From work shop to toy shop

For a plaything, the road from work shop to toy shop is often a winding one. There might be a few detours along the way and sometimes even a dead end.

Or, the road could be full of potholes and rough spots and be painfully long.

Then again, the path might be incredibly smooth and delightfully short.

While there may be many uncertainties about the passage from work shop to toy shop, one stop is a given: a layover at Toy Fair. Whether at the International Toy Center or the Javits Center, the next hottest toy to fly off the shelves will likely be found in New York City this February.

In this issue, PLAYTHINGS lays some of the groundwork for the big city stopover. Travel with us and have a glimpse at some of the voyagers hoping to make it to the toy shop this year.

Bath time is more than just getting clean with Alex Rub-a-Dub Artist in the Tub painting kit designed for toddlers. Creative kids can learn various painting techniques using different sponges and paintbrushes. This colorful kit is packed with a fish-shaped painter tray and palate, as well as fish sponges and rollers with a big handle for little fingers.

With Alex's Shaggy Chic Hipster CD Hanger, style-savvy kids ages seven and up use a pair of jeans as their palate to create this trendy fashion accessory. The retro jeans have six wide pockets that can be decorated with bright sequin strips, suede lacing and beaded leather trim to be woven throughout the CD holder.

Let a child's imagination go wild with Jungle Marble Cascade. Children can build and design their own crazy marble maze and see it come to life as they drop a marble in one end and watch it journey through the jungle.

The Jungle Marble Cascade comes with bright, printed rubber wood blocks of jungle animals and trees that are easy to hold and stack.

Time flies with the Alex Yo-Yo Watch for children who love to put their own new spin on things. Kids can decorate their Yo-Yo Watch with colorful sticky stones and fun beads. Once designed, kids can pop out the watch and "watch" it roll down and spring back up as it becomes a fun yo-yo.

Kids Touch Learning is debuting 27 styles of adventure buckets, each self-contained and including playmats, and is adding to the company's line of Besteam Doll Carriages. This year's carriage collection—British Plaid—includes umbrella strollers, joggers, prams and convertible carriages.

Blanky Babies, a line of soft baby dolls that are also puppets, are also new for Kids Touch this year. These dolls wear a soft fleece top and a removable cloth diaper. Each doll comes in pink, blue and yellow and is available in Caucasian, African-American and Asian.

Kid Galaxy is introducing new lines of Bendos, KGRacers and My First RC.

Bendos are a non-violent, flexible alternative to other action figures. New lines include Bendos RCs, vehicles designed for action play with Bendos figures. Also debuting are Bendos Action Sets, such as the Mega-Parachute set and the Off-Road Racer set, which include Bendos with accessories and vehicles.

A licensing agreement with Major League Baseball will further expand the Bendos line with MLB Bendos, which feature 30 teams, in each team's individual uniform. MLB Bendos are available this month.

The KG Racers line includes newcomers, insectimites and musclemites, as well as the original automites. These battery-operated, miniature RCs now showcase a variety of themes, from insects to 'muscle' cars to traditional automobiles.

Storage is made simple with Fold 'n Hold desktop, nursery and patriotic pop-up, fold-down cubes by Big Idea Group.

Desktop sets combine three different sizes for storing everything from CDs to pocket change in nylon mesh, canvas or deluxe canvas and faux leather. Nursery 12-inch cubes come in baby blue and pink mesh. Red, white and blue patriotic Fold 'n Hold is available in desktop and 12-inch sizes.

Deluxe canvas and faux leather with side pockets and padded handles are designed for a more upscale look. The 22 new styles feature the pop-up and fold-down design of the original Fold 'n Hold and include a removable plastic bottom and sturdy carrying handles.

Götz Dolls Precious Day Girls have a new look for 2003. Flare leg jeans, ruffle-edged skirts, capri pants and more give these 18-inch standing dolls up-to-the-minute style.

All of the Precious Day Girls have open-and-close eyes and long rooted hair that can be shampooed, brushed and styled for hours of fun. In addition to their articulated soft bodies, these dolls are machine-washable. Precious Day Girls are recommended for ages 3 and up.

Madame Alexander marks its 80^th anniversary with a slew of new dolls. Articulated Alexandra Fairchild Ford, Paris Williams and Jadde Lee each feature 18 points of articulation. All three dolls are wearing Back to Basics, a classic little black dress, and they come with a black purse, black shoes, a hat and sunglasses. Two other dolls commemorate Madame Alexander's milestone event: Red Carpet Alex, wearing a beaded black dress with white inset, joins her aunt Amanda Fairchild who is donning a dress of black velvet and ivory satin.

In addition, Wendy is celebrating her own milestone— 50 years—and will be available as a fully jointed, 8-inch doll. Three other Wendys also make their debut: A Toast to Madame Alexander, It's My Birthday and Wendy's Anniversary Truck Set.

Madame Alexander also pairs up with some literary pals this year. The company is producing a 10-inch Clifford the Big Red Dog and a 5-inch version of his friend Emily Elizabeth. A new play set, Olivia Saves the Circus, features the little pig with a plush lion, three colorful costumes and other accessories that can be stored in a hatbox. A satin cover fits over the box to turn it into a big top tent.

Finally, Halloween could not be complete without a visit from the Great Pump- kin. The entire gang—Lucy, Linus, Sally, Charlie Brown and, of course, Snoopy—is decked out and ready to trick or treat.

DSI Toys extends its Tech-Link and Kawasaki Music lines and introduces Gear Head RC vehicles.

MTV TRL guest DJ Skribble Spinheads is personified in musical toys and eight interactive figures, and Vinylizer and Phat ride big pipe cars with speakers. More music comes from the Kawasaki Music brand with a Light Up Mega Mix Guitar, Light Up Mega Hits Drum Pad and Trumpet and a Mini-Boom jazzy line of mini-musical instruments.

In the new RC line, DSI premieres its Gear Head Crazy Taxi RC Vehicle and Dual Fusion RC Vehicle. A Tech-Link Super Spy Set and Cliptronics touts an FM radio, talking compass, listening device, recorder and recorder/motion detector.

