with Discovery Consumer Products. The line, intended to tap into the Trading Spaces audience of 18 million weekly viewers, includes scale model-sized rooms as well as an entire home, enabling the devotees to paint, wallpaper and accessorize on a much smaller scale.

Sticker appliques are reversible and the paint wipes away, allowing the rooms to be redesigned hundreds of times.

Sweet treats

How sweet it is: Candy Gummi worms packed in Critter Catcher Activity Jars are available for a limited time from Bear Creek Toys .

The wide-mouthed jar with snap-top lid and vent holes and belt clip comes with an acrylic magnifier for bug catching and outdoor activities. Retailers can get the Critter Catchers prepackaged in several bright colors in a countertop display.

Have a ball

A new slant on some old toys bring a software designer and aerospace engineer to Toy Fair as Bill and Bud Inc.

The Rib-It-Ball takes a lightweight nylon ball and incorporates handle-like ribs for preschoolers to help develop balance and motor skills.

Just load it, blow it and watch the Zorp Rocket soar! The lightweight rocket and launcher comes with a carrying pouch and is designed for children ages six and up.

Elements is the fast-paced game between the forces of nature based on the old favorite Rock, Paper, Scissors game. Children learn that each element—earth, wind and fire—dominates another but also relies on the strength of its own force. Elements features different degrees of difficulty for kids ages seven to adult.

True colors

The world may be a kid's canvas, but moms and dads want to curb the mess without crushing creativity. Crayola's Color Wonder art and activities from Binney & Smith add fun without the fuss.

Color Wonder Finger Paint changes from colorless paint into vibrant color when applied to Color Wonder Paper. Fingerpaint colors and a 30-page Color Wonder tablet are included.

The Crayola Zoogles welcomes four new Clumps with trading cards. These three-inch fictional characters are made of a special material, which allows Crayola washable watercolor paints to adhere. Each Clump comes with three Zoogles, trading cards, paints and paintbrush.

Zoogles Buddies two-count assortments come with story cards. Crayola Zooglings are miniature critters that have a mobile habitat, two Zooglings, trading cards, as well as washable watercolor paints. The $6.99 kit will be available in June.

Smart starts

The Brainy Baby Company 's answer to educating and entertaining tiny tots while encouraging whole brain development is music to a baby's ears.

Brainy Baby Music Discovering Musical Horizons for preschoolers is a 45-minute multi-sensory video/DVD that helps lead young viewers on a path to music appreciation. This release positions music and musical concepts in kid-friendly terms using various musical genres, including classical and jazz. Children get a dose of basic music theory elements, such as rhythm, pitch, tone, melody, harmony, and tempo and a comprehensive introduction to musical instruments including percussion, woodwinds, and strings.

Animation and toe-tapping rhythms accompany original compositions and sing-along versions of children's favorites, like "Skip To My Lou," "Do Your Ears Hang Low?" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."

"Key"-peers

Characters from two literary and movie classics get a collectibles turn from The Brass Key .

Highly-detailed porcelain dolls depicting Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind , as well as Dorothy and her merry cohorts the Tin Man, Scarecrow and the Lion from The Wizard of Oz , will be available to the mass market this fall.

All aboard!

Jump on the Brio express with the Wooden Zoo Set and Wild West Set for the wooden railway system. The Sky Train system's battery-operated car and Auto Stop Track build on the fun.

New wooden games from the company include Kubb, a traditional ancient Vikings game; Couronne, a simplified game of billiards; Mikado, an outdoor game of oversized "pickup" sticks; and Quiots, a ring toss game.

Brio infant and preschool toys shape up with Magnetic Stacking Blocks, Pull Duck and Tumbling Pins. The Ambi Toys brand bows the Melody Flower that plays lullabies and encourages music making.

Nine new Erector Design Series sets boast starter models and the Design 3.5 that builds 13 different motorized models with 308 parts.

Special Edition Landmarks of the World Set available next fall utilizes over 1,500 parts to build three world-renowned monuments.

A herd of new offerings

It's all classic Disney in the Vintage Posters Signature 1,000 Jigsaw Puzzles and Disney Sketchbook 500 Collectible Jigsaw Puzzles from Buffalo Games .

The Disney Vintage Posters series features recreations of the colorful lithographic method of movie advertising that was prevalent throughout the early to mid 1900s. These jigsaw puzzles depict Steamboat Willie, Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, Pinocchio and 101 Dalmatians characters.

Getting a peek at the animation process, the Disney Sketchbook collection highlights Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Snow White and Winnie the Pooh in various stages of development.

Buffalo Games plans to add to the Disney Photomosaic Jigsaw Puzzle series with artist Robert Silvers later this year.

Gaming galore

Let the games begin with Cadaco .

Tripoley for Kids classic card games—Fish, Snap, and War—are played as three different parts. Players place five chips on the game board and then collect the chips as they play the three games. The player with the most chips wins.

Word Rummy is the family game where it's legal to "steal." Players score points by forming words with their letter cards. However, opponents can steal those words by adding one or more letters to form an entirely new word.

Marshall Brodien's Magic Hat Set is a magic set that features a collapsible felt hat that can be used to perform 75 magic tricks.

It takes a village

Chicco Mini-Play Villages are back. Little hands can easily maneuver the characters and vehicles in the airport, shopping mall, pizza parlor, tree house and camping playsets.

Fix 'N Go Car keeps baby busy with flashing lights and tools that fit into corresponding shape and color slots. A funny sound warns little mechanics if a slot is not connected properly.

Electronic Music 'N Learn Table develops baby's coordination and musical skills with an electronic piano and activity center that features woodland animals, all on a tabletop that turns upside down with blocks stored inside.

New Chicco Talking Farm shows children how to recognize animal names, sounds, colors and numbers with the help of a bear and her farmyard friends. The bilingual (English/Spanish) interactive toy has a sun-shaped selector to choose words in a second language.

Hang ten!

Little surfers can catch a wave like never before with the Surfster body board from CoopSport International. This item inflates to individual specifications and deflates for easy traveling.

The Surfster is a performance-grade wave surfing device ergonomically designed for comfort and speed. It features an outside shell constructed of waterproof nylon and a non-abrasive, napped finish on the deck and interior PVC bladder. A flame pattern or a Hawaiian floral motif is imprinted on the nose of the boards; the body of the board is monochromatic.

Two sizes of Coop Surfster are available: 42-inch long and a 30-inch medium version. Accessories include a wrist leash and a dual action pump.

Stand at attention

Military heroes get a salute from Corgi Classics, Inc. with its Tactical Strike Collection of replica vehicles.

The Tactical Strike Collection 1:64 scale replicas depict military vehicles used in modern combat. All models are battle-distressed with accurate markings and include a foldout specification manual and poster. The collection features the Humvee battle tank and F-14D Tomcat, VF-2 Bounty Hunters, U.S. Navy.

Historical milestones are celebrated with 130 new items in the Showcase Collection replicas of Emergency, 100 Years of Flight and Fighting Machines.

Corgi Classics joins the Caped Crusader with diecast replicas of the Batmobile and Batplane with Virtual Video. The company also teams up with The History Channel to recreate memorable moments in aviation and fire rescue history with replicas of the P-51D Mustang-U.S. Air Force and Seagrave 70th Anniversary Tractor Drawn Ladder Truck.

Get smart

Find out who has the brains with Cranium games.

Cranium Zigity is a 4-in-1 card game with outrageous twists and turns. Players match musical instruments, find missing puzzle pieces, collect cards that add up to 11 and create words in a race to be the first player with no cards. Cranium Zigity will be available at Starbucks and online this spring.

