Toy Fair Sneak Peek

Teaching skills in a fun way is the Learning Resources way, beginning with Crossword Toss Phonics Game.

Letter recognition and word building are introduced by rolling the consonant and vowel cubes to form words in a crossword pattern. The more cubes used, the more that get tossed into a bucket for prizes and points. For the older player, Reading Rods Word For Word Phonics Word Building Game is played in a two-minute time limit. This fast-paced word building game features 112 color-coded Reading Rods, score pad and instructions.

Measuring Monkey teaches and reinforces measurement skills by using the spinner to move the monkeys up the tree. The first player to reach the top wins. Fraction concepts are part of Pizza Fraction Fun Game where pizza slices identify fraction denominations. The game includes 13 double-sided pizzas (one side shows fractions) and three double-sided spinners.

Pretend & Play for preschoolers debuts a plastic Tape Measure for little hands; Work Belt Tool Set with plastic hammer, saw, tape, wood board and battery-operated motorized drill for young builders; and a 19-piece Doctor Set complete with stethoscope, pager, forceps, bandages and cell phone for the young intern.

What could be more classic than Coke and Corvette? Maxim Enterprise tips its hat to these retro cool licenses.

Coca-Cola wooden toy train sets with the soft drink's traditional name and logo is a 54-piece collector's edition featuring Coke's holiday polar bears. The three-car train is packaged in a tin box. A second Christmas Gift collector's train set will premiere later in the year in retail, catalog and e-commerce stores.

As the Corvette celebrates its 50^th anniversary, Maxim makes wooden rockers and room décor using the Corvette style and look.

Continuing in the Isles of Adventure line is Captain Jack's Cove ship and wharf. The Venturer recreates the look of ships in the 17^th Century that took to the open seas for high adventures. Each ship includes three adventurers, treasure, maps, cannons and all-important plank. The 1600's style wood interlocking pier features a loading crane, trapdoor, seagulls and pelicans.

Award winning Wild Planet Toys is launching a new pool play product line, Outdoor Antics, for kids aged 6-12, just in time for the warmer weather. Jet Streamers, the brand's lead product will ship Spring 2003 at a recommended retail price of $5.99 for a pack of two.

The pump-action water blasters, which will be available in nine sleek collectible designs, can shoot water up to 25 feet. The great thing about the blasters is that they don't need to be refilled. Kids can simply hold the handle bottom tip of the Jet Streamers under water for a constant water intake and keep the sprayer tip above the water for non-stop squirting action. The Outdoor Antics brand will also include Dive Balls, a Magnet Dive Glove and an Aqua Light Mask among other neat pool toys.

Wild Planet is also adding new products to its popular Spy Gear line, including some special gear for girls, as well as to its Room Gear line.

Faber Castell is launching a variety of arts, crafts and creative products for 2003 from its Creativity for Kids, Creativity Kits and Playing and Learning lines.

In the Creativity for Kids line, memorable moments can be preserved with It's My Life Scrapbook Kit, complete with cool papers, designs, stickers and stencils. Or kids can make a special reminiscence to hang up with Memory Art: 2 Tiles to Treasure.

Indulging kids' artistic urges is easy by decorating anything from the Purr-sonality Cat statue to a Mirrored Vanity Box, garden tools in the Watering Can kit, and the wacky 2 Bobble Headed Dogs. There's also an easily assembled Art In A Box set and Le Most Cute Village, the latest in the collectibles range.

For something different, kids can decorate glass with the Reverse Glass Picture frame, or the OptiArt Glass Cubes, which create optical effects when arranged into blocks. The Stained Glass Window Art kit is made up of five glass sun catchers in various shapes with suction cups and hooks for hanging.

Kids can also create cool clay erasers with Make Your Own Erasers, Build a Bird Bath and create an Underwater World scene with glass creatures and faux foliage and a backdrop they can paint themselves. Sticking with the aquatic theme, Beach Beads mix and match shells, driftwood, flowers and iridescent beads for jewelry making.

And to reward themselves for all this hard work, kids can treat themselves with the Spa to Go, an assortment of bath and body items including a flower mask, bath fizzies and manicure sets.

In the Creativity Kits range, there's more memory magic with the Girlfriends Mini Scrapbook with two scrapbooks to decorate. Other friendship activities include the Beaded Buddy Bracelets with embroidery floss and star charms and the OptiArt Rings. Kids can keep their creations in the delicate pouches of the Sheer Bliss Trio set, decorated with rhinestones and glitter glue. Kids can also fashion their own bandanas with Tie-Dye Bandana-Rama and decorate the squishable Wiggly Water Tube with glitter and beads. Just add water.