DSI doesn't stop there: The company is also introducing My Baby Love Doll, Too Cute Twins School Time Dolls, Pride & Joy Dolls, Little Darlings and Personality Plush.

Brio's new Wooden Railway systems explore new worlds of adventure. Children can go back in time to the age of the ancient Egyptians when they travel with the Pharaoh and Cleopatra in richly decorated wagons. Colorful graphics and light and sound technology are included in this new system that connects to the Wooden Rail- way. The 28-piece Egyptian Adventure Set includes Queen Cleopatra, camels, statues, a pyramid with a footbridge and secret hiding place, and even a snake bump track.

The Sky Train system adds yet another dimension to railway play. The 24-piece Sky Train Set includes supports, wooden tracks, trees and hanging wagons with magnetic couplings.

The newest Erector series is the Design line, which is comprised of three new sets. Design 2 has 223 parts with directions for five models, including a helicopter and motorbike. Design 3 includes a three-volt motor and 324 parts to build ten different models. Design 4 has a whopping 447 parts, builds 15 models—including a sports car, robot and racing car—and has a six-volt motor.

The Mixer Truck is one of five new additions to the City line of Erector for 4- to 8-year-olds. Consistent with the theme of city workers, 188 plastic parts build six different models appropriate for highway work. Two construction workers, a mixing barrel, gears and rugged tires round out this build-and-play toy.

Mind Fun (formerly Binary Arts) puts the "brainy" in rainy day puzzles and family games. The rapid-fire WordSense promises to build vocabulary and spelling skills, while those kids quick on the draw can test their artistic ability or engage in a doodle duel in the category-based Oodles of Doodles.

A perilous plank puzzle, River Crossing, for ages eight to adult, features 40 beginner-to-expert challenges complete with piranhas and alligators, magnetic planks and a sturdy travel bag. In a similarly tricky vein, Stormy Seas, repackaged for 2003, has players trying to reach a safe harbor using color-coded wave bars.

Mind Fun puts a fresh spin on a tried-and-true favorite with the Mini Fifteen Puzzle Key Chain, which first appeared in 1880 in a somewhat less portable form. Four classic children's card games with the original whimsical artwork have been re-released.

Fusion Toys is taking to the sky with popular characters. Tinkerbell flaps her gossamer wings and Buzz Lightyear flies 'to infinity and beyond.' Winnie the Pooh even gets a chance to fly after his favorite honey in his Bee Suit.

Fusion Toys also welcomes Warner Brother's Justice League to its 2003 lineup of flying characters.

The X-Racer is the newest foam glider by Paul K. Guillow.

Designed for all ages, from kids to adult, the large, foam plane can be personalized with colorful decals. The X-Racer is designed to soar 100 feet.

Toddlers have something to laugh about with a new line of travel toys, accessories and baby essentials called Soft Giggles.

The line will include over 15 product categories and more than 100 individual designs. Soft Giggles will include gift sets and single products, such as stroller blankets, toys, play masks, mats and bath time accessories.

Personalizing bracelets with both names and meaning is at the heart of the Build a Better Bracelet by The Bead Shop.

By using one or several of seven fonts in metal, rhinestones or epoxy, kids can adorn colorful sateen, metal mesh and frosty silicone bands with their names and beaded hearts, happy faces and stars.

Two new kits feature Block Party and Alphadots themes with three adjustable sateen bracelets and 75 letters for getting the message across over and over again. New fonts are available every month for teens to constantly change and update their personalized bands.

Maggie's Closet is Galt America's new home for the bendable Maggie doll. The wood closet has a sliding door and stands seven inches high.

The Maggie doll from Original Toys by Galt America stands four inches tall and comes with five different outfits, including two hats, a backpack and purse.

Care Bears are enjoying a warm and fuzzy welcome back with Play Along plush and play sets, as well as coloring, activity and sticker books by Modern Publishing.

Cadaco features the furry characters in Take & Play games for ages four and up. Care Bears Rainbow Rummy is a card game where players draw and discard in an all-out race to get four of a kind and make a grab at the rainbow pieces in the pot. The Care Bears Cloud Catcher has players spinning to collect their favorite characters and fill the cloud card.

Value Creations Groups new craft and activity sets, stamp kits and wood puzzles join Disguise Care Bear Halloween costumes. In addition, Playmates unveils Waterbabies play dolls and accessories highlighting the Care Bears.

Reel Genius, a blend of Monopoly-like strategy and trivia about movie making, is the lead product in Twist Marketing's new licensing division.

In another offering, baby boomers can relate to Happy Retirement, a board game that explores the quest for wealth and a balance in life. Another new game is an adult version of Hedbanz, while Noodle Booster keeps players thinking as they answer questions in this educational board game.

Toss 'Ems is designed for the kid crowd with its sports motif and pod-like magnetic pieces.

There's Lego for everyone, starting with Lego Make and Create collection to inspire budding builders of all ages. Designer Kits provide everything needed to build robots, vehicles and animals with Inventor Sets including wind-up motors and electronic gears to animate their contraptions and critters.

Kids can get their game on with the Lego Sports Basketball and Hockey sets to build their own playing fields and then shoot to score with collectible NBA and NHL mini-figures.

Girls get crafty with new Clikits for designing and making jewelry, room décor elements, accessories, tote bags, and picture frames.

Boys can go bonkers with the six Bohrok-Kal Bionicle enemies and the direct-to-video movie, Bionicle: The Mask of Light. There's more space-age action with the Lego Star Wars line with Jabba's Palace play set and replica starship mini models.

Johnny Thunder has a new role-playing quest in Lego Orient Expedition, select sets of game boards and playing cards.

Add producer to HIT Entertainment's forte with the fall premiere of the animated series, Rubberdubbers, on Nick Jr. Hasbro plans a 2004 toy line based on the bath toy characters.

The Wiggles, the fruit salad-loving Australian kids' entertainers, are taking the United States by storm and Spin Master Toys offers plush and plastic toys. Talk and Sing-A-Long Dolls feature the group members with their own phrase and song. Toot Toot Musical Big Red Car plays the band's theme song as it moves, and Sing-with-Me Microphone lets kids go karaoke. Three new Wiggles direct-to-video titles join HIT releases of the VHS and DVD versions of The Wiggle Magical Adventure—A Wiggly Movie, the full-length feature shown in Australia.