Cranium Turbo, the deluxe version of the adult board game Cranium, changes all activities—sculpting, drawing, humming and spelling words—into team activities. This expanded version features 1,000 cards, an electronic "Turbo" timer, quick Turbo Rally Rounds and a "Finale Rally" game finish.

Cranium Balloon Lagoon has kids race to complete carnival games before the merry-go-round music comes to an end.

Creativity unleashed

Kids can express themselves with Creativity for Kids activities.

Chair Art Craft With Me kit is a whitewash finish chair that can be personalized with paint and sponge prints. Young artists can add some flair to their lair with no-sew Crafty Girl Make Your Own Fleece Pillow.

It's My Life Card Design Studio combines scrapbooking and card making. Le Most Petite Purses collectible ceramic purses can be jazzed up with rhinestones.

With Flower Fairy Princess, kids can create pink fairy wings or a sparkling floral crown. The OptiArt Jewelry Set uses a reverse painting technique to make personalized jewelry.

And under the Faber-Castell umbrella, Toad Abode, Garden Bugz, and Backyard Wildlife Buddies garden crafts can be painted to add whimsy to any landscape.

New Girl Trends kits include Suede Sliders, Jewelry Designer - Sea Glass & Wire Jewelry, and Flip Flop Boxes.

For inquiring minds

Fantasy mixed with fun is the Curiosity Kits way with Make & Play Forest Fairy Woodland Tree House and Furniture and Magic String Tie Dye T-Shirt for the younger set.

Older girls get creative with Curious Girl Fuzzi-Wuzzi Slippers, Super Dooper Charms, Butterfly Bath, Beautiful Ballerina, Glitter Crystal Petals, Cool Things Rack and Cool Things Clothes Tree.

Easi-Art Cash Caterpillar Bank lets kids paint a ceramic bank and then watch their fortune grow inch by inch. Designed with the mischievous boy in mind, Curiosity Kits adds the Official Disguise Kit to its Action Adventures line.

New QuicKits include E-Z Pop Beads, Glitter Crystal Flower Pen, Giant Gummy Frogs, Liquid Chalk & Stamps, Bike Gear, Magnetic Travel Games and Forest Fairies and Their Fairy Picnic.

Dog-gone plush

Douglas Company has gone to the dogs with Pet Bags.

The purse collection's different designs—groovy look, Bohemian look, Western look, Country look and more—can carry a Douglas plush animal (the head sticks out the front and the tail out the back of the bag) or serve as a standard pocketbook.

A new breed of larger kohair dogs and cats are featured this year with a softer and silkier feel and look, but with the very same distinctive expression of previous breeds. An extensive line of five- and six-inch kohair horses, dogs, and farm animals have the same detail as their larger counterparts.

Nine-inch kohair regional animals will now include flamingo, pelican, elk, big-horned sheep, fawn, fox and dolphin versions.

Can't touch this

DuneCraft, Inc. is prickly with excitement over its Odd Pods miniature cacti kit and The Amazing Dinosaur Plant.

The Amazing Dinosaur Plant transforms from a seemingly lifeless ball of leaves into a green fern in about three hours after placed in water and sunlight. Everything needed to grow the plant—clear display bowl, lava rock, care instructions and facts—comes in the kit. The Amazing Dinosaur Plant is available in specialty stores.

Kids can see seeds begin to sprout in five days in over 25 different cactus varieties in the space-age capsule, which is adorned with space backgrounds, a multi-dimensional planter and Moon Rocks and Crater Dust decorative pebbles.

Odd Pods, also available in a glow-in-the-dark version, will be available to specialty retailers, in catalogs and on assorted Web sites.

Playing favorites

Odds are that players will find Odds'R—The Odds-On-Everything Game to be quirky, irreverent, informative and funny.

From Eagle Games , the Q&A format brings trivia from 15 categories such as Life & Death, Health & Happiness, Sex & Sinners or Crime & Punishment, all written and researched by a team of TV game show writers and the game's creator. It's a fast-paced game, involving knowledge, but also strategy. In addition, it features a betting and lottery system that involves every player in every play.

Off to the races

Empire Toys , a division of Alpha International, rides high with a brand new Grand Champions product addition.

The Grand Stable is highly detailed and includes more than 60 pieces, many having working parts. The 1:12 scale playset features a 10-piece fence, snap-on horseshoes, a saddle, bridle and riding crop, a working water trough and a fully articulated play figure, dressed in an exclusive Grand Champions stable outfit.

A riotous game

Can you lay an egg (sadly)? Can you walk in high heels (excitedly)? Endless Games asks kids these wacky questions and more with Riot Act.

Players form teams and decide who the actor will be for the first round of this charade game. The actor draws a card from the Action stack, chooses which of the three actions on the card to perform and then draws a Word card to see how he or she will pantomime the selected action. The team playing has 30 seconds to guess what the actor is acting out and how it is performed. Players advance based on guessing the action or the word.

Riot Act is for age 12 and above and will be available in stores nationwide.

As easy as 1-2-3

Learning letters is fun with Eurps alphabet plush dolls and sets from Eurpsville Entertainment .

Mini-Eurps 2 ½-inch alphabet plush dolls are for children ages seven and younger. Eurps Complete Plush Alphabet Sets (available in 9-inch and 2 ½-inch sizes), the Eurps A-B-C Plush and Book Set and the Eurps Alphabet Poster round out the line.

The Alphabet Eurps are the ABCs with eyes, feet, personalities and phonics-based names. The Eurps are set to star in a Sony Wonder home video this September.

Girls only

Girls rule at First & Main with Girly Girls dolls for tweens.

Each doll has its own name and personality, conveyed on the hangtag. The dolls sport outfits and accessories that complement their individual styles—from Kaitlynn's jumprope and warm-up suit, to Riley's fuzzy purse and feather shawl, to Sydney's cheerleading outfit and pom poms.

Girly Girls dolls bend at the knees and stand 12 inches tall. First & Main also offers a collection of nine different outfit/accessory combinations and a sleeping bag with pillow set.

Diverse range among new products from Fisher-Price

Fisher-Price playthings set to hit shelves this year include a broad range of play patterns.

GeoTrax Rail & Road System takes travel from the loading dock to the third level. Kids can collect the High Chimes Clock Tower, Highland Scenic RC Train, Sky High Suspension Bridge and Elevation Track Packs for the GeoTrax System.

Playing and learning come together with the ABC Shopping Cart in the Smart Shoppe Fun to Learn System. Kids can push a button to learn the ABCs with a sing-along version of the alphabet song. Cart includes Alphabet Extras ROM Card that doubles as a "shopping list."

The Little People Discovery Village boasts hometown locales with corresponding sounds and musical tunes. Young musicians create different songs, music styles and instrument sounds with the Little People bandstand. Little People Eddie, Teacher and Baker Bob figures travel on the moving roadway and sidewalk on a skateboard, in a wagon or car.

To the rescue

Straight from the video series and Rescue Heroes: The Movie comes the RobotZ HyperJet with deployable MegaRobot "vehicle," a water cannon shooter and Keybot; and the Rescue Heroes Robotz All-Terrain vehicle with hidden Rescue 'bot. Included among six new talking Rescue Heroes robot figures are Billy Blazes and his minibot, Ember.

Imaginext continues the fantasy with the Dragmont Castle complete with "flaming" dragons and trap doors and Phantom Island hideout with glow-in-the-dark skull guards and secret compartments. Each set includes the Imaginext video, The Fortress of the Dragon .