For budding young artists aged 3-12 who just want to do their own thing, the Playing & Learning line includes high quality paper pads, an assortment of paints, brushes, erasers, sharpeners and combinations like the Combo Eraser & Pencil Sharpener. New in the Young Artist Series is the Modeling Dough Creatures Set with clay tools, a dough roller and 24 sticks of dough in twelve colors including neon and glitter all in a durable portfolio bag for easy portability.

A new world of imaginative and creative play for children 18 months and older is arriving from International Playthings.

Happy Land is a world of bright landscapes and friendly people where young children can take part in every day activities as well as exciting adventures. The introduction to the line will contain seven distinct playsets including a Village Vet Set, a Friendly Farm Set and even a Happy House and Happy Family set with prices ranging from $9.99 to $59.99.

Spring and summer mean travel time and the company is also rolling out a new product for those long rides in cars, airplanes and trains.

Imaginetics features color playboards with magnetic pieces that children can use to create pictures and play games. These pieces can also be used on any metallic surface including refrigerators and school lockers. The Imaginetics will be released in two sizes; a smaller version with a 14 ½-inch x 8-inch playboard for $4.99, and a larger version with an 18-inch x 12¾-inch playboard for $7.99.

Both sets will include games like Hangman and Picture Bingo and playboards will also be available with popular licensed characters including Thomas the Tank Engine, Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head and Tonka Trucks.

Balitono is introducing five new Paint the Wild wooden painting kits for 2003—perhaps even award-winning kits like some in the company's previous line.

Three new kits that are currently featured include the Spiral Windchime Kit, My Bird Diner Kit and My Heart Box Kit; all come with the necessary materials for completion.

The windchime kit also includes a fully assembled mobile with six chimes. The bird diner comes with a solid wood bird feeder with a removable roof. The My Heart Box kit is meant to be a keepsake box.

All three kits have a suggested retail price of $17 each.

Learning Curve International, a manufacturer of high quality educational and development toys, will continue emphasis on the company's most classic brands.

Among the items that will be showcased at this year's Toy Fair will be a whole new look for their Lamaze product line, and the specialty infant toy brand will feature 33 new items with bright, fashionable fabrics, patterns and colors, plus stimulating, baby-friendly scents.

The classic Multi-Sensory Stacking Rings, will be updated with new fabrics, textures and a fresh green apple scent to help develop a child's senses, while My First Fishbowl will feature trapped water with mini sea creatures frolicking inside.

There will also be more Madeline in 2003 with 23 all-new items designed to appeal to today's girls. Pretty Flower Girl, Ski Adventure and Bedtime with Bunny are some of the rag doll products for girls ages 2 and up.

Madeline will also step out with complete poseable outfits and accessories for interactive play and fun for girls ages 4 and up, including a Butterfly Catcher and Green Thumb Outfit.

Children can also work on the railroad with Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway, which features the new looks at the classic favorite including the Under the Bed Trundle Playtable and the Tidmouth Station Travel Set.

An R/C shockwave will be let loose with Hasbro's Wowwee product line for 2003 including the Aeroshock Hovercraft, a radio controlled craft that will glide over smooth surfaces.

Joining it are the R/C Power Air Surfer 2003, a mini-plane that allows for continuous flight with a rechargeable battery, and the GI Joe Hoverstrike.

In addition Hasbro is heading to the racetrack with Flash Racers, a new line of R/C cars that will be available in two styles with a variety of colors. The Fire Blazer have more than 60 super bright lights that cycle through 30 patterns, while the Light Spinner come with multiple LED lights in their wheels to create patterns as they spin.

Some of the hottest trends and latest properties are being made pocket sized by Basic Fun.

The novelty toy manufacturer is releasing a line of keychains with popular brands and proven classics including Barbie, Blue's Clues, Cabbage Patch Kids, He-Man and Sponge Bob.

The Barbie Styling Head Keychain features a secret compartment that opens to reveal hair accessories including a brush, hair bands and even a mini tiara; while kids can get in on the case with a Clue Charm Keychain that lets them show off their super sleuth skills.