Thomas & Friends' Percy's Chocolate Crunch direct-to-video gets the full HIT-marketing treatment with a book from Random House and new train set called Mr. Jolly's Chocolate Factory from Learning Curve International.

Bob the Builder proves he can do it all with The Knights of Fix-A-Lot direct-to-video and Hasbro's Fix 'n Clean Roadway play set, Mini Vehicle Assortment and Lumberjack Bob electronic plush.

Random House, Simon & Schuster, Publications International and Hinkler each release a variety of flap-lift, early reader, color and activity and electronic sound books.

Fisher-Price adds All Aboard Barney, Big 'n Silly Instruments and Dino Dance Barney in its new Best Behaviors line that promotes good conduct and positive habits. Barney videos include Songs from the Park and an August direct-to-video title that ties in thematically with the Best Behaviors line.

Though it is most parents' nightmare to have bratty kids, girls can't get enough of their Lil' Bratz dolls. This year at Toy Fair, there will be a few new themes for the popular playthings.

In March, software developer Ubi Soft will be launching Bratz Funky Fashion Dance Game and girls can get their groove on with their favorite Bratz characters.

Expanding the Lil' Bratz line, manufacturer MGA Entertainment will be introducing Lil' Bratz Mix 'N' Match Loungin' Loft. This playset will focus on interior decorating in a loft setting that includes 35 furniture pieces, 50 reusable vinyl accessories and 16 funky fabric furnishings.

Protectors of the Planet take action figures into a whole new environment—plains, rainforests, wetlands and oceans.

Each with individual missions, the articulated action figures by Wildlife Artists have real-life stories taken from actual adventures to teach and increase children's understanding of wildlife and their environments.

While Viper's mission is to protect the Brazilian Rain- forest from a deadly virus, Mako protects the Pacific/ Indian Ocean while searching for the endangered great white shark. Kiwa covers Kenya, Africa's Savannah, and works to relocate endangered Rothchild giraffes to safety zones. Shell is busy guiding disoriented sea turtles back to seawater on Dewees Island in South Carolina.

Outset Media continues to bolster its board and card game lines for kids and the young at heart. New Professor Noggin's card games takes on trivia with evergreen subjects like dinosaurs, space and wildlife.

In addition, the company debuts two new interactive party games called Telepaths and Similarius. Telepaths has teammates communicating each other's thoughts while Similarius gets creative by having players draw faces from memory.

Also on deck is the sculpting charade game Conjecture and timeless classics such as Marbles, Doubletaire and Dominoes. The company distributes European game maker Bioviva games in North America. The import games are primarily based on nature-related subjects and include Bioviva the Eco Trivia game and Peoples of the Planet.

Outset Media also becomes the main dealer of CrossCribb—an electrifying cribbage adaptation that 'skunks' its predecessor cribbage scoring rules. CrossCribb can be played with two to six players. It also offers a solitaire version for an alteration of the traditional game and uses conventional players wanting a challenge for themselves.

Baby Folkmanis toddles into its second year with three new puppets called My First 1-2-3 Puppets Book, Sleepy Kitty and Sleepy Frog.

Wrapped in a segmented caterpillar, My First 1-2-3 fabric book features animal glove and finger puppets to teach early number concepts from 1 through 10.

Sleepy Kitty is made of orange chenille with embroidered 'sleepy' eyes and comes with a slumber bed/bag made of yellow fleece with satin bow and pillow. Green chenille Sleepy Frog has a lily pad-shaped bed/bag that can be worn as a backpack.

In honor of the centennial anniversary of the first powered airplane flight by the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk in 1903, Corgi premieres the 100 Years of Flight series in its Showcase Collection of die cast collectibles.

The four-inch models represent Pioneering Years, Aces at War, Global Traveler, Top Gun and The Space Race and each come with a display stand and collector's card.

World War II heroes are honored with Corgi's new collection of 18 authentic and detailed die cast military vehicles used during the war. Each Army and Marine Corps Sherman Tank and Army Command Car replica comes with a booklet outlining the vehicle's history and its role in the war effort.

Corgi adds the Greyhound Sceniccruiser to its Vintage Bus Line Collection this April. A Seagrave 70^th Anniversary Tractor Drawn Ladder Truck is a replica of the Baltimore line truck first used in 1961 that ran for 16 years. The collectible features a fully extendable and pivoting ladder.

Learning Resources' Smart Snacks for preschoolers are not only delicious treats, but they're educational, too. With Counting Cookies, kids can learn numbers by counting the chips on top of the colorful cookies and checking against the number painted on the bottom. Ten cookies come in a sturdy plastic jar.

Rainbow Color Cones are based on a similar concept in which children mix and match eight colorful scoops to build giant Rainbow Color Cones. They simply turn over the scoop to see the name of the color inside.

M Gears is a new addition to Gears! Gears! Gears! construction sets, starting with M Gears Building Set. This 315-piece deluxe motorized micro gears building kit includes 18 different types of pieces and a forward/ backward motor control, allowing endless creative building possibilities. Kids ages seven and above can create working robots, moving vehicles, innovative machines or their own creations using the spinning gears. Gears easily snap together for quick modifications.

Zapf Creation is launching 18 new dolls in its 2003 Designer Collection, each crafted by an award-winning group of artists. Each doll in the collection is a German hand-made piece of art constructed with the highest quality materials, such as glass eyes, kanekalon wigs and human-hair eyelashes.

All of the clothing and accessories are hand-made and designed with the latest fashions and trends in mind. The following dolls will be introduced in the spring: 23-inch Rike; 18-inch Pauline; Goebel, the Frog Prince, co-branded with Hummel collectible; Goebel, which comes with a porcelain frog; 24-inch Marlene, 2003 Doll of the Year; 22-inch Robin, a male toddler that comes with his own grey-and-white-striped hippo; 28-inch Benjamin; 27-inch Catherine; and 14-inch baby Jule, which comes with a hooded blanket wrap.

For colossal structures or construction on a smaller scale, Supermag has magnetic powers that surpass its Geomag predecessor.