For tiny tots

Dance, Baby, Dance! Sit & Stand Danceband musical playcenter features instrument-themed activities, lively beats and a whimsical dancing monkey character. Peek-A-Blocks Incrediblock is a five-sided giant block with beads, balls and flipping pages for little ones to match sights with sounds.

New Pop-Onz Busy Tabletown activity table has a pegged building surface, eight building blocks, four figures and four special-action blocks. With the push of a button, children can watch the motorized action of the spinning disks and hear fun tunes.

Pocket Pixter is a mini version of the Pixter toy with sound effects, drawing features, animation and hidden games. Six versions include Dino Raptor, Extreme Sports, Tuner Garage, Sweet Hearts, Fashion and Digital Pets.

A birthday bash

Fisher-Price's View-Master marks 65 years with a limited-edition decorated viewer and eight reels in a boxed set. New Retro Time Capsules with nostalgic viewers and reels feature past favorites like Cabbage Patch Kids, the Flintstones and Smurfs.

Doodle Pro gets a makeover, Barbie style. Complete with pink screen, kids can create designs using stampers and stylus.

Barbie Kitchen has an oven, microwave, refrigerator and sink for preparing meals with 13 kitchen sound effects and 20 play pieces.

The Sweet Streets Candy Factory features a candy maker and cafe, candy dispensing bin, shopping cart, candy-making machine and six candy trays. Too many sweets may put Barbie in the Sweet Streets Care Time Hospital, complete with examination room, X-ray machine and gift shop.

Getting physical

Fisher-Price enters a new arena with its ESPN Game Station featuring 21 electronic arcade-style games with sound effects and music.

The company's new Kawasaki Adventure 4x4 ATV features a trailer with a built-in seat for a second ride, kid-appropriate speeds—2 ½ and 5 mph—and a reverse feature. The KFX Ninja Power Wheels quad boasts "off-road" tires.

Learning the basics

Brush Your Teeth Barney from Fisher-Price sings in his PJs, as he cleans his pearly whites and croons his signature "I Love You" song.

Singing in the Rain Barney plush includes a DVD with games and videos about raindrops and rainbows. From the Best Behaviors line, the Barney Clean Up Vacuum lights up, sparkles and plays the "Clean Up" song.

Another Fisher-Price favorite, Sesame Street's Elmo, this year has several iterations: a dance floor version, Potty Time Elmo, Silly Parts Talking Elmo. And new to the line, The Chicken Dancers Assortment of Sesame Street favorites in furry chicken suits.

Sesame Street Shake, Giggle & Roll Ball is motion-sensitive and has six spinning discs that create totally unpredictable travel patterns. Featuring a roll-away, double-sided, electronically formatted playmat, new Sesame Street Roll & Play Rail & Roadway rolls out to a roadway or train environment for Elmo to travel in his car that converts into a train.

An Interac TV DVD system puts children into the action with TV characters right on their own TVs and DVD players utilizing a remote control unit and special-edition DVDs: Blue's Clues, Dora the Explorer, Sesame Street and Sponge Bob SquarePants.

The DVD begins with a story and then the characters invite the children to respond to prompts from the on-screen program. The main unit is packed with one compilation bonus DVD, and other DVDs will be sold separately.

The power of Pooh

Longtime Fisher-Price favorite, Winnie the Pooh and gang, this year debut into stores with My First Steps Baby Pooh, Happy Ears Eeyore plush, My Baby Places Pooh & Friends Playhouse, Magic Touch 'N Crawl and Pounce 'N Bounce Tigger.

Another Fisher-Price license, Dora the Explorer, gets her own adobe stype dollhouse that expands by raising the roof. Interactive play areas feature electronic sounds, including a working doorbell and radio that plays music.

Fairy Tale Magic Hair Princess Dora "magically" grows or shortens her hair with the wave of a wand. As Dora sings, lights on her crown twinkle. Girls can dress the 15½-inch Fashion Adventure Dora doll in jeans and backpack for adventures with her puppy. Buenas Noches Dora is ready for bed and holds her star-shaped friend Glowy, while saying phrases in both English and Spanish.

Blue's Clues' Boogie With You Blue shaggy dog sings and dances, while So Much To Say Blue can't stop talking.

Roary, Frederica and Polka Dots star in the Blue's Plush Pals assortment or two of Blue's new Friends—Doodleboard and Boogie Woogie Jukebox—in the Activity Buddies assortment.

Fantasy life

The fantasy of old tales comes to life with three figures leading more than a dozen new Folkmanis puppets introductions.

The spotlight is on Pinnochio, a 30-inch puppet that comes to life with a finger-controlled growing nose. It is aimed at kids three and up.

Genie in Lamp is the newest hide-and-seek puppet to join the company's award-winning line. The 16-inch lamp with the hidden genie is controlled when a child inserts his or her hand through the bottom of the lamp. The 17-inch Troll with Hedgehog Puppet features a detachable finger puppet hedgehog.

Front and center

Pirate battles and mutinies are all part of high seas treasure hunting with the Old Century Dread Pirate adventure game from Front Porch Classics .

Players are buccaneers cavorting on desert islands and hunting buried treasure in this pirate-plundering tabletop adventure. Housed in a wooden treasure chest, the game is played on an illustrated, aged treasure map with metal playing pieces, replica doubloons, knuckle bones (dice), treasure bags and pirate treasure.

And all for fun!

The fat feline who loves lasagna turns 25 years old, and Fun 4 All goes all out with a full-fledged Garfield celebration.

Garfield 3-D Animator wiggles and dances when the base is pressed and the flabby tabby's human friends—Jon, Liz, Doc Boy, Nermal and Arlene—become animated.

Garfield Plush Puppets, 3-D Animators, Charm Danglers and Soft Clip-Ons hit the mass market this May, along with Garfield Nesting Dolls and Banks, to coincide with the Garfield live-action/CGI movie release.

Inch Worm and Jazzberry Jam are winning color names for Crayola Dough that comes in a special four-pack. Dandelion, Sea Green and Sunglow jazz up the offerings with neon and glitter. Pretty Pastels and Color Burst 10-pack with sculpting tools highlight the 100th Birthday Crayon Colors line.

No matter the weather

Get the One-Two Punch with this by-the-numbers board game for teens and adults from Games For All Seasons .

Knowledge, strategy and luck go a long way in One-Two Punch where players match number combinations with a roll of the dice and guess from by-the-numbers clues. The board game can be played by two to six players or teams and features 500 clues, 140 numbered tiles and five different sets of winning combination cards. Clue card categories are 1-liners (proverbs, nursery rhymes, popular sayings), 2 For the Show (TV/movies), Knock 3 Times (books and music), 4 Score (sports, games, history) and 9 to 5 (items from everyday life). Answers all include numbers.

Ten is tops

Gamewright celebrates its first decade with 10 new games.

The Slamwich 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition stores new cards in a collectible lunch box tin. Preschoolers help the Ringmaster find the missing performers in Big Top—The Hide and Seek Circus Card Game.

Match the cards to keep the loose moose out with There's a Moose in the House—A Very Silly Card Game. A roll of the dice and science and nature images are part of Kit & Caboodle—The Dice Game of Sets and Science.

It's 'up and atom' in a race to count hidden spheres with Quarz—The Quick Counting Shapes Game. Ricochet—The Fast Bouncing Numbers Card Game joins Gamewright's Twelve Minute Game line, along with Wig Out, In a Pickle and Turn a Tide.

Piece by piece

A must for film buffs is Movie Madness jigsaw puzzle from Great American Puzzle Factory .

