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Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winners 2009:
Toys: Late School Years
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Bulls Eye Baseball
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(
Hasbro
$$24.99$
)
Our baseball fans loved this small desktop baseball game. You have to bounce the small metal balls on the red launch pad just right in order to score. The automatic scorer really works and keeps track of your runs, and even home runs! The bases on the field light up when you sink a ball into them. Very cool. The sound effects are just right. It's kind of loud, but so is baseball! Great fun but obviously not a good choice if there are small children in the house. The company has submitted our safety verification form. Note, we did not test this independently in a lab. Age:
Late School Years,
Tweens.
Phone: 800-752-9755.
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
2009
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Crayola Color Surge
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(
Crayola
$$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
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Crayola Digital Camcorder
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(
Sakar
$$59.99$
)
This little camcorder is pretty remarkable for what it is. It has a built-in microphone and includes a 1.5"preview screen, a memory expansion slot and comes with a lot of engaging activity centers that kids will love exploring: a story maker, puppet show, jig-saw puzzles and photo editing center. The hardware is compatible on a MAC -- BUT the included software can only be used on PC - a definite drawback for MAC users. Kids can record their show and see them on the TV screen. For the youngest video maker, this is a magical tool that will save wear and tear on your regular equipment. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab. Age:
Early School Years,
Late School Years.
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
2009
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Crayola Glow Station
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(
Crayola
$$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
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Create Your Own Pop Up Books Kit
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(
Creativity for Kids
$$17.95$
)
We are huge fans of pop up books! So we were particularly excited when this kit came in for review. Complete with two blank hard cover books that have some built in pop ups already loaded and then a collection of fun to add "do your own" pop up features--including pull tabs for revealing your own surprises! Fans of pop ups will enjoy giving this one a try. Comes with 8 markers, stickers, wiggly eyes and die-cut pieces. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab. Age:
Early School Years,
Late School Years.
Phone: 800-311-8684.
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
2009
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EyeClops Bionic Eye Multizoom
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(
Jakks Pacific
$$44.99$
)
Last year we raved about the original EyeClops that allows you to blow up images that you can view on your television screen. Ever look at your carpet or your skin up close? Really gross and cool -- all at the same time. This year they improved the product by making the magnification even better (you can set it at 1o0, 200 or 400X). You can move around with it rather than having to be tethered to your tv. One of the best hands-on science toys we've ever seen for the home market.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,
Tweens.
Phone: (800) 545-2557.
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
2009
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EyeClops Night Vision
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(
Jakks Pacific
$$79.99$
)
If you've read our reviews over the years you know we really like glow in the dark toys. So it's not too much of a stretch that we were going to be interested in this night vision toy. As usual we packed into the office bathroom to check out. It really does work. The company says that the infra-red driven technology allows you to see clearly for 50 feet in pitch black. Our bathroom wasn't that big! Only kidding--we tried it in larger rooms and were amazed by what we could see. Editors note: While we have noted that consumers have posted comments on-line that they had trouble with getting the product to work properly--we did not have a problem and our testers really gave this product high marks. If it doesn't work-for $80 you should complain! Get a replacement--it's cool!The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab. Age:
Late School Years,
Tweens.
Phone: (800) 545-2557.
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
2009
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FlyTech Butterfly and Moth
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(
WowWee
$$24.99$each
)
Ok, so it's probably too early in the season to declare our favorite toy...but these butterflies and moths are clearly front runners! Easy to launch- you just hold the button down on the launcher until the wings really start to go-and then pull it back all the way-the butterfly or moth will take off! Also available, a pretty sharp looking red and black Mosquito (only on-line). This is the type of toy everyone will want a turn playing with- including the adults. (Editors Update: So these remain one of our top fun picks of the entire year.) The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab. Age:
Late School Years,
Tweens.
Phone: .
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
2009
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Fun Fly Stick Magic Levitation Wand
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(
Unitech Toys
$$26.95$
)
Want to see kids up and moving? Here's a fun novelty toy that seems to work by magic. In fact the magic is electrostatic! Remember how you used to make a balloon float after rubbing it with your hair…or how you gave your little sister a shock by dragging your feet on the carpet? Same idea…only more fun! Press the button on the magic wand, toss one of the three flying toys up, touch it once with the wand and get ready for magic! Your wand will keep the silvery iridescent toy levitating as you chase it around the room. A word of caution, this is not to be used within 3 feet of any electronic devices such as a computer or TV. Therefore, this is a toy that will need supervision…and please, let the kids play with it. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab. Age:
Early School Years,
Late School Years,
Tweens,
Teens.
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
2009
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Fundomino
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(
Blue Orange Games
$$19.99$
)
32 Curved dominoes with numerals and colors to match as well as action symbols to avoid or draw – wild dominoes that can set your game back seriously or propel you to a winning streak. Play it one round at a time or keep score on the special board with playing pieces that keep track of your score. Comes in a good metal tin for safekeeping. 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: (415) 572-3885.
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award
2009
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