Basic Fun is also bringing out the creativity of kids with Clip Crafts. One is a Needlepoint Kit, with six colors of yarn, two blunt tip needles and three plastic screens with printed designs, another is a Sculpting Kit for those budding Michelangelo's. And with Clip Craft Sand Art Kit, kids—adults too, of course—can make mini sand motifs in geometric clear containers. The line also includes a Sun Catcher Ornament Kit.

In addition to crafts and keychains, Basic Fun is rolling out numerous other small packages with big fun including a Barbie Charm Ring and a Simpsons' themed Blinky, the Three-eyed Fish wind-up. Basic Fun has more than 80 licensing agreements with companies such as Mattel, Hasbro, Disney and Nickelodeon.

Long time European toy manufacturer Haba is introducing another line of wooden play toys that will be showcased at this year's Toy Fair.

Sunnyland Jigsaw Puzzle is a bright and colorful puzzle made of smooth wood and non-toxic paint. With easy-to- pick-up button knob pieces, the puzzle is designed for children age 2 and up.

The undersea world of Haba's Water Castle looks to inspire imaginative and independent play with connecting rods and pieces that can be transformed into various shapes. The Water Castle is also made of smooth wood with non-toxic paint.

A tin and wood suitcase of magic tricks for young wizards age 8 and up will be available as Haba's Magic Box, complete with magic wand, accessories and instructional leaflet.

And Little Trackers, an interactive memory game for two to four players, age 6 and up, has players compete to help lost young animals find their parents.

Now your husband's famous football tale regaled over and over again can actually be useful when playing Family Reunion by USAopoly.

Players of all ages share family stories to collect photo cards in various categories. Losers must reveal a family secret to the winner. Skeleton in the Closet and "You're Not Telling the Whole Story" cards add to the challenge.

Family Reunion is packaged in a keepsake box that opens like a photo album. The oral family history game can be personalized with the players' own photographs.

Another offering from USAopoly celebrates a famous feline. Garfield 25^th Anniversary Collector's Edition commemorates the lasagna-loving cat and all that is Garfield. The board game includes a comic strip created exclusively by Jim Davis featuring Jon, Odie and Garfield playing the board game.

The Garfield Monopoly game includes collectible pewter pieces played on a game board covered with classic Davis illustrations.

Fisher-Price offers fun for the formative years starting with Classical Chorus Gym for babies. Classical tunes play while dangling objects create musical sound effects when moved. The gym converts to a standing piano with animated star-shaped keys for toddlers. Step & Play Piano plays music for baby and changes into a walker that creates a song when baby steps on the keys. From there, the seat removes to create a walk through space with large piano base keys.

Infants can learn about sights and sounds with Smart Screen Intelli-Table in the Photo Fun Learning line. The activity table's photo images light up to show a word and picture for each letter of the alphabet.

For artistic tykes, Magna Doodle Doodle Talker with a Yak-Back feature lets kids talk into and play back for up to five seconds to bring their pictures to life. Magna Doodle On the Go Games makes traveling fun with six different preprinted games across the screen for repeat play or free-drawing fun on a blank screen. View-Master 3D Viewer is updated in 2003 with sleek styling in blue, green, red and purple; View-Master Discovery Channel Microscope has 5X magnification and a 3D viewer.

Wonder Blocks are two toys in one: Encased in each of the 50 blocks are little objects to stimulate baby's senses. The Wonder Wagon is an interactive activity station with special blocks containing colorful objects and intricate textures.

Preschoolers get the power with the Imaginext Power Construction Site play set with moving boom crane, rock crusher and conveyor vehicles. For adventurers, the Imaginext Pirate Ship is equipped with triple-firing cannon, toppling mast with battle target and working deck cannon.

Rescue Heroes Mountain Action Command Center has a climbing wall, dock area and satellite lookout tower and opens up to a pivot down garage with movable crane and elevator. A Mission Select dial offers different emergency mission categories for the new Mission Select metallic-colored figures with specially designed backpacks.

Kids get their creative juices flowing with Pixter 2.0 with drawing tools, creative activities, sound effects and music plus wireless communication to send "mail" from up to 20 feet away. The built-in software has an international keyboard and works with all Pixter software, including new Rescue Heroes, Barbie and Disney Character Fun. A portable Pixter Wireless Printer can be used by multiple Pixters at the same time; the first 50,000 will include a free "Ultimate Printer" ROM pack to create banners and signs.

