Our tester took this to a NYC park for a spin...and it was a huge hit with everyone on the playground. The Taxi is the latest in Step 2's Push Along line that allows your child to enjoy a ride (while their feet are off the ground). Our latest toddler tester loves her drink holder. Our parent testers appreciate the seat belt for younger toddlers and the sturdiness of the design. A great way to get your toddler from point A to point B before they're ready to cycle themselves there.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Zig is a true toddler vehicle. It does more than just roll about and yet it's not too complicated for toddlers to  operate. Zig is a particularly friendly truck--he talks, makes some sounds and his face moves when activated (but not in a creepy way).  What our testers loved about it was the way the side of the truck opens and launches the little Wheelie car that comes with Zig. (You can buy more Wheelies separately). This motion is easy to activate- and is just right for toddlers who love making things happen again and again. Zig is chunky and moves around under your child's power (we like that aspect of it as well).  A sturdy choice for toddlers that has just the right amount of bells and whistles.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Our testers loved this large scaled castle from Playmobil. We're always clear to say the following about Playmobil builds: the directions could be clearer; the construction of Playmobil structures requires an adult; there are LOTS of pieces.  With all of those disclaimers, our testers consistently enjoy the product and the level of detail once it's put together.  Specifically, our experienced builders did have more difficulty this year putting the smaller castle in this line together. We recommend having two adults for some aspects of the build--to hold the pieces as the connections are being made.  We also suggest that large structures be built and possibley glued down on a board or table top where they will not be moved or knocked around. True, this means it is less open-ended than a set of block, that will also falls over with active play, but these large structures do become pretend settings that are fun to use, although they will surely require some rebuilding and fine tuning from time to time. Once this castle is put together, it is great fun. It has a main gate that you can crank close (and there is an "iron" gate to put down when you really mean to keep the bad guys out).  There are trap doors, walk ways and one really big tower.  Our testers also gave high marks the play figures (complete with period appropriate clothing) and spectacular horses as well. This is not a toy for preschoolers or even young early school kids.  The level of detail requires more dexterity than most kids under 8 bring to their play.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

We were really taken by Fijits at toy fair. They have an interesting and pleasing squishy feel to them (there are three different colors-with different names for each) when you poke them.  It feels the way we think the Pillsbury Dough Boy would feel if you were able to poke him.  That tactile aspect of this toy sets it apart from the recent version of hard plastic interactive robots. Fijit has a fun repetoire of tricks. She can tell jokes, invite your child to dance (either to her own music or your child's). She's programmed to say 150 different things. On the downside, she doesn't always understand your voice commands--this can be frustrating. She also is pretty loud (no volume control) and she requires 5 AA batteries.

That said our testers really liked her corny jokes and how she bops to the music. Pure novelty.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years, Tweens. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

What's super neat about this build, is how the wings turn from being horizontal to vertical. This kind of moment is exciting when you get it to work (as a builder) and even more fun to play with when you're using the Shuttle as part of your pretend play.  LEGO has a new circular piece this year that allows for this type of rotation. The shuttle comes with play figAnakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Saesee Tin, and Shaak Ti.  The set has 389 pieces so really designed for intermediate builders.  Also a favorite with our testers, Anakin's & Sebulba's Podracers (810 pieces)  - straight from the movie. The set comes with Watto, Sebulba, Anakin Skywalker, Wald, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
 

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years, Tweens, Teens. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

This is the BIG wow-wee kit (with 1254 pieces) of the season for Star Wars fans. What is truly amazing about the design is that the top opens up so that you can access the inside of the ship where so many of the key moments of the original movies take place. True to the movie, there are secret cargo holds where they hid themselves from the Darth Vader. A fun build for advanced builders. Comes with six miniature action figures: Darth Vader, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Princess Leia. Once built, this is really a pretend play setting.  If you also need the Empire represented in your building, consider the equally impressive Republic Frigate ($119) with 1022 pieces, this is also designed for intermediate and advanced builders. Comes with Clone Commander Woffe, Wolfpack Clone Trooper, Eeth Koth, Quinlan Vos and Yoda.  Many portions of the ship do open up so that you can act out story lines. There are small projectiles that you can send off but they do not go far or pack much of a punch.

Age: Later School Years, Tweens, Teens. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

One of the most interesting builds we've tested from LEGO. The set includes a new circular piece (that is being used in several new sets this year)...it allows the center part of the  space ship to rotate around completely.  Very cool!  This large mothership has a alien that pilots his ship from a center cockpit.  There is also the added fun of an alien sound effect button when you turn the center piece. All in all - a satisfying build that produces a sizable spaceship.

Age: Later School Years, Tweens. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

If you have a child interested in the human body and how it works, this is a must have kit. We love the  information about all the systems of the body in the book, as well as the model of the human body that comes with the set.  The skelton also has body parts for hands on exploration. Remember the first time someone told you how long your intensines are?  Could you visual it?  Here you get to see it!  Unlike so many science kits and books directed to kids, the folks at Smart Lab hit the balance of information just right!  It's this kind of science toy that makes us so happy-- it really celebrates science and encourages kids to learn more. They also have more specific kit and book on the Squishy Brain and a fun Extreme Secret Formula Lab for 20 science experiments to try at home.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years, Tweens. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

There's something so appealing about this attractive wooden game from Blue Orange. It feels very retro in design and game play. The wooden board has a small opening at the center where the goal is to pass through all of the wooden discs on your side to your opponents through that little opening.  You do this by flicking the discs forward on the elastic cord. While it seems really hard at first, we found that our testers got the hang of it pretty quickly and were able to demolish their parents!  When we had kids of equal skill--it was fun to watch all the discs going back and forth! 

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

If you like fast-paced card games like Spit, Ratuki will become a fast favorite. The idea is to capture piles of cards by getting to five first and claiming the pile. You need to be quick and remember to shout Ratuki. You can place a card going up and down on the pile or place down a Ratuki card.  Players must have three cards in their hand at all times-- you can pull new cards if you can't go. There are 170 cards--so there are lots of rounds and opportunities to win piles. Game play continues until someone runs out of cards.  The first player to get 100 points wins. The points are calculated by how many points you gained with your piles -- but you must subtract the cards still in your hand and those in your discard pile.  You can play with 2 to 5 players.

Our suggestion, have someone really read the rules. Once our testers got the hang of it--they wanted to play it again and again.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years, Tweens, Teens. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.