The 100 titles within the 550-piece design cover film genres like classics, westerns, comedies, dramas, science fiction and musicals.

Look into a Space Ship, Ship Portal, Prehistoric Cave and Jungle Hut with 1,000-piece round puzzles in the Through A Window line. I Love Las Vegas and I Love NY are the first two in the Karen Rossi puzzle series that use the artist's well-known glitter effect.

No more baby

Playskool and Crayola are both Grow'n Up .

Playskool Play N Draw Activity Table with chalkboard and dry-erase surface flips into a multi-purpose table. The Grow'n Up Playskool Le Café Set round table has a 60-inch umbrella.

Detach the legs and Playskool Sand N Surf Water Table converts into a sandbox. Fun Rocker N Bench features a four-seater rocker, while Playskool Make N Bake Kitchen gets interactive with music, speech, lights and a motion sensor for water sounds. EaZy Scan Supermarket and the Playskool EaZy Scan Shopping Cart feature electronic barcode recognition.

Crayola First Art Studio flip-open, magnetic dry-erase surface converts to a writing desk. ABC School Playdesk includes an adjustable seat and magnetic letters and numbers. Double Easel has a two-sided board with clips for artwork.

Soft and cuddly

Gund flips out with Flopadoodles. European styling and coloring highlight the 12 floppy, soft character animals with their long limbs and over-sized hands and feet. Flopadoodles include Cagney the Lion, Jaden the Zebra, Fiddle the Cow and Griffin the Mouse.

Peewee sports enthusiasts can tackle the Most Valuable Baby Collection of sports-themed playsets. My First Football Playset features a zipped football carrying case with two football players, rattle football and squeaky bear player.

My First Baseball Playset has a white carrying case shaped like a baseball with red stitching and contains a baseball player that sings "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," a baseball that rattles and soft plush glove. My First Sports Bag is shaped like a gym bag and contains toddler-friendly sports balls.

A whole lotta Haba

Haba unveils over 100 toy products. Among the standouts are infant toys, games, bedroom accessories and porcelain tea sets.

For little ones, Haba's Big Voyage is a three-part softmobile, while Wonder Dice and Happy Quartet are fabric cubes that stimulate the senses.

Kids will love the Frog Catching Throw, a towel and a game in one. All Weather Cards are laminated to endure the elements and Dancing Eggs is an exciting dice game. Wooden Magnets and Wooden Blocks provide hours of play.

Hasbro brings in the hits

Hasbro spreads happiness with a heap of hits.

G.I. Joe is back to battle Cobra with Valor vs. Venom figures and Talking Figures that come to life at the touch of a button.

Micro Machines hit the road with basic vehicles and the Tricked Out Trackway deluxe playset.

Tonka gets tough with the Toughest Mighty Truck and twice the capacity of the classic dump truck. The Tonka Truck Adventures Fire Rescue can switch from fire engine to helicopter mode.

Transformers take Toy Fair by storm with the Energon Super Optimus Prime, changing from a robot to a truck to a tower. The 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime is a tribute to the ultimate defender of Cybertron. Transformers Alternators are robots that change into licensed cars.

Star Wars zooms in with basic figures from all five movies and Ultra figures that feature authentic styling and unique accessories.

Brand new in action figures, Hasbro launches XEVOZ, enabling kids to build, customize their creations with interchangeable parts. An Internet site offers the chance battle in cyberspace. XEVOZ action figures will initially be offered in Basic Battle Kit Assortments, Master Modifier Assortments, Battle Attack 2-Packs and a Battle Terrain game board.

For more battling action, Beyblade Starter Sets include an unassembled Beyblade top with stickers, ripcord, and launcher. The Mobile Beystadium is perfect for hosting competitions.

Out and about

There's non-stop action with Lazer Tag Ops, where kids ages eight and up can play the ultimate game of electronic tag. The Deluxe 2-Player Set comes with two heads-up displays and two taggers. Add the Team Ops Headset and they're ready for long-distance action.

Take a walk on the 'wet' side with Super Soaker SoakerTag with clip-on targets for competitive play. For ultimate soaking, best bets are the Triple Aggressor, HydroBlade and the Super Soaker Helix. Don't miss the seven-foot inflatable Super Soaker Monster Rocket.

Nerf takes on sports with the Challenger Football, complete with a "power counter" to rate each throw and Nite Jam Basketball, allowing for games after dark. Nerf N-Strike lets kids launch three blasters and comes with a DVD for on-screen 3-D targeting play.

Hasbro takes building to the next level with BTR, a line that adds detail and action figures into each set. BTR G.I. Joe lets kids build a G.I. Joe boat and launch it, BTR Transformers Energon Thundercracker features favorite vehicle and robot characters and BTR Tonka Search & Rescue Motorcycle Patrol has children assembling a motorcycle and sidecar packed with rescue gear.

Keeping them entertained

It's play time with new Toy Story products, including Buzz Lightyear's Headquarters and Search & Rescue Buzz Lightyear, available this fall, and Woody's Wacky Firetruck ready in the spring.

Possibly one of the biggest animated feature films of the 2004 holiday season, Disney/Pixar's The Incredibles will be supported by a line of Hasbro toys and games available in the fall. The Incredible Mr. Incredible action figure has real-feel skin and voice capabilities. Hero Changin' Incredobile is an ordinary car that transforms into superhero mode.

Hasbro rolls out the red carpet for Disney's Perfectly Princess line, highlighted by Cinderella's Masquerade Carriage, complete with horses. The perfectly Princess Fashion Fun Galleria is perfect for well-dressed dolls.

Totally tween

Hasbro keeps things hush-hush with Secret Central, a new line of funky fashion dolls from the Class of '04. These dolls come with fashions and accessories, a locker and combination and a class yearbook. Show school spirit with The Big Game playset, hit the mall with the Big Game playset and dance the night away with the Prom Spectacular.

Music gets new style with the HitClips Themed Player Assortment micro systems—perfect for on-the-go tunes. The HitClips Personal Disc Player is shaped like a mini CD player and comes with an earbud. For the hottest tracks, the HitClips Disc Assortment features today's most popular artists, such as Hilary Duff, Madonna and Atomic Kitten.

What an animal!

In the Pet Department, Furreal Friends gets cuddly with Newborn Puppies and Kittens, featuring sleepy movements and soft cries. My Lost Little Pup begs for a home and Furreal Friends Luv Cubs bring the excitement of the wilderness home with an assortment of baby bears.

My Little Pony trots in with a new Rainbow Assortment and Glitter Celebration Assortment. With the Berry Pickin' Fun playset and the Shine Garden Assortment, the ponies are ready for anything. Blossomforth is ready to boogie with Dance Party, and Rainbow Flash and Petal Blossom star in a Super Long Hair Assortment. The Celebration Salon is Ponyville's hottest spot for hairstyling fun!

Hasbro's rolling in "doh" with the Dohville Fuzzy Friends Farm, complete with barn, silo, farmer and animals. For island adventures, cruise out in Play Doh's Doh Doh Island Beach Buggy, loaded with activities such as Tiki Toss, surfing, diving and fishing.

Plenty for preschoolers

Little ones get on the go with Playskool's Ride2Roll Scooter for ages 18 months and up from Hasbro . As the child grows, the toy converts into a scooter with songs and flashing lights.

For preschoolers who feel the need for speed, Playskool adds a number of fast sellers to its Speedstars line. The Half Pipe Highway offers big kid racing with no batteries. The Deluxe Turbo-Blast Car Wash Stunt Set gets things spinning and the Deluxe Brick-Breakthrough Stunt Set sends cars crashing through a wall. The Vortex Speedway offers glow-in-the-dark excitement, while Launching Racers zoom directly off the winder.