Fisher-Price goes outdoors with Grow to Pro Pro Trainer Skates featuring soft-sided boot skates with speed control wheels and adjustable size for pre-teens stepping into aggressive inline skating. Grow to Pro Arcade Challenge Basketball brings the arcade into the backward with two hoops and electronic games, sound effects and automatic ball returns.

Power Wheels celebrates Harley Davidson's 100^th anniversary with a Duece cruiser model that has the chopper's classic styling, including orange and black flame decals and characteristic open spoke front wheel and solid disc rear wheel. Girls will go for the Power Wheels Barbie Volkswagen Dune New Beetle with pink tinted windshield, pretend radio and oversized rugged tires for the off-road. The Mini-Bike is back in an MX3 version that features the traditional rugged two-wheel format for any riding surface.

Battat is adding to its Banbury Horses collection sets and Little Friends Miniature line this year.

A number of new breeds have been added to the Banbury Horses range as well as 6-inch rider dolls with poseable limbs, who can sit on any of the 7- and 9-inch steeds. Battat has also introduced a Fairy Heart Horse & Carriage play set with a 9-inch glitter white horse and a fantasy two-wheeled carriage that fits standard 11-inch dolls.

As for the Little Friends range, there are five new dolls with articulated arms and legs as well as three additional play themes, including an aerobic studio, a horseback riding set and a car with working lights, horns and dolly driver behind the wheel. There is also a new Portable Plastic Cube to make transporting Little Friends easy, with a handle, windows on the side and an extended play area in front.

Action Products' new releases for 2003 include jungle adventures, taking flight with friendly airplanes, dinosaur digs and voyages into space!

Big Jake the Prop Plane and Savannah the Supersonic Jet join the Jay Jay the Jet Plane Wooden Adventure System, complete with spinning propellers and blinking eyes, and there's a new Jay Jay the Jet Plane Diecast Metal Collection too.

Those setting their sights a little higher can blast off with two new astronauts in Space Voyagers AstroSquad. Dr. Mack Powers and Lt. Commander Steel Jones come equipped with realistic NASA equipment such as the floating red orb-shaped Personal Satellite Assistant and Robonaut robot. There's also the highly detailed Ultimate Apollo Moon Mission replica spacecraft with separate modules and three articulated mini-astronauts.

Back on earth, the realistic Climb@Tron Wild Climbers, the Red-Eyed Tree Frog and creepy crawly Tarantula will scale any smooth surface using vacuum suction technology. Kids can go deeper with the new replica Stegosaurus Skeleton and Velociraptor Skull to unearth from the I Dig Dinosaurs collection that includes Dinostone rock blocks, steel tools and excavation glasses.

Zapf Creation is extending its doll families extensively this year, including Baby Annabell, Chou Chou, Maggie Raggies, Baby born and Baby born miniworld.

The Maggie Raggies 'Frog Prince' captures the classic fairy tale theme, including, of course, the frog—this one turns inside out to become a prince. New 11-inch Maggie Raggies sport hip outfits and a backpack clip to make them accessories as well as playthings.

This year Baby born is waterproof for bath-time play and new additions have been made to her wardrobe including a bath layette, rain gear, swimming accessories and casual dress outfits. Baby born miniworld includes a new Splish Splash Set, complete with bathtub; Playground Set, Picnic Set and House.

Baby Annabell is back, too, with new accessories and welcomes a little sister to the family. New to Chou Chou this year is the Story Weather Deluxe Set, a 14-inch Be Happy Chou Chou that giggles when squeezed, a Chou Chou Changing Bag and Chou Chou Deluxe Stroller.

Turn-A-Round Fun Circus is a locomotive of educational motor skill activities encompassing sight and sound. Activities include gear wheels that activate melodies, flashing lights and sound effects. Eye-hand coordination is encouraged as the detachable wheels are correctly repositioned.

The new Light 'N Sound Noah's Ark is an electronic boat with a wide range of activities. A working keyboard with eight colored keys features numerous animal voices melodies and sound effects. The keys also light up and guide children in the composition of several pre-recorded melodies. And since the ark is on wheels, kids can also push and move it around. The Light 'N Sound Snail also features a plethora of sight and sound activities.

Chicco's Mini Play Villages offer the preschooler role-playing activities with four different theme sets: farm, fire station, garage and house. Each are sold separately. The villages include characters with moveable arms and legs and freewheeling vehicles.

Aurora World and Shari Lewis Lamp Chop are still entertaining kids and adults after more than 30 years.