Stronger, tapered rods in one-inch and half-inch lengths are the features touted by PlastWood, making it possible for young builders to make real-looking structures. Supermag is compatible with Geomag and will retail this summer.

Game players can learn and use the properties of magnetism to battle "energy bars" with the space-themed Catch Mag. The first player to collect five energy bars of the same color wins. Catch Mag is for ages six and up.

Star Electronics unveils the Eco Park Sensory Mat that offers soothing sounds and subtle sensory stimulation with sounds like blowing wind and chirping birds.

Puppy Play Activity Bar is a plush puppy with its own personality. The Animal Ball is a barnyard of fun that incorporates soft plush animal faces with real animal sounds.

For infants nine months and older, Animal Snackers Feeding Bowl Assortment includes a magic bowl that senses when utensils are inside and makes sounds to encourage eating.

The Yomega yo-yo enters a new dimension with the Xodus and its rubber wing design and rubber rims that make complicated string tricks easier to land and longer spin time a reality.

Added rim weight is the key to the updated HyperWarp Wing yo-yo for advanced level players. The Power Brain returns with the same auto-return yo-yo technology, but now uses an interlocking, floating clutch system for longer spin time before automatically returning to the player's hand.

Nighttime disc play is possible with the Photon Flyte Deck with strobe rim lights that can be seen almost 200 yards away. Special features include long battery life, integrated rims, an inverted flight plate and two speed settings.

New Power Spin top boasts super long spin action and can be easily thrown. The first collectible series in the medieval theme includes dragon, wizard, king and knight characters. Power Spin tops come packaged in sets of two.

Game enthusiasts will take to Toppleopolis, a tumbling planks skill game whose winner is decided by strategically removing and staking planks to create the tallest building possible. Yomega Gem Jive Jacks take the traditional game up a notch with solid metal jacks and a super bounce ball.

Babies will find a wealth of fun and learning in Munchkin's range of baby and toddler toys.

The squishy Finger Paint Pad lets babies express their creativity without the mess, while the Twisty Activity Wheels will keep them entertained and learning, too, with its bright colors, noises, textures and gear-like turning action to help develop fine motor skills.

Babies are encouraged to learn even more about shapes, sounds and colors, as well as cause-and-effect through stacking, with both the Hide 'n Seek Cups with Cow Buddy and the Silly Sound Stackers. When playtime is over and baby needs a bath, the Silly Sound Bath Pals will keep little ones entertained with the silly noises they make when these bath friends hit the water. Babies will also love the squeaky beak on the padded inflatable Safety Duck Tub, while parents will appreciate the unique White Hot safety disc that changes color when the water gets too hot.

Keeping right in step with demand for its product, Manhattan Toy is entering the 2003 season with more than 150 new creations ranging across all of its major product categories, plus an entirely new line designed especially for toddlers.

Toddler Toys features six new items geared to challenge and entertain children ages 18-36 months with stacking, linking, sorting, zipping, buttoning and other favorite toddler activities. Thirty-four new baby toys are also among the company's 2003 product lineup. New under the company's Manhattan Baby brand are eight plush and snuggle toys, additions to the research-proven, developmental Wimmer-Ferguson line, new activity toys and activity book products. Also included are several new bath toys, as well as Bellybops, soft wearable characters (a horse, elephant and car) that fit around youngsters' waists for hours of imaginative fun.

For the slightly older set, children aged three years and up, Manhattan Toy offers an array of new playmates, from its Mesozaurus dinosaur collection, to four new Galoompagalots monsters, to an entire family of critters wearing their own fashionable glasses. Another surprise this year is the oversized Rocketpack Jack, a 30-inch-tall super hero with a removable rocket pack that fits most young children and encourages active role-play.

The company is also introducing two new doll collections—Ballesque and Little Majesties—and the Lilydoll collection is expanding to include new accessories and a pet dog named Clara.

This year, Manhattan Toy launches Puppettos, the new umbrella brand for all of its various hand and finger puppets, Merryonettes, Lollipuppets and puppet Theatres.

And what would the season be without something new in one of the hottest product lines around: Groovy Girls. The 2003 Groovy collection includes three new dolls—Carissa, Cicely and Celeste—that carry on the brand's signature style and multi-cultural focus. Trendy outfits and accessories, including a beach-themed butterfly chair, cabana and wave runner; two pets named Pogo and Ling; and plenty of fresh revamps of last seasons' best sellers are included. Carissa, along with Trini and Kinsey—two of last season's favorites—also comes in a 40-inch Supersize.

Also debuting is a kid-sized Groovy Style backpack. The Ultra Pack holds five dolls and plenty of their 'stuff' and is designed with the Groovy graphics.

Hobbico's R/C MicroSizers are a crossover product between toys and radio control products and are ideal for kids age 8 and older. These cars offer continuous R/C play and recharge from the controller in just 45 seconds. R/C MicroSizers' features include: a Flat Panel Master Board, which acts as a receiver and steering servo, and Pivot-Point Suspension for better traction and steering control, among others. R/C MicroSizers are available in eight different body styles, such as Honda S2000, Nissan Skyline GT-R and Mazda RX-7FD.

Hobbico is also introducing X Planes from Model Maker. The first releases are scale replicas of experimental planes and future releases will represent other types of aircraft. Each model is highly detailed and comes preassembled; X Planes feature crisp panel lines and pad-painted graphics.

The whole world is out there for children to learn about with the LeapFrog Junior Explorer Globe.

The interactive globe is designed especially for preschoolers and offers hundreds of amazing and fun facts like ocean names, points of interest, continent names and familiar words in 16 different languages. In addition, favorite children's tunes from the around the world are included, and kids can take part in a globe trotting adventure where they'll learn about basic geography and animals and their environments while developing fine motor and language skills.

Young builders can start their own construction projects with the Kid K'Nex junior building sets called Bug-Eye Buddies, Footed Friends and Rovin' Rollers. Children ages 10 and up can create a massive working roller coaster with the new Rippin' Rocket Roller Coaster, which includes 25 feet of coaster track and a five-foot peak.