HIT is starstruck

HIT Entertainment is launching a fully integrated product and marketing campaign based around the release of five original new direct-to-videos starring Angelina Ballerina, Barney, Bob the Builder, Rubbadubbers and Thomas & Friends, plus The Wiggles, a HIT Entertainment exclusive.

At Toy Fair, HIT Entertainment and its licensing partners will showcase a selection of new products for its award-winning family of classic brands and new properties.

No place like home

Homegrown Kids, Inc. introduces a great way for kids to keep cool while on the go. The Eat-N-Play Activity Cooler is a cooler that transforms into an eating surface and interactive playmat. Ideal for restaurants, travel or home, the cooler folds out to reveal a detachable zoo-themed playmat with coordinating tethered toys and suction cups to keep the mat in place. The cooler holds up to four baby bottles, cups or water bottles, and has a reusable ice pack and lots of outside storage pockets for keys, wallet or diapers.

Eat-N-Play replacement mats come in My Town, Alphabet Soup and My Pretty Garden themes.

Tickling the ivories

Imagiix tunes up for Toy Fair with a 25-key piano just for kids. Features include 10 rhythm patterns (swing, country, disco and more); four timbers (piano, organ, trumpet and bell); 15 pre-programmed songs, volume control and an automatic shut-off.

New to the Deedle Dudes collection this spring will be Turtle, Moose, Shark and Elephant. When kids clap their hands, the characters come to life, singing and bopping from side to side.

Imagiix is also introducing Scushies, a line of spongy animals that float. A fish, dog, pig and penguin each feature their own personality.

Born to shop

For babies with places to go, Infantino 's Shop & Play transforms any shopping cart into a clean and safe activity center. The soft cushion and cover protect baby from the shopping cart seat and wrap around the cart's bar, eliminating germs and sharp edges. Removable toys that squeak, rattle and crinkle keep little ones entertained all the way to the checkout. After errands are done, Shop & Play converts to a colorful 42" x 19" playmat.

Setting the pace

It's Okay Company picks up speed with Race for the Checkered, debuting at Toy Fair.

A playing card and die game, Race for the Checkered will offer players a glimpse into the world of professional stock car racing. The game features oversized die and playing cards decorated with tires, helmets, steering wheels and tracks.

Licensed to play

Jakks Pacific zooms into 2004 with a repertoire of children's entertainment properties and brands.

Boys may go loco for Mucha Lucha figures, play sets and more from the Warner Bros. animated television series. Also of note are action figures based on Van Helsing, Universal Studios' film slated for the spring. Jakks continues its WWE wrestling figures with the Ruthless Aggression line.

Jakks' new SpongeBob SquarePants TV Game has five games in its joystick.

For crafty kids, My Overstuffed Life "scraptivity" sets let girls create personalized purses. The company's Color Workshop brand expands with kits featuring Nickelodeon, Disney Princesses, Hello Kitty and more.

Adding some sizzle, Tongue Tazz Sticks is candy that foams and fizzles.

The sky's the limit

Jedox will unveil Bakua, its wooden building system at Toy Fair.

Bakua is constructed of interlocking wooden sheets that let children create houses, puppet theaters, castles and even locomotives. Made of lacquered, multiple wooden layers, the toy features an interlocking system that makes it possible to expand vertically and horizontally.

Bakua is recommended for children ages 3-9, with additional technical components like airplanes and locomotives available for older kids.

Puzzled much?

Just when you thought you finally understood the basics of quantum physics comes K-Dron , an 11-sided geometrical figure that, when fitted with another, makes a Kube with up to 38,000 design solutions.

The K-Dron Kube line of products ranges from game board units and puzzles, to inside-out globes, building blocks and other specialty items. The Kube concept is also being offered for licensing. The target market ranges from preschoolers to adults, depending on the application.

The inside-out globe allows the viewer to stand inside a globe at both the North Pole and South Pole and see what stands across the world.

Take a meeting

KidzDelight helps kids get in synch with personal organizers for the "gotta-go" generation.

Datamax Junior includes 28 educational activities and has infrared technology for message exchange and network game play. For girls ages 7 to 14, the Princess Max organizer includes homework helper programs, an address book, a secret storage door and a mood sensor.

For pocket-sized fun, Mini-Max is a key chain-sized learning aid with message exchange, games and homework helper programs.

Kidz Delight is also expanding its HandZOn line with electronic toys for ages 2 to 4, including Funny Fred the Talking Trash Can, Laughing Larry and the Talking Vacuum and friends.

The next chapter

Klutz turns the page with a shelf of new books.

The company takes on arts and crafts with Spool Knit Jewelry , Twirled Paper and The Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes .

One boredom buster is Road Trip Trivia: A Big Book of Backseat Brainteasers for ages 9 and up.

The colorful Rainbow Hair Styles includes a set of brush-on, wash-out colors that make hair a lot more fun!

For ages 8 and up, Me & My Friends comes complete with quizzes and secrets.

K'nocking around

Young builders can construct ferocious creatures like an Attacking Raptorium or Flame Firing Phoenix with K'nex Alive kits.

Kid K'nex Chompin' Chums let little hands build a world of characters using oversized, easy-snap pieces and special parts like wings and claws. Kid K'nex Lid Kids Vehicles 2 and Dinosaurs assortments join new Big Lid Kids.

Three new ReKonstructors heroes go to the planet ZeKor in battle, attack or scout modes to save missing pilots and help harvest energy for Planet Earth. The battle rages on with XTractors: Vektor, a dragster with spinning wheels; Bulldog, a bulldozer with a working blade and Jammer, a hovercraft with spinning turbofans.

Jumpstart learning

LeapFrog addresses kids' learning abilities via electronics and videos, aiming to take them from their ABCs to Ph.Ds

Little ones take to the highway with See & Learn Driver, introducing toddlers to imaginative play through five learning activities, realistic car sounds and songs.

The Disney Princess Laptop gets girls ages 3 and up ready for school with its animated LCD display, full keyboard and sing-along songs. My First LeapPad also caters to little princesses with two new titles: Disney's Princess Stories and Two Princess Tales .

Dr. Seuss joins the LeapFrog family with Little Touch LeapPad Mr. Brown Can Moo for ages 6 to 36 months, LeapPad Fox in Sox for first graders and LeapPad The Cat in the Hat for second graders.

Jumping in with a new format, LeapFrog goes video with Leapster—Talking Word Factory Interactive Video. Kids ages 4 to 6 can travel to the Word Factory, where the Word Whammer, Sticky-Ick-O-Rama and other machines take letters and make them into words.

It figures…

Learning Resources has produced math and science games and more for '04. Factor Frenzy and Light 'N' Strike Math makes numbers fun electronically. Read It! Write It! Solve It! activity sets include Counting & Numbers, Addition & Subtraction and Time & More.

Switching to science, the Planet Quest game tackles space trivia. M* Gears Robot Kits let kids build Lunar, Aero or Terra models.

M*Gears Remote Control Racers, lets kids construct a Grand Prix Car or Off-Road Truck. Gears! Gears! Gears! Safari Xpress is a 127-piece motorized train set.

Kids can play make-believe with Pretend & Play School Set and a Camping Set, featuring a battery-powered toy stove.

Preschoolers might just eat up Mix & Match Doughnuts memory game and ABC Lacing Sweets bead toy.

Move over, Donald Trump

Lego is still building after all these years.

For little ones, Quatro is a new line of blocks four times the size of Lego bricks.