The California-based plush maker is manufacturing one of the most recognizable puppets of all time, Lamp Chop.

Mallory Tarcher (Lewis), Shari's daughter, now helps Lamp Chop scrunch up her nose and talk in a little sweet voice.

The two will be chatting it up and singing up a storm in the Aurora booth at Javits Center during Toy Fair, Monday, Feb. 17 from Noon to 4 p.m.

From the folks that brought Sequence to game players: Jax Ltd. is introducing two new additions this year.

The first is Solitaire Frenzy and the other, Over & Out. Both new entries, like other Jax games, are designed to provide interaction and education.

Jax will be bringing the company's complete line of games to Toy Fair.

When it comes to sand, Uncle Milton knows a lot about it. This year, maker of the renowned Ant Farm will introduce Beach Heads Funny Face Maker for the Sand.

By using the included sand molds, 3-D head shapes can be made in the sand either duplicating the included characters or creatively mixing the parts—which can then be stored in the included net bag.

Two different Beach Heads, set to launch in spring/summer, are included in each pack. Pack 1 includes Freaky Tiki and Surfer Dude; Pack 2 includes Beachasaur and Sandbot.

Building on the popularity of its Scratch Magic activity kits, Scratch Art's latest release lets kids create 'stained glass' pictures that magically start to glow as kids draw.

The Scratch-Lite Sketcher includes 10 Scratch-Lite Sheets, a stencil with 35 shapes, two drawing tools and hang-strips to show off stained glass masterpieces by displaying them in any sunny window.

The Sketcher is lightweight and sturdy for travel. It requires four C batteries and refills can be purchased separately.

Children can gear up to hit the open road with Peg Perego's ATV vehicles for children two and up.

Through a license with Polaris Industries, the manufacturer of children's ride-on vehicles will be making products a little more rugged with the six-volt Polaris 400 Sportsman, which lets children up to 65 pounds head off-road for some fun.

Also from Peg Perego is a licensed Worksite Gator 4x2 vehicle modeled after the John Deere construction hauler. The 12-volt rechargeable battery will drive children at the speed of two-and-a-half and five miles per hour, and can haul loads on and off-road terrains.

In a new offering from Endless Games, the company puts a new spin on classic Password—Password Junior.

With 500 words specifically geared for youngsters, Password Junior challenges communication skills in teams of two to three. Unlike its classic predecessor, the junior version doesn't limit teams to one-word clues; rather the clue-giver must say or do something (anything!) to make their teammates guess the word.

Another of the company's new games takes players on a virtual trip—Route 66—traveling the 2,448 miles of the historic highway to relive American history.

Players hit the gas in New York and take Interstate 80 to Chicago. From there they pick up Route 66 and floor it to their final destination, Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, California.

A third new game is for adults: Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus: The Game—inspired by John Gray's best-selling book.

Kids cast their votes on the Perler Bead Web site and the manufacturer responded with the products they asked for: dolphin, car and flower.

The three new pegboard shapes are available in a blister pack or in a variety of new activity kits for 2003 and join a diverse array of other Perler pegboards.

Electric train enthusiasts will be able to hear the train coming around the bend with the LGB 65000 European Steam Sound Unit, which puts digital technology in the hands of hobbyists.

The electronic unit combines volume control and speaker in one compact box that easily fits into most LGB freight and passenger cars or in the cab of many LGB locomotives. Set up an authentic steam chuff sound or bell, whistle and brake sounds and conductor announcement with the LGB Multi-Train System, complete with sound decoder. For standing sounds, add the 65011 Sound Unit Power Storage or the 65010 Sound Unit Function Trigger to activate bell and whistle sounds via track magnets.

It's hard to keep Gayla on the ground and its innovative 2003 kites take the manufacturer to new heights.

3-D Sea Plane Kites tout 3-D Ripstop nylon body design with spinning tails and vibrant colors. Sea Planes with pontoon landing gear, Jumbo Jet and Twin Engine Sea Plane with pontoon landing gear all come with twine and winder.

They fly like butterflies with realistic wing flapping motion and new Tiger Swallowtail, Monarch and Peacock kites include 200 feet of twine and winder. The colorful keel guided kites are easy to assemble.

Wildlife Kites fly like real birds and have 55-inch wing spans that will catch the attention of bird watchers and kite flyers. The assortment features American Bald Eagle, Osprey, Snowy Owl, Rainbow Parrot, Peregrine Falcon, Seagull, Macaw Parrot, Toucan and Horned Owl.