The classic battle of good vs. evil continues with ReKonstructors, building sets that combine action/fantasy with construction. The new Elite Pilot Figures and ZeKorian Creatures Assortments include figures that can be created in three different battle modes, as can leaders Diesel and Ravage.

With the Mechwarrior Electronic Armor Assortment kids create massive fighting robots based on the PC and video game MechWarrior; while Laserstrike Jet Combat puts players into the action where they command one of two electronic handheld fighter planes.

And for a step back from the high-tech, K'Nex introduces Lincoln Logs Grande City Gulch with authentic all-wood logs and easy-fit plastic accessories, as well as good guy and bad guy figures.

Klutz celebrates National Craft Month in May with five new activity books for spring. Potholders and Other Loopy Projects and My Anytime Autograph Book are two of the new titles.

The force is strong with the new line-up of products that join the ranks of Lego Writing System & Stationery Products, featuring Yoda, Luke Skywalker, Ewok Paploo, Tusken Raider, Obi Wan Kenobe from Star Wars: Episode 2 and a classic Storm Trooper.

All pens are packaged in a unique collector's case and include a themed pen stand. Each of these specialty items will include a Lego mini figure Star Wars character.

Additionally, two new Lego Bionicle Pen Lines debut with six evil Bohrok characters and six heroic Toa Nuva character pens.

From Tonner Doll comes Absolutely Aspen, a collectible doll who wears her embroidered synthetic suede topcoat with faux fur trim over a striped knit dress with panache. Matching belt and boots and coordinating duffle bag make her ready for the slopes of Aspen.

Kitty Collier is small in stature (10 inches high), but larger than life in a lilac brocade and satin gown with hand-beaded accents. An 18-inch Kitty Collier features an articulated body and swivel waist and can be dressed in glamorous outfits sold separately.

Cinnabar wears a red and coral gown with a draped skirt and train in red satin jacquard with aplomb. Her hair and make-up colors match the elegant ensemble.

Play Mind Toys has created a new line of action figures called Titaniums. Comprised partly of die-cast, these playthings boast 32 points of articulation.

On top of this launch, Play Mind Toys has designed a new series of figures called Body Rockers. These six-inch figures are based on the concept of breakdancing, and the line will include four individualized figures: Flare, Uprock, Freeze and UFO. Each figure will come with a personalized style base that can accommodate just about any breakdancing move, including a head spin.

Play Mind has also included a boom box with each figure that features two different hip hop tunes. Adorned in funky style, they will sport die-cast accessories, including a chain, a Body Rockers belt buckle, and a four-fingered ring with each of the characters' names.

Gee-Perz! line of kids' group crafts activity kits is a new introduction from first-time Toy Fair exhibitor S&S Worldwide. These kits are perfect for parties, sleepovers, rainy days, play dates, after school…anytime that kids get together. Parents will appreciate the simple instructions and educational features of these kid-validated projects. At the same time, kids will benefit from the values of sharing, self-expression and self-esteem built into every kit.

Play Along has picked up new licenses to create action figures, vehicles, plush and novelty items for The Lord of the Rings, Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat and The Dog. Carrying on with the trilogy, Play Along will be releasing toys for The Lord of the Rings series, including three-inch figures, accessories and playsets that go along with the franchise.

Red-and-white stripes are in with The Cat in the Hat plush, talking plush, collectible figures, action figures, playsets, vehicles, movie character replicas and electronic role-play items based on the upcoming live-action film. The figures will feature the story's main characters including Cat, Thing 1, Thing 2, Fish, Nevins, Conrad and Sally.

Also from Play Along is merchandise based on the successful puppy photography franchise from Japan called Artist Collection The Dog. These doggie items will include plush from mini to jumbo sizes, figures, clip-ons, coin banks and magnets. The licensor will also introduce a line of Care Bears interactive plush, collectibles, figurines, clip-ons and more items in agreement with American Greetings. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

Lightweight and portable, Playhut Little Huts offer a versatile and creative play environment indoors or out.

Made of a sturdy and long-lasting non-woven material, Little Huts provide UV protection for outdoor use. A mesh protector ventilates the hut, as well, and keeps insects on the outside.

The hut's play value can be extended, as its set-up and fold-down procedure makes it easily portable and travel ready. The Little Hut comes complete with one play bar featuring three different play toys for little hands interaction.

Little Kids is introducing 14 new seasonal toys, including a range of bubble toys, products featuring the Blue's Clues and SpongeBob SquarePants licenses and a new take on sand toys.

Among the new bubble toys are The Dip 'n Flip Bubble Tote, a completely self-contained bubble toy that brings bubble fun everywhere. The pocket-sized design has a built-in wand in the lid. Free Jelly Belly brand jellybeans will be packed with Dip 'n Flip Bubble Tote bubble blowers. For a limited time in specially marked Easter counter displays, a bonus pack including a Dip 'n Flip Bubble Tote, two ounces of bubble solution and the packet jellybeans will be available. Other new bubble products include the Bubblin' Gelly Wand and motorized bubble light.

The licensed products include two Blue's Clues Bubble Wands—Blue and Periwinkle—SpongeBob SquarePants Soak 'n Splash Balls, Touchable Bubbles, Water Squirter and Jellyfish Bubbles.

The Sandoodles sand toys combine figure play with sea-inspired construction vehicles, including the Crab Dozer and Crab Roller. The Sandoodles Figure & Tool Set consists of six Sandoodles figures and four sand tools, each of which has a decorative sand mold on one end and a sculpting shaper on the other.

An array of products are about to hit the market in celebration of the Ford Motor Company centennial in a licensing program developed and managed by The Beanstalk Group, the exclusive licensing representative for Ford.

The product runs the gamut, from die-cast cars to collectible coins to a Centennial Monopoly game—all designed for Ford enthusiasts who want to commemorate this milestone event.

While targeting loyal customers, Ford centennial licensing will also extend awareness of the 100^th anniversary to an audience beyond car enthusiasts. The products will celebrate every era of the manufacturer's history.

The collection will include children's toys, as well as mementos for their proud Ford enthusiast parents. Mattel/ Matchbox is producing a line of die-cast models that include the classic Model T, as well as contemporary Ford models. In addition, Minichamps has created a line of collectible die-cast models that are 1:43 scale, mint-quality replicas of Ford Motor Company Heart and Soul Vehicles.