Nickleodeon's Dora the Explorer joins the team with Dora's Treasure Island, Diego's Rescue Truck, Play Park and Animal Adventure.

The Block-O-Dile is an all-in-one toy and storage unit: a crocodile that gobbles up pieces.

Lego Xpods are pocket-sized building kits for creating mini-models, while Lego Designer Sets include Prehistoric Creatures, Deep Sea Predators and a two-foot-tall robot.

The Lego Alpha Team uses "cool" vehicles, such as the Chill Speeder and the Ice Blade, to tear across the tundra.

For more adventures, Lego sets include a new Harry Potter assortment, featuring the Hogwart's Castle, and Spider-Man 2 items from Street Chase to Doc Ock's Hideout. The Bionicle line now has Matoran and Vahki figures, along with Toa Metru heroes.

For girls, new Clikits kits include Flowered Hair Bands and Glamour Girl Purse.

On the right track

Just in time for Toy Fair, LGB introduces the Diesel Starter Set, 120 Volt. This train set includes a rugged diesel loco, a tank car and gondola car with working forklift, along with a full circle of track.

LGB is also debuting a new G-scale DR Steam Loco 99 7222-5, featuring an onboard Multi-Train System decoder. The model has a powerful Bühler motor that can pull, as well as negotiate, the tightest LGB 3R12 curves.

Bubbling over

My First Bubble Blower from Little Kids has a motorized fan that simplifies blowing for beginners, while No-Spill Bubble Tumbler Micro Minis are smaller versions of the originals.

The Dora the Explorer No-Spill Mini Bubble Bucket is geared to little ones ages 2 and up, and the Bubblin' Glitter Bugs Finger Wands have Mylar wings that spin and blow bubbles, too.

Straight from the sea comes SpongeBob SquarePants SnoCone and Ice Cream Maker. With SpongeBob Square Pants Sea Foamer and Water Squirter, the products emit a spray that turns into a sudsy foam.

For fun at the shore, Make A Sand Monster helps kids make creatures on the beach with a molded pail and ten accessory pieces.

Strike a pose

Madame Alexander is offering a variety of doll introductions and extensions to existing lines.

Olivia and the Missing Toy is featured as an 8-inch Olivia doll and includes s 5-inch version of her brother Ian. The set also includes her missing plush toy, candelabra, a magnifying glass, pet cat and Perry the dog. A series of 5-inch Petite Olivia dolls is available in various dress motifs.

In a company first, the Total Moves Wendy doll boasts 10 points of articulation. Harry, Ron and Hermione dolls are also being offered.

In the Peanuts collection, Beaglescout Snoopy and his three plush Woodstock scouts don hats and carry backpacks.

For the younger crowd, Peekaboo Sesame Street and Peekaboo Disney include a set of a dozen 8-inch plush dolls.

Mattel offerings focus on boys and girls alike

Mattel 's Barbie hits the beach once again with Cali Girls, a new line that dresses the gang in board shorts, bikinis and evening wear. And from Fairytopia come Mermaid Barbie and Friends and Sparkle Fairy Barbie and Friends.

Other new dolls include the Join My Scene gang, Jammin' in Jamaica Doll with DVD, the Dune Buggy and the Guava Gulch Tiki Lounge.

Polly Pocket gets primped with the Dare to Hair Totally Video, after she makes a splash with the Wild Waves Water Park Assortment and Castle.

Mattel builds the Ello creation system line with Jungala People, Places and Things, where girls can create tropical-crazed environments.

Boys just wanna have fun

Boys get into the act with Mattel 's Masters of the Universe toys, featuring new snake-themed figures and accessories. Among them are Heroic Warriors, Evil Enemies, Mecha Blade Deluxe figures and Large Scale Roto figures. For even more action, there's the Mecha-Bite BeastRiders, Battle Bones Transport Figure Carrier, He-Man SpitBull Vehicle and He-Man Snake Armor.

Batman is back with new action figure assortments and vehicles, including the Batcycle and Batjet. The Caped Crusader is joined by the Justice League, with 13 action figures and a My Size Batman Buddy.

Road runners

Hot Wheels from Mattel takes the fast lane with a fleet of 100 new 1:64 scale diecast cars in souped-up styles and first editions.

Formula Fuelers vehicles run on special mixtures that kids make themselves from various household products. Skate Hedz figures magnetically attach to a kid-powered skateboard, while MX Hedz are motocross bikes with riders.

Also debuting is the new Incredible Crash Dummies line, including figures, vehicles and a car assortment for the ultimate in crashing fun.

Soak up fun

Mattel 's Shield Blasters block non-stop water attacks. Three models are available for wet and wild fun.

Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants continues his wacky antics with the Bikini Bottom Playset and the Waterific Assortment, a playset that works underwater. With SpongeBob Smack 'N Yak Characters, kids can bonk Hula Bob, Karate Bob and Gary and they'll begin talking. For fans on the go, plush SpongeBob On Board has suction-cup arms and legs that can stick on any hard surface.

Let's do the twist

Maxim Enterprise, Inc. is producing Fidgetz, a line of more than 10 interactive poseable wooden figures, games, sculptures and puzzles. These blocks of wood with elasticized cords can be twisted and turned in hundreds of different ways. Children and adults alike should be able to manipulate Fidgetz into any shape, teaching manual dexterity and basic problem solving.

Block and roll

Mega Bloks is building upon its roster of construction playthings and other toys for 2004.

For the littlest construction workers comes Build Bigger Than Me, an 80-block assortment for ages 1-5. Lil' Vehicles Cement Mixer and Tiny 'N' Tuff Vehicle Sets keep the action rolling.

Also for littles ones is the new Disney Magic Wave Player Piano, featuring Pooh and Friends.

Kids can build the new Ultimate Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Battle Lair and Battle Shell Bridge, along with the radical Ramp and Pipe Fight.

Hoop dreams

Next Step is hoping to score with buyers, as it introduces its SportsRing & Hoop indoor/outdoor sports kits. Kids can use these items as miniature basketball hoops or as a target for football passes, soccer goals and baseball/softball pitches. The mounting system allows the kit to be adjusted at different angles and attached vertically or horizontally.

Monster mash

Monster trucks, boats, Nintendo characters and Dinosaur Battle Machines are among the collection of new radio-controlled vehicles from NKOK .

The Stunt Monster series of diecast monster trucks are micro-sized, appearing alongside monster-sized 1:10 scale versions of some well-known monster trucks. The company is also expanding its line of R/C boats with the Air Nautique, a wakeboarding boat endorsed by Scott Byerly, "The Godfather of Wakeboarding."

NKOK's first products featuring licensed characters are three R/C carts "driven" by Nintendo's Mario, Donkey Kong and Yoshi. The vendor has also licensed BC Battlers, a line of war monster vehicles from a popular animated series.

A burnin' for learnin'

Barbie and Hot Wheels brands are now part of Oregon Scientific, Inc. 's electronic learning product line, featuring interactive encyclopedias.

The Barbie My First Dictionary is packed with over 500 educationally-certified curriculum words. It features colorful illustrations and photos that help teach definitions and pronunciation to children ages 3 and up.

Other electronic learning products include the Barbie Interactive Talking Storybook, Hot Wheels Accelerator, Barbie B-Book Desktop, Barbie B-Bright Laptop and Hot Wheels Quick Start Laptop.

Provocative thoughts

Outset Media expands enrollment in 2004 with new additions to its Professor Noggin's Card Game Series for ages 7 and up. The six new titles are: Reptiles and Amphibians, Wildlife Safari, Earth Science, American Civil War, American Revolution and National Parks.