The former Microsoft execs that brought Cranium to the market have two new games ready to play at Toy Fair—but 'mum's the word' on what they're called; at least until Toy Fair.

The first combines voice, music and sound effects into a game for ages 5 and up. The second is a fast-paced communication game for ages 8 and up.

Both are set to retail at $25 and $20 respectively, and expected to ship in the fall.

Woodkins for boys called 'Switch It' take the play activity from Pamela Drake to a new dimension. Each kit comes with art-filled template sheets to layer traditionally boy-oriented subjects.

Three Woodkins changing rooms—bedroom, bath and powder room and family room—can be decorated with fabric and accessories.

Design Studio's new look includes a see-through carrying tote in bright colors that shows off the doll, fabric and accessories included.

Dubbed high energy Woodkins are TMF dolls (too much fun) that are all in a position of motion. Dressing Up, Skateboarding, Playing Soccer and Rocking Out are the four new dolls, each packaged in a see-through carry tote with three additional faces and a selection of fabrics.

The first double Woodkins board debuts with Madeline and her pal Nicole shopping at a boutique.

Snakes & Things collection adds six new kits: Paint-A-Croc, Paint-A-Dino, Paint-A-Fish, Paint-A-Kitty, Paint-A-Lizard and Paint-A-Snake. Each kit comes with a wooden articulated piece, paint pots and glaze pot, brush, sponge, colored pencils, two mini plastic reptiles or animals and an environment scene to color.

Pamela Drake now also distributes the first series of life-like wooden pull toys by Applepie Toys. The dog, cat and duck are articulated to wiggle when a child pulls them.

Girl Tech's new Password Journal—due out for spring—uses voice recognition technology to keep secret thoughts safe from prying eyes.

The high-tech journal can only be accessed by a personalized password said in the owner's voice. If anyone tires to snoop, an intruder alarm sounds. The journal also includes a light for night writing, a calendar and a variety of rubbing textures to decorate pages. It comes in a case the cover of which can be personalized with the gel pen that's included.

Simpsons plush dolls starring Homer and the Springfield gang—Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, and Itchy & Scratchy—begin the parade of Applause product to specialty retailers with special seasonal releases planned around Father's Day, Halloween and Christmas.

Nickelodeon television characters enter the specialty retail sector with SpongeBob SquarePants, Rugrats, Blue's Clues, Jimmy Neutron, Rocket Power, Hey Arnold! and Ren & Stimpy plush, including novelties, puppets, PVC figurine gift sets, key chains and magnets. A new line of plush and gift items based on the Peanuts gang starts off with that "lovable beagle" Snoopy with additional products slated for release later in 2003.

Applause is marketing collectible plush items aimed toward the collegiate market with an assortment of plush Musical Mascots from 82 Division I colleges including the USC Trojans, Michigan Wolverines, Florida Gators, Nebraska Cornhuskers, and University of Texas Longhorns. The individual Musical Mascots each play a recording of the college's pep band performing the school's fight song. The line also includes mini mascots, collectible Nutcrackers, and compact spirit radios.

All monies from sales of commemorative Applause plush replicas of the NYPD's K-9 Unit and the NYPD's Mounted Unit are contributed to the New York Police Foundation in recognition of the police department's contribution in the September 11 rescue efforts.

Expanding on its range of fantasy horses, Breyer is introducing Oberon, a porcelain unicorn stallion for tweens and older, as well as a Northern Lights horse that captures the Aurora Borealis on its flanks.

Three new fantasy play sets for children are also bound for retail. In the Ponies line, little girls can comb the main and tail of the unicorn in the Unicorn and Fairy playset.

For older kids the Stablemates line with Medieval Playset features a brightly-armored warrior princess and her steed with a treasure chest, chalice and heraldic flag. The Unicorn Playset is complete with a princess and a unicorn, a treasure chest and a dragon with a crystal ball.

JoyRide Studios, a brand of Racing Champions Ertl, will be producing a line of plastic and die-cast collectible figures based on the popular BattleTech and MechWarrior characters created by WizKids. These 3-D figures will represent the 30-foot-tall walking war machines that first stormed into the gaming world in 1984.

Racing Champions Etrl is also heading to the world of illegal street racing while bringing out a line of die-cast collectible cars based on the hit Universal Pictures movie, The Fast and the Furious.

These detailed cars will be available in both 1:64 and 1:18 scale in 2003.