Other toys and games include a toy wagon modeled on a 1937 Ford Coupe created by Cub Cruiser, centennial jigsaw puzzles from Ravensburger F.X. Schmid USA and a Ford centennial Monopoly game from USAopoly.

More tiny things are on the way from Tomy, following last year's success of the company's MicroPets. This year, Tomy will debut several new lines of micro-entertainment, in addition to other playthings

MicroPets Series 2 will have 11 characters in all responding to over 18 commands and interacting with their owners. New species will be introduced, including a panda, zebra, tiger, pony, fantasy pony/unicorn and hamsters that have a special feature in their cheeks that light-up. Additionally, new faces will be added to the first series, including dogs, cats and fire-breathing mountain monsters, one of which is from outer space. Tomy will also debut the first of its seasonal collectors edition MicroPets, a spring-themed Limited Edition MP Collectibles—MicroPets Bunny—available in pink and white with light-up cheeks.

Tomy is expanding the micro category with MicroBabies, MicroDancers and MicroFlowers.

On the macro front, Tomy is expanding its infant and preschool offerings and will introduce a dual-functioning Walker Bike that converts to a push bike and play set. This portable activity center, complete with busy board, also boasts a trailer that offers carry space for kid essentials and which detaches from the bike.

Me and My Big Ideas is taking orders for the new line of Mambi Minis miniature stickers with kid-friendly themes, such as girlfriends, best buddies or school.

The Minis are a scaled down version of the company's scrapbook sticker line, The Original Stick Kids, and can be used for scrapbooking, as well as kids' craft projects and party invitations.

Maisto is adding over 30 new titles to its 1:18 scale collection. The latest offerings cover all areas of the automobile field, including a trip down Main Street with titles like the 1955 Chevrolet Nomad and the 1953 Studebaker.

For those who like to ride in the fast lane, Maisto continues with some innovative titles, such as the all new Porsche Cayenne SUV in both the S trim and Turbo models and a Mercedes Benz SL 55 AMG. New entries include American muscle versions of the Dodge Viper SRT-10 and Ford's Mustang SVT Cobra in convertible and coupe versions, as well as the reintroduction of the 1996 Corvette Grand Sport Coupe.

Low Motion—an assortment of sleek black cars rolling on big wheels—is another addition to the 1:18 line. There is also a 1:24 line of Low Motion featuring classic and current trucks.

Maisto's Harley-Davidson line will feature 12 new styles of 1:18 replicas, an all new line of Road Cruisers with sidecars and a brand new line of 1:24 Harley replicas.

The Marvel Super Hero line that Maisto introduced in 2002 will be expanded with Series 2. The collection will include three-inch cars: Air Marvel, Movers and Haulers, Marvel Motorcycles and Mega-Trucks. New to the line are Mini Model Kits, featuring a series of 12 different three-inch motorized vehicles.

To expand the successful 2002 Excess Tuner launch, 2003 will mark the introduction of the 1:24 Excess Tuners and 1:24 Excess Tuner Assembly Line Model kits, including the highly tuned hot rods of today, such as the Acura RSX, Honda S2000, Ford Focus and Subaru WRX. These high-strung screamers will also come in three-inch replicas complete with collectible logo and as part of a brand new Dual Race Competition Track Set.

Tonka never gets tired as this hard-working line gets new race sets that can be used in conjunction with Series 4, the latest installment of the popular three-inch die-cast collection. Bigger die-cast makes its debut this year when the Classic Pickup Collection hits the streets, featuring the brand new Ford Tonka Mighty F-350. For Lil Chuck fans, there is the Tonka Town Construction series, as well as new styles of Lil Chuck Haulers.

Tree House Kids' new Snap Back vehicle play set line features Military, Wildfire Rescue and Construction vehicles with a Snap Back transformation system.

The Military version features a ground-to-air missile defense system with four shooting missiles that can be launched from the platform. The Construction set includes a vehicle with working back hoe for those big sand box jobs, and the Wildfire Rescue features water tank with real working fire hose for the out of control mountain blazes. Each set comes with three interchangeable Snap Backs, working tow winch, opening doors, detachable plow blade and two fully articulated Tuff Guys four-inch Action Figures.

In addition to the main vehicles, Tree House Kids will launch a series of accessory vehicle sets, including Rescue Helicopter with sound and working spotlight, working tow winch, rescue stretcher and one fully articulated Tuff Guys 4-inch action figure. The Military Helicopter comes with sound, light-up weapons, working tow winch, stretcher, one fully articulated Tuff Guys 4-inch action figure and accessories. To round out the line, the company will offer several accessory Trailer Packs, such as ATVs, Wave Runners and Snowmobiles with trailer and two fully articulated Tuff Guys 4-inch action figures and accessories.

Bestever is bringing a whole new meaning to bobble-heads—Boingers— wacky plush animals, seven-inches in height with bobbling heads.

A mechanism brings these characters to life when touched. The characters are made from brightly colored soft chamois fabric to create monkey, frog, cat, pig, dog and duck Boingers. Each is weighted at the bottom with pellets so they maintain balance. Seasonal versions will be released throughout the year.

The little musician in the family will be able to play to the beat of a different drummer—or at least with a different drumstick. Imagiix's Rock Beat Music Sticks feature built-in speakers on the bottom of the electronic drumsticks and allow users to blast out an original arrangement.

Imaginative minds as young as 18 months old can board the musical Soft Rail Train, designed especially for younger users.

Imagiix will also introduce four new characters to its Deedle Dudes line this spring with a new Bunny, Bear, Monkey and Tiger. These eight-inch high soft animals are activated by touch and sound.

Life of the Party gives kids some good clean fun with Soap Dough Activity Kits to make scented dough that changes the color of the bath water without changing the color of the child or the tub.

Bath time is colorful with the Fizzie Fun Bathtime Activity Kit where kids add scented Fizzie powder into silly shaped molds that, when dropped into the tub, change the color of the bath water and fizz.