With Outset's new strategy game Artifact, players use their memory, negotiation skills and luck to contribute in repatriating stolen artifacts to their rightful country. The game is for ages 12 and up.

It's in the cards

Patch Products offers up an extensive line of new games and puzzles debuting at Toy Fair.

Giant Spoons comes with a deck of playing cards and seven giant spoons. When players get four of a kind, they get to grab a spoon.

For more card playing fun, the Imperial playing card line now includes Patriotic Poker Playing Cards, featuring American symbols such as The Statue of Liberty.

Patch expands its popular PuzzlePatch brand of children's puzzles with three new titles: Magnetic Puzzles, Fish Addition Puzzles and 25 Color Train Puzzles.

Feelin' groovy

Among the five products being introduced by PDI Inc. (formerly Pamela Drake Inc.), the Design Studio Woodkins will feature three Groovy Girls from Manhattan Toy in a fashion activity kit. The Groovy Girls are Britta, a blonde; Brenna, a redhead, and Bindl, a brunette. The kits include a 10-1/2 inch sandwich doll and accessories.

Also debuting are Mary Engelbreit's Ann Estelle, known as the "Queen of Everything" and her friend Sophie, with each kit packaged with one doll, four face changes and fabrics for dressing the characters.

Woodkins Deluxe series is expanding its fantasy series to include four whimsical fairies: Iris, Rose Daisy and Daffodil.

Gotta glow

Play Along is introducing Glow-a-lot Bears, six of the most popular Care Bears made with special materials that enable them to glow in the dark for hours.

The company is also introducing a variety of feature and non-feature plush, articulated and non-articulated plastic figurines and plastic accessories, figural key chains and plush clip-ons, along with preschool electronic and audio toys.

Bad boy, bad boy...

The Playmobil Police Department is on the job.

With the 3165 Police Station with Jail Cell, two good guys take a bad guy burglar to jail. But an emergency call may provide an avenue of escape. The set features a locking jail door, removable window bars and other accessories.

The 3166 Police Van features an opening back door, removable roof and cargo space.

The 3162 Getaway Car comes with headlights that move up and down, two figures and a briefcase full of loot. It's aided and abetted by the 3161 Safecrackers, two bank robbers and a safe with working lock. But the 3167 Mounted Police are on patrol, along with the 3168 Bike Police.

Through the remainder of the year, Playmobil will also introduce other playsets, including Bunnies, The Red Corsair, the Airport, Modern House and family, Fire Station, Adventure, Construction, Noah's Ark, Zoo and a new assortment of Playmobil 1-2-3 items.

X marks the spot

Progressive Trading brings yet another shape—you guessed it, the letter X—to the world of Magz-X magnetic construction toys, which aim to enhance kids' understanding of shapes and geometry. These sets feature magnetic steel balls, along with bars in seven colors, that transform into intricate geometric designs. Magz-X sets are available in three sizes: 42, 74 and 106 pieces.

Game for anything

Radica adds a new twist to a classic—20 Questions—and captures it in a handheld toy.

Under the Girl Tech umbrella is the Password Journal Scrapbook to store audio and visual memories. The Jam 'n Shred Pen destroys the evidence in personal notes, and Room Buzz is a message center for a door.

Radica's Track 'n Blast Room Defender gives kids the power to ambush unwanted intruders as they enter their room. This motion-sensor alarm detects any movement and fires off 12 soft projectiles.

Mini toys, maxi fun

For kids who are looking to get a lot of fun out of a little box, the Mini Games Series from Ravensburger may be just the ticket. Among the themes are Leapin' Lily Pads, Haunted Castle and Monkey Madness. The company is also expanding its Learning Games, a series that aims to teach basic skills, with the addition of four games for preschoolers that focus on word recognition, color and shape recognition, language, addition and subtraction.

Ready to roll

Dozens of fresh items and line extensions punctuate offerings from RC2 Corp. , including some new twists on licensed collections.

For infants and toddlers, the Lamaze brand features 15 new products, such as the Grow with Baby Busy Birdhouse, 2-in-1 Traveling Guppy and the Grow with Baby Discovery Island. The Lamaze Infant Development System now includes the Music and Me Spinning Mirror.

John Deere Kids Preschool Toys feature five new SKUs, along with new additions to the John Deere Kids Play Tools and My First Collectibles.

In the Madeline 65th Collection, the 18-inch doll and and signature outfit in a collectible gift box are available in limited quantities.

RC2 is also featuring additions to Thomas and Friends, the Fast and the Furious, Joyride Entertainment and Joyride Studios Action Figures.

Sweet slumber

The new Noukie's Soothe-A-Sleep bear from Regal Lager may look like his pals in the Noukie's line. However, this item includes an audio unit that aims to lull newborns to sleep with soft womb sounds and calm older babies with sweet lullabies. The Soothe-A-Sleep bear is sound-activated and features an automatic five-minute shut-off.

The Douzous have arrived: four plush characters and their accessories. Archibald, Hippolite, Cappucine and Odile range in size from 12 to 60 inches. These jungle animals include accessories, such as baby slippers, ring rattles, bath toys and the Douzous Bag House.

Out of this world

Safari Ltd. is extending its Toob line of PVC figures in a plastic cylinder capped by a spinning globe. Leading the introductions is a NASA Space Toob that depicts the history of the space agency. It contains figures, including Private Hamm, the first chimp in space, along with a space shuttle, astronauts and international space station.

Other new Toobs include Ancient Egypt, Knights & Dragons, and Zoo Babies. Additionally, Toob figures will also be offered in bulk bags of 48 for the first time.

Qué bueno

I Spy a new line of soft goods, some new toys and even some new licensees.

Scholastic Entertainment continues to build upon its properties beginning with a new line of soft goods linked to the I Spy animated series on HBO Family.

Sidekicks is also launching new toys and other products tied to Clifford's Puppy Days , Humpty Dumpty and the Gingerbread Man for babies. The company is also concentrating on plush toys related to Clifford's Puppy Days and the NO DAVID! book series from David Shannon.

Scholastic Entertainment will also be doing some shopping of its own, as it seeks partners and licensees for The Magic School Bus and the soon-to-be debuted PBS Kids show, "The Misadventures of Maya and Miguel," a multi-cultural program that addresses the impact of the Hispanic market.

A little dab will do ya

A dab here and a stroke there and young artists get the entire finger painting experience with Rainbow Finger Paint Kit from Scratch Art .

Kids simply apply black finger paint to multicolor paper and then wipe away areas with their fingers or sponge brush to reveal rainbow colors.

Early learners can make up to 10 masterpieces with the heavyweight glossy Rainbow Finger Paint Paper, flip-up tubs of non-staining washable black finger paint and sponge brush.

Inquisitve infants

For inquiring young minds, Silver Dolphin Books has a range of new titles: Amazing Baby I Love You , Amazing Baby Squeak Squeak and Amazing Baby Baby's Day continue in the series' tradition, providing parents with a way to spend quality learning time with their little one.

Totally Sea Creatures is the newest build-your-own-kit collection, combining reading and play. Snappy Little Splashers brings pop-up play to little ocean dwellers. And just when you thought it was safe, Uncover a Shark gets up close and personal with a great white.

Saddle up!

The plush hug and ride Port-a-Pony from SKM Enterprises brings new life to the classic stick horse. The stick pulls out for riding and retracts for easy storage and action sound abounds when the ear is squeezed, producing galloping and neighing sounds powered by two AA batteries. It's available in Flash brown, Buck black and Pancho tan.