In addition to these vehicles, a line of Harley-Davidson die-cast motorcycles will be released as a natural addition to the company's line. The Harley-Davidson Die-Cast Motorcycle Collection Series 1 is offered in both 1:18 and 1:10 scale sizes in time for the motorcycle pioneer company's 100^th anniversary in 2003.

Families and friends can test their knowledge of each other even more with a new Booster Pack for Loaded Questions party game by All Thing's Equal.

More than 500 questions in four categories feature current events and social issues, including patriotic, pop culture as well as random hypothetical questions.

Two new games are Arbitration, a party game that utilizes "Rock, Paper, Scissors" with personal responses to opened-ended questions; and PictureScripts, a new line of photo albums that are part-game, part-activity and part-scrapbook.

With a line of products that will be released in conjunction with next summer's release of The Hulk, Toy Biz hopes to see 'green.'

In addition to Hulk products the division of Marvel Enterprises is also releasing products for the X-Men sequel X2 and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, while also continuing to support other product lines including Spider-Man.

Hulk products will include 13-inch Battle Action Hulk (SRP $16.99), Hulk Movie Action Figures (SRP $7.99) and Hulk Movie Mega Muscles Dress Up (SRP $17.99). A full line of new 6-inch X-Men 2 figures, and 6-inch figures for the second installment of The Lord of the Rings will also debut in spring.

The Web Slinger will feature a line of pre-school properties including Spider-Man & Friends Action Heroes & Vehicles. The Action Figure sets arrive in April and continue with releases in July and October.

Chouette has two new lines of books that will have young ones doing more than just storytelling.

For babies ages 3 months and older, the Rattle Books series takes soft Caillou books and adds part doll and part rattle, then a mirror for making faces. Also from Chouette, Zigzag books for ages 3 and older offer objectives and suggestions to parents on how to guide children through the activities.

Zaptoys is teaming up with France-based Wany Robotics to make a wireless controlled toy with features of a video game.

A set of two wireless controlled robotic toys—TankBots—that can interact and participate fully in children's games is Zaptoys' goal in combining artificial intelligence and robotic technologies.

Brio builds on open-end play and fun by adding new twists to its collectible systems and build-and-play models.

Stepping up the technology, Animal Yard wooden farm animals make sounds when a train passes by. The Sky Train system uses supports and hanging wagons with magnetic couplings to run above the ground and hang from the rails. The 24-piece set includes wooden tracks and trees.

Bob the Builder adds Scoop Away Snow decorated road track and removable magnetic snow piles and Snow Scoop, with Bob dressed for winter holding a tilting snow blade, to its wooden railway system.

Peter Penguin by Ambi, complete with floating flippers and extended neck, makes bathing fun for babies. Curious George has three stories to get in trouble in George's Surprise House. Graphics adorn each side of the 11-inch tall building with openings on two floors and disappearing rattle balls.

Plan City gets a two-lane roadway system while City Station has a tri-level design with levels compatible with built-in railway and roadway connections. Adventure Tracks has Play City's roadway with logging crossway/ bridge and roller coaster features.

For doll connoisseurs, Doll Family rubber dolls can be posed and have hands that grasp. The Victorian Dollhouse offers classic Victorian exterior and removable partitions for remodeling. Any dollhouse will welcome the new Gazebo Set and 12-piece BBQ Set with grill.

Erector debuts Design multi-model sets with flexible pieces and molecular memory. Metal bands bend to build and spring back to its original shape. Four new Design sets have a champagne-colored base; Design 4 has over 440 parts to build 15 models including a sports car, robot and racing car.

Look for a migration of 28 plush beanbag birds that represent all 50 states as well the America's own national bird, the Bald Eagle, next year complete with authentic sounds recorded by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Wild Republic is unveiling a new flock to its Audubon Bird line with the U.S.A State Birds Collection.

With retail prices ranging from $7 to $8 these 5-inch and 6-inch Audubon Birds State Birds feature authentic design and sounds. Each will also feature an educational hang tag that lists the state or states it represents, its migration pattern and even key facts about the species as well as birdcalls.

Strawberry Shortcake dolls, which first rose to popularity in the early '80s, return with a "berry fresh look" for a new generation of young girls from Bandai America.

Still smelling sweet, the new Strawberry Shortcake sports a more modern look including wide-brimmed hats, colorful t-shirts and trendy blue jeans. The new line features the Berry Best Friends scented dolls, the Berry Sweet Wearables scented miniature dolls, and the Berry Cute Girls scented 2 ½-inch dolls that come packaged in a small tote bag.