With Glitter Butterfly Soap Making Activity Kit, kids can learn soap making and create scented glycerin bar soaps as well as glittering liquid soaps. Other kits include: Glitter Jewelry Box Activity, Glitter & Gloss Lip Balm and Body Glitter Activity. Kids can create their own archeological finds with the Dinosaur Fossil Activity. Rocks Stone Making Activity Kit lets kids make a mold that looks like a rock with a reptile lounging on top.

What is it? It's a PANTcho. What's a PANTcho?

It's an innovative one-piece costume design from Disguise. Available in three unique characters—Toucan, Insectidroid and Dragon—these costumes might be a parent's dream.

The full cut of the velvety panne makes it easy to wear over any outfit, creating the perfect costume for any climate. Additionally, the full cut provides consumers with a sure-fit. Each costume sports a matching headpiece to complete the look.

PANTchos will be available in sizes 2-4 and 4-6.

What's the secret to keeping a secret? If invisible for a day, who would you spy on?

Swingset Press addresses these tantalizing teen issues with Frendz Pakz.

Love, Friendship, Future and Showbiz 32-card decks are targeted toward preteen ages and up.

Two new looks are available for My Ultra Secret Stuff Journal, a black light journal with an invisible ink pen for keeping thoughts ultra secret, and My Ultra Secret SPY Stuff for boys.

Babies can plan just like mom and dad with Playskool's Magic Screen Palm-Size Learner with light-up screen. But rather than scheduling an e-mail, baby's planner features alphabet and number songs.

Little ones can also learn numbers with the Magic Screen Cash Register set, which includes coins, a toy credit card, fun fruits and a host of cool sound effects.

Shoot 'n Score Basketball gives infants nine months and up a taste of the hoop life and counting with crowd sounds when baby scores.

For preschoolers, Playskool's new Yard Crew range of toys that talk back includes Rod the Magic Talkin' Fishing Pole and Lit the Magic Talkin' Lantern, with Home Crew Dusty the Talkin' Vacuum due out in the fall.

This fall, Playskool will also be launching new Speedstars raceways, stunt circuits and the Convertibles Assortment set featuring cars with swappable bodies. New Go-Bots include the 2-in-1 Speedbot Dragster, which transforms from a robot into a 16-inch dragster with parachute.

Potato Head Pals also get in on the transforming game with the Farm Playset and the Fire and Farm Vehicles playset. Mix-and-match parts make wacky animals or convert a fire engine into a tractor.

Atomic Toys has built a better mouse—no traps necessary!

Following the success of the company's Z-Cars R/C last year, it is introducing a whole new type of R/C toy—The Meeces. These furry little creatures scoot around with full function R/C power, just like the Z-Cars. The micro R/C category will be taken to another new level—literally—with Z-Planes R/C that can taxi, lift off, climb and glide with full lateral control. Z-Tanks R/C combine micro R/C action with an infrared laser battle system.

At the same time, Atomic Toys is updating the best-selling Z-Cars R/C line with the all new Z-Cars R/C Turbo. The new Z-Cars are miniature radio-controlled vehicles that charge in the palm of a hand.

Another new entry for Atomic Toys, The Urbz is a departure from remote control. A trading card game where up to four players manage their cash, talent and properties to assemble a media giant worth 10 million Crebitz.

First & Main is introducing the whimsical Knot Knees collection for 2003.

The colorful plush creatures—16 styles in all—are all poseable and ready for play. Crafted of super fine Kohair plush, the line includes the most asked-for animal designs, including a lion, tiger, frog, cow and pig.

With a strategic price point, the new line is ideal for both gift and impulse purchases.

High IntenCity is introducing a plush addition to the Charm It! jewelry set. The plush bear, available in pink, purple and blue, wears a bracelet with a heart charm.

Bracelets are designed so that girls or bears can sport the pewter, crystal and enamel charms.

Adding to the Puzzibilities, the Small World Toys line now offers Walk-With-Me-Friends for little puzzlers on the move. By using the nine different characters, four pairs of reusable "shoe" stickers and a double-sided play mat, preschoolers can place their index and middle fingers in as legs and add a pair of "shoe" stickers to finger tips. The play mat encourages storytelling and imaginative play and can be stored in a vinyl pouch.

What Am I? Peek-A-Boo puzzle includes nine familiar animal characters that appear as colorful outlines on the surface for easy identification. When the puzzle piece is lifted, the animal is revealed in full detail, along with the appropriate animal name.

When kids enter Ryan's Room, they can prepare for big time fun, while getting an introduction to the world of imitation and imagination through role-playing and fantasy.

Let's Decorate provides the designing essentials to spruce up Ryan's Room dollhouses. The 25-piece arts-and-crafts kit has colorful supplies and accents, as well as fabrics, decals and paints to bring out a child's creativity. Kids can become amateur interior decorators in their dollhouses by adorning walls, hanging curtains and adding furniture accents.

Take a ride in a red-hot convertible that's raring to go. The solid wood car fits four adult-sized Ryan's Room dolls and has soft edges and curves that make it safe for little hands. When the outing is complete, park the car in Ryan's Room Make More Room and Park & Play dollhouse additions. New Friends & Family poseable dolls are dressed in contemporary clothing and available in Asian, Hispanic, Caucasian and African-American ethnicity.

Beep! Beep! Tolo First Friends have hit the road with a sporty convertible car that starts up when a First Friend is pushed down in the driver's seat. Along with a honking horn and flashing lights, the car chassis moves up and down as it drives forward. When it comes to a stop, brake lights flash and the First Friend giggles. Made of plastic in bright primary colors with soft moving wheels, the First Friends car requires three AA batteries.

An adorable companion to the First Friends poseable figures, a new four-inch dog is easy-to-grasp for little hands, making it a great first toy for growing babies. First Friends Puppy makes fun ratchet sounds as its legs, head and tail are moved and turned.

From the stories of typing cows and writing ducks comes a line of two new dolls from MerryMakers based on the mischievous characters featured in Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin's best-selling books, Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type and Giggle, Giggle, Quack. Both the 9 ½-inch Cow Doll and 7-inch Duck Doll will be released in April.

MerryMakers is also introducing a new 9-inch Garden Fairy Set that features Iris Fairy, Rose Fairy, Tulip Fairy and Lily Fairy—all dressed in brightly colored flower petals just in time for spring.