Also new is Port-a-Pal stick animals from the Fantasy, Zoo or Sea Life Series. Designed for children 3 and up, these toys are available in one size, which extends to 36 inches.

Putting a spin on fun

Spin Master Toys has a ton of new products in 2004.

The Mighty Beanz line of characters that jump, dance and backflip are back with 60 new Beanz.

The Wiggles make music with The Wiggles Accordion and Keyboard, made especially for little hands. The beat goes on with The Wiggles Wacky Wiggling and Dancing Guitar, an interactive electronic instrument that dances on its own. Perfect for cuddling up, The Wiggles Miniature Musical Plush each sing a different Wiggles song.

How sweet it is! Hershey's S'mores Maker brings camping indoors with a pretend campfire that helps create this well-known treat. Chocolate lovers can whip up their own Hershey's chocolate kisses with the Hershey's Kisses Kisses Maker And forget the drive-thru! With the McKids Triple Thick Milkshake Maker, kids can make their favorite McDonald's milkshakes at home.

Double the fun

Kits for 2, a new line-up of activity kits from S&S Worldwide will include just about all that's necessary for two kids to make their own projects. A dozen new kits involve creative activities such as building, painting, decorating and drawing. Six girl-oriented offerings will include flower frames, custom sunglasses, cosmetic bags, as well as 'slam' books and jewelry. And six boy-themed items will include pirate ships and treasure chests, frogs, bugs, knight shields and yo-yos. Kits for 2 are targeted at ages 5 and up.

Collectors' heaven

Margarete Steiff GmbH and Steiff North America are launching B™rle 43 PAB 1904, a historically accurate mohair reproduction of one of the first teddy bears to wear the Steiff "Button in Ear" trademark. This bear has a black and white tag and will only be available in limited edition though the end of 2004.

Clam up!

Swingset Press enhances its Invisible Secrets with a colorful clamshell that includes a black light ring/pendant to read invisible secret messages. It also includes a UV pen, mini-pad of message paper and six stencils to create invisible tattoos. An additional bonus includes a lanyard that converts the ring into a pendant. The packaging has a try me feature demonstrating the concept.

Think again and again

River Crossing 2 North Woods Adventure is the sequel to ThinkFun 's game, with 40 new challenges beginning at the intermediate level. Directed at players ages 8 to adult, the brain-teasing game requires planks to be moved between stumps to rescue the stranded Husky Dog, while dodging grizzlies, leaping salmon and busy beavers.

Also new is Raging Rapids, two games in one featuring mind-boggling challenges and high suspense against a backdrop of whitewater rafting. Little ones will enjoy their own challenges with Slide Puzzles featuring eight titles. And the Square By Square creative pattern puzzle includes 60 challenge cards with a two-part solution on the back, 14 puzzle pieces, a base and lid.

Web of intrigue

As Spider-Man 2 gets ready to hit the big screen this summer, Toy Biz introduces a line of action figures based on the movie: Spider-Man and Friends. An 18-inch Amazing Spider-Man has 64 points of articulation and comes with a projectile shooter. The Triple Action Web Blaster lets kids shoot web fluid, foam or suction cup darts.

Also new is Marvel Twist-Ems, three-inch figures in three assortments. The Marvel Street Burners collection capitalizes on the Super Heroes and their Need for Speed.

Get creative

Kids will get a bilingual lesson in nature with TWC of America/Tweber 's Sewing/Coloring Cards. Each reusable set includes four plastic cards featuring one of six nature-related themes. An outline is printed onto the card, along with the animal's name in English and in Spanish.

TWC of America is introducing a colorful version of its flower press for children with a durable carrying handle and large knobs for little hands.

Flying high

New toys combining fun, science and education are being hatched from Uncle Milton Industries .

Jet Hawks is a flying glider line using Pop-Wing technology. Used with an air-powered Strato Launcher, foam-constructed Jet Hawk 1 rises like a rocket and flies an average of 500 feet.

P-Brains is a line of three-inch tall collectible characters with interchangeable electronic brains that make for some unusual couplings.

Science and nature are at the forefront with the X4 Metal Detector Rover, combining a radio-controlled vehicle with a metal detector. And reality gets bent out of shape with the X6 Optic Morpher, allowing kids to distort images of friends and family.

Who's counting?

Some exciting changes and additions are coming to Colorforms from University Games .

The newest licenses to join the line are Justice League, Astro Boy and Hi-5, which will include Colorforms Playsets and Fun Pockets. A variety of line extensions like The Wiggles and Strawberry Shortcake will also be showcased, while Silly Faces and Dress-Up Stick-On Games will lead the line's re-packaging.

Great Explorations, the company's glow-in-the-dark and science line, is also introducing Glow-it! paint that works on almost any surface. Also from this line is Totally Gross, a collection of "Yuck!" items targeted at tween boys. The collection includes nine SKUs with peggable packaging and small, easy to merchandise canisters.

Spoken from the heart

Kids can say what they want—really —with the Say & Send Friends line of collectible plush bears from Wild Republic , the nature toy brand of K&M International.

Each eight-inch huggable bear is available in three color variations—chocolate brown, white and honey—and contains a 10-second re-recordable sound box for personalized messages. Positioned as a keepsake gift for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and other occasions, these bears are available in an optional gift box.

And the beat goes on

Wild Planet Toys reaches for the stars with a galaxy of new playthings.

Young girls can keep comfy with G.L.S., customizable room accessories to keep Girls Living in Style. The Dazzlin' Doorway is a curtain with an attached speaker that cheers or sends out a personalized welcome message. Practical accessories with preteen appeal, Mini Room Mates feature the Mini Lamp, Mini Fan and Mini FM radio that all plug into a battery-operated Mini-Power Source.

The Spy Gear line adds four new items. The Spy Safe Cracker game challenges players' nerves, as they try to crack a secret code before the siren sounds. Spy Robot is an R/C robot with a giant claw for picking up evidence. XP-6 Spy Watch features a flip-up scope, stopwatch and world time translator.

In the Off The Map line of outdoor adventure gear, a multi-purpose Extreme Canteen has a flip-out fork and spoon, flashlight and more. Kids can track the position of pets and friends with the Explorer's Positioning System (E.P.S.). They can place light and motion sensors around the backyard and then check out the scene via the handheld monitor.

The company's first licensed-based brand, SpongeBob SquarePants takes kids to lunch with the Krabby Patty Station, complete with a glowing grill, crackling fryer and sizzling patties. With the Krusty Krab Cash Register, kids use the working microphone to call out orders, then swipe the SpongeBob credit card to close the sale. SpongeBob Sea Talkies are working clamshell-shaped walkie-talkies that make bubbling sounds, while Bikini Bottom Binocs have wacky lenses that look just like SpongeBob's eyes.

Dolls on parade

Zapf Creation is introducing a number of additions to its line of play, function and collector dolls and accessories, including the Love Me Chou Chou doll with life-like functions. She can kick her feet, babble and suck on her thumb or pacifier and comes with the pacifier, security blanket and magic bottle to help her fall asleep.

The latest Baby Born can now be taken everywhere, including the bathtub, pool and beach. Also ready to be transported is the Maggie Raggies Backpack. The Maggie Raggies Coin Purse comes with a jumprope-like strap that may be worn over the shoulder or around the neck.

Life in the fast lane

Zap Toys (Lucky Plastic Factory Ltd.) will display both the Smart City-Coupe and the Roadster in micro (1:43), 1:14 and 1:10 scales. The products are a result of a new licensing agreement with Smart GMBH that enables the company to manufacture Smart's playthings as R/C toys.