The line also features scented characters such as Apple Dumplin', Ginger Snap, Orange Blossom and Angel Cake. Each doll also comes complete with her own pet. Their animal pals include Custard the Cat, Pupcake the Dog, Chocolate Chipmunk, Vanilla Icing Lamb, and Marmalade the Butterfly.

American Greetings and DIC Entertainment plan to re-launch a series of ani-mated movies featuring Shortcake and her pals.

New licensing deals with the popular Miffy and Friends will be announced at Toy Fair. Big Tent Entertainment is representing the property that has sold more than 80 million books worldwide.

The company will be announcing deals with Barnes & Noble Booksellers and the Noggin Network.

A new Miffy & Friends half-hour television series will debut on Nickelodeon's sister channel Noggin Network in April featuring the bunny character and her other animal friends. It will use 3-D animation in conjunction with the traditional stop motion puppet animation.

Radica and Girl Tech have a whole grouping of new battery operated handheld games.

For ages 8 and up, last year's popular Skannerz gets a promotion to Skannerz Commander, with 126 new monsters.

Expanding other categories, Radica has new versions of Wordhunt, Big Screen Solitaire, Big Screen Black Jack 21, Big Screen Poker, Sub Combat and Tank Combat. The card games have multiple versions of games on the same unit.

Radica's Girl Tech is releasing Barbie Scanimals Pet Rescue for young ladies five and up. Based on the Skannerz model, Scanimals will have girls finding lost pets hidden in UPC codes. Once recaptured, girls can nurse their animals back to health and even dress them.

There will be plenty of activities for boys and girls with RoseArt's new line of activity-based playsets featuring brands like Hot Wheels and Barbie.

The Hot Wheels Car Factory will include everything would-be auto makers will need to mold and detail eight Hot Wheels Cars, while Matchbox fans can battle fires and save the day with both a Matchbox Fire Truck Extruder playset, and Matchbox Mini Fire Truck Extruder Vehicle.

Afternoon tea, as well as some birthday cake or other light snacks will be available for those who wish to entertain with the Barbie Dough Tea Set, Barbie Figurine Cookie Cutters and Barbie Birthday Cake playset. The birthday set includes three cans of Fun Dough as well as cake mold, cutter and gift boxes. Invitations can be written with the Barbie Fashion pens that are in shape of six-inch figurines with rooted hair.

RoseArt also knows it is time to make the donuts with the Dunkin' Donuts Donut Maker Playset, which even includes a mini Dunkin' Donuts box and hat for children so kids will be ready with their own kitchen-based franchise.

Sophia's, manufacturer of trendy and fashioned-oriented doll clothes, is continuing to pave the way in dressing the doll the customer already owns: the popular 18-inch doll and 15-inch baby doll, as well as 8-inch, 12-inch, 17-inch and 19-inch baby dolls.

Recent additions of boy/girl 15-inch twin baby dolls, has stimulated Sophia's to add four new co-ordinating outfits. The hard to find 23-inch doll clothes and shoes round out the company's extensive product line.

Furry Friends haven't been forgotten either. Sophia's offers seven outfits to fit a child's favorite stuffed creatures, such as Angelina Ballerina, Beanie Babies and Boyd's Bears.

Late last year, Sophia's delivered a new "fabric paper" doll series, which continues to expand on the "Best Friends Collection."

The series consists of Dress and Play Sets and Design and Play Kits.

Soft and cuddly defines the handcrafted Spring/Easter line and baby items by First & Main.

Plush bunny rabbits in assorted colors and designs highlight First & Main's spring series. Multi-spotted Good Egg Eddie comes in two sizes; Eggstra Special Bunny is made of Kohair plush in two sizes.

Spring comes in like a lamb with Curly Q Lambkins 'n Duckle Wuckle and Wabbits additions, with the Hang-a-rounds series also getting some warm weather add-ons.

All that is celestial is the theme of baby star and cloud-shaped embroidered pillows, sleeping bear blankets and new "Jamabags" that zip open for storage. Petal pushers and plush bears for Mother's Day and plush bears sporting academia garb for graduates are gift-giving items.

New Flopples plush Kohair animals with "floppy" poses and Knot Knees long-legged poseable animals with knees tied up in knots are two new series set to debut as everyday collections.