The company will also be celebrating the 200^th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition with a new line of historical toys based on the 1803 journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark as they explored the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase. The Lewis and Clark Adventure Set will come with five figures, including 12 ½-inch Lewis and Clark figures plus native guide Sacagawea, as well as their canoe. The set will also be released with an informative booklet providing information about the history of the expedition.

MerryMakers is also adding to its products, dolls based on Holly Keller's Farfallina and Marcel. The gosling doll, carrying a caterpillar under his wing, is rendered true to the book.

Many of Scholastic's familiar characters are going to become a lot more visible, as the children's media company extends its brand through licensing.

Expect to see appearances from Clifford the Big Red Dog in many shapes and forms. Scholastic also has a promotional campaign planned that will support the company's properties as well as its licenses, which include a Talk Back Clifford.

Not to be overshadowed by Big Red, there will also be plenty of licensed items from I Spy, which has a new animated series, Noah's Park, Schoolhouse Rock and Scholastic's Magic School Bus, as well from the Play! Scholastic toy line.

Each of the properties will be supported by events and promotions.

HobbyZone is taking off with a ready-to-fly R/C aircraft. The Firebird Outlaw Ready-To-Fly Electric R/C is a craft that will match the quality of hobby R/C kits that require assembly before flight.

The plane uses an FM transmitter with a good signal range and controls that are fully proportional for a smooth, precise feel. Each charge fuels the plane for a 10-minute flight time.

Hot Wheels' new releases for its 35^th anniversary are so hot, they're smoking!

Flamethrowers and Super- charged Flamethrowers, for kids ages three and up, shoot "flames" from their exhausts. But there's more hot technology in the Liquid Fusion Racer Assortment, which includes an SUV and off-road vehicle. Push-the-air scoop and the top-secret liquid "fuel" races through the high performance engine. Hit it again and the car zooms away at top speed.

For more goosebumps, the Monster Mechanix Assortment of monstrous monster trucks like the Dragonwagon comes with interchangeable parts to design a terrifying vehicle/creature with spring-loaded projectile weapon. Hot Wheels play sets and tracks for ages five up sport names like the Raptor Blast Track Set and the Alien Attack Playset.

Hot Wheels celebrates its anniversary with a collectible 1:64 scale die-cast Highway 35, which includes the World Race, a character-based world designed around Hot Wheels vehicles. The campaign features a video game, full-length home videos, comic books and a fall television network special, supported by an extensive line of vehicles and stunt sets.

Mattel's new items will have Muggles in a muddle over what to buy. There's magic and mystery afoot with Harry Potter and the Hall of Hogwarts board game that's never the same game twice, thanks to ever-changing halls and stairways.

Other new tricks up Harry's sleeve include an Iced Pumpkin Drink Make—complete with Wizard Sprinkles—to the collectible fuzzy creatures trapped in a potion bottle in the Wizards Pets Plush Assortment for girls. There's more mystical mayhem and monstrously good fun with Yu-Gi-Oh! toys from the Kids WB! TV show. Action figures include characters Yugi and the Rude Kaiser, each with a unique duelling feature to take on the powerful seven-inch monsters in the Deluxe Monster Assortment with lights and sounds. The line also includes a handheld Yu-Gi-Oh! Electronic Multi-Master Game and expandable DungeonDice Monsters Game Starter Set with paper dice, playmat and 11 monsters ready for battle.

For younger kids, SpongeBob SquarePants is gearing up for summer with a lifeguard Beach Blastin' Bob calling out catch phrases into his megaphone and the Splash 'N Roll board game. Fisher-Price features Masters of the Universe and Barbie puzzles. In My First Uno with Dora, the explorer cartoon heroine teaches kids the card game in English and Spanish using jumbo-sized cards.

The Magic 8 Ball Egg Ball puts a new twist on pop culture fortune telling with an Easter theme in blue, purple and yellow.

Kids can be the real heroes with Matchbox Hero City emergency die-cast vehicles and heroic themed playsets.

Matchbox Hero City Fire Blaster Playset lets kids rush to the firehouse and crank up their vehicles to save the day. The set's pinball-styled launcher sends vehicles out the front and into action. Little firefighters can knock down plastic "flames." Kids can then move to the Matchbox Hero City Construction Playset and take care of highway maintenance and then build a new roadway with the Matchbox Hero City Rescue Roadway Play Track. Young city planners will need the Matchbox Hero City Sky Busters Airport Playset with working runway launcher for major projects.

Matchbox Local Heroes 3-Pack Assortments feature fire and police themes and three fully mobile and decorated die-cast vehicles, including Rescue Helicopter and Bucket Fire Truck. Matchbox TV Heroes 5-Pack lets kids experience heroic fun with characters from their favorite TV shows, including SpongeBob SquarePants and Rescue Heroes.

From animated series to the ever-animated rocker Ozzy Osbourne, fans of famous rides from TV can add a few more to their collections. Matchbox Collectible Miniature-Scale Entertainment Assortment features notable vehicles from The Osbournes, Saturday Night Live, Justice League and Looney Tunes. Each of the Heavy Metal Clan has its own unique car like Ozzy's limousine and Sharon Osbourne's Mercedes-Benz S500.

The mini-car manufacturer has teamed with Coca-Cola, Barrett-Jackson, TV's My Classic Car and Ford Motor Company to present the Matchbox Collectibles Miniature-Scale Assortment and Matchbox Collectibles Traditional Scale special collections with licensed graphics and detailing.

Matchbox also bows a line of World War II fighting vehicles: Sherman M4A3/76mm tank, German Panzer IV F-1, Soviet T-34/76 and the infamous Messerschmitt Bf-109 G and Mitsubishi A6M6 Zero fighter planes.

Mattel Girls has ever-changing girls' interests at heart, from fashion and fantasy to fairytales.

Barbie premieres this fall as the heroine Odette in the Barbie of Swan Lake full-length CGI video. Ken as Prince Daniel and Teresa as Fairy Queen, along with My Size Barbie of Swan Lake, accompany the Odette Barbie software, book and accessories.

For the first time in more than 43 years, Barbie has