Important Advisory:

We are now requiring companies to provide us with documentation that their products have been tested by an independent lab for phthalates and lead.
Please click here for submission requirements for new products. However, as we are not a lab, we will not be independently verifying those results. Also, with the exception of the 2008 Platinum Toy Awards, toys submitted for review prior to January 2008 were not tested for lead.

Instructions for submitting product to the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio for review.

Contact the Toyportfolio @ (212) 598-0502 or by email at Webmaster@Toyportfolio.com.

Copyright 1995-2008. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio - All Rights Reserved. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award, and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Blue Chip Award are Registered Trademarks of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio.

( Acting Out $$40$ ) Like so many of their wonderful musical costumes, this charming tutu is done in layers of pink and blue tulle with shimmering sequins on the top of the stretchy top and edges of the gossamer skirt. Best of all it is motion activated. It will play the Beautiful Blue Danube waltz when your young ballerina begins to twirl. This company makes simpler tutus--just the skirt loaded with music from the Nutcracker or Swan Lake. They come in many sizes and colors. A dreamy gift for the sugar plum fairy in your life! 3 & up. Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Phone: (877) 727 0222. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2009

( American Girl $$95$for set ) One of best collections of multicultural dolls we have seen in a very long time. We are also thrilled that there are boy dolls (often very hard to find) included in this updated collection of twin dolls that include Caucasian, African American, Hispanic, Asian sets of twins. The attention to detail for these contemporary twins is nothing less than you would expect from American Girl. You can select your own twins on line- also very clever. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab. Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Phone: . Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2009

( Mary Meyer $$9$- $22 ) Big Ben is part of the new Bennett Bear family from Mary Meyer. Big Ben is available in a 12" and 15" size. There's also a Baby version (9"). The Bennett family is alone as our Bears of the Year. Most of the other entries weren't huggable enough for our testers. Still a huge hit with every child that visits our office- the over-sized, extremely cuddly Creamy Bear from Mary Meyer. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab. Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Phone: 800-451-4387. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2009

( Cheekeyes $$29.99$ ) You know that we're big on wooden blocks as basic gear for the preschool set. Adding props to blocks can spark new directions for dramatic play. We love this new line of handsomely crafted wooden dinosaurs. The company also offers a set of farm animals, trees, a cave and a mountain. The dinos and the animals are outstanding in this category. They are very smooth (as all wooden toys should be) and they have paint only on the sides. Available only on line at oompa.com. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab. Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2009

( Crayola $$7.99$ ) Magical drawing experiences when these color surge markers touch down on the brilliantly colored double-sided paper. The colors brighten up as you draw and turn colors as one marker glides over an earlier line. Sets come with 8 or more markers and 20 or more sheets. This makes a great open-ended travel toy or a good choice for some non-messy creative time for a play date. Take it to Grams--chances are she will want to try it! 5 & up. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab. Age: Early School Years, Late School Years. Phone: (800) 272-9652. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2009

( Sakar $$59.99$ ) This little camcorder is pretty remarkable for what it is. It has a built-in microphone and includes a 1.5"preview screen, a memory expansion slot and comes with a lot of engaging activity centers that kids will love exploring: a story maker, puppet show, jig-saw puzzles and photo editing center. The hardware is compatible on a MAC -- BUT the included software can only be used on PC - a definite drawback for MAC users. Kids can record their show and see them on the TV screen. For the youngest video maker, this is a magical tool that will save wear and tear on your regular equipment. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab. Age: Early School Years, Late School Years. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2009

( Crayola $$29.99$ ) We do have to admit that we have a thing for glow in the dark toys. We pile into the small office bathroom and try things out. Most of them don't work so when we find one that does we do a little dance (we play with toys for a living after all). The new Glow Station from Crayola is really cool. The over-sized (25" x 15") canvas works with a special light wand (that comes with a crystal attachment for really neat effects!). The set comes with stencils that are fun to work with but we really enjoyed the open-endedness of just drawing on the canvas. A great toy for the car at night or right before bed. An entertaining way to encourage kids to use the small muscles needed for writing. It’s a lot like your old magic state with sizzle! The glow fades and you start again. Also has a dry erase marker for coloring and tracing on acetate transfer sheet that will put the images onto your glow pad. A novelty that is "light-years" away from your old Magna-doodle. Designed for older kids 6 & up. Smaller travel version is also available and fun for backseat fun. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab. Age: Early School Years, Late School Years. Phone: (800) 272-9652. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2009

( Creativity for Kids $$17.95$ ) We are huge fans of pop up books! So we were particularly excited when this kit came in for review. Complete with two blank hard cover books that have some built in pop ups already loaded and then a collection of fun to add "do your own" pop up features--including pull tabs for revealing your own surprises! Fans of pop ups will enjoy giving this one a try. Comes with 8 markers, stickers, wiggly eyes and die-cut pieces. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab. Age: Early School Years, Late School Years. Phone: 800-311-8684. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2009

( Disney $$59.99$ ) Testers loved being able to add Disney characters to the photos they can take with this easy to use digital camera with all sorts of special effects. A great way to give you beginners hands on without getting their hands on your camera! This 1.3 Megapixel kid-friendly camera has easy-to-grab rubber grips, icon-labeled function buttons (no reading required), and a large display screen for easy viewing! Thanks to the memory (32MB), the kids can click rapidly. They only need two seconds between pictures! It has 1.3 Megapixel Resolution, holds up to 150 photos, USB enabled, built-in Auto Flash, 1.5" Color LCD Screen, long battery life - up to 15 hours of continuous use (requires 4 AA batteries - not included.) WARNING: Not compatible with a MAC. They say 3 & up—we'd say 4-7's would be more like it. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab. Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2009

( Blue Orange Games $$18$- $24 ) This is a variation on the old Shut the Box addition game, but instead of one row of numbers to add and flip down, this game has two sets of tiles to flip down. The advanced game comes with numerals from one to nine in a handsome red tin with a curved front where the dice are thrown. Match them or add them. Your object is to be the player with the lowest score at the end of your round. 10-20 minutes a round. Good for 8 to adult. For younger players, consider Double Shutter Jr. with numerals from 1-6. Again, there is a double set of tiles. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab. Age: Early School Years. Phone: (415) 572-3885. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award 2009

Toys

• Infants
• Toddlers
• Preschool
• Early School Years
• Later School Years