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.

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While there is no one "hot" toy this  season, there are many toy lists that tout  what they consider "hot  toys".  Many of these lists are supported in whole or in part by the  toy industry and big toy companies.  We decided to take a look at some  of the toys that made these lists.  While we could debate how these toys got the label "hot",  our testers found them to be a mixed bag of  "not to be missed" and "don't waste your money" products. 

We've sorted them by categories and in each group you will find "hot" forgettables as well as some memorable choices.  Be sure to check our Platinum List for sure fire winning choices.

Dramatic Play

( Fisher-Price $$79.99$ ) If you have a fan of Dora at home, this will be a very tempting gift. Our recommendation would be to buy a Dora doll or Dora DVD to fulfill that Dora need, but to pass on this toy kitchen. Our first objection to this kitchen is that it talks, alot. Preschoolers can and should make up their own pretend stories about what they're cooking. To have the toy direct the action misses the point of having kids use their own language and imagination -- trust us they have plenty of both once they get started. Our other complaint about this toy is its design. It looks like a licensor's fantasy. While we like many licensed based toys, the kitchen has a very large plastic Dora that struck us as over the top. Instead, we'd recommend one of the non-talking plastic kitchens from Step 2 or Little Tikes or the wooden appliances from Small World Toys. Age: Preschool. Phone: 800-432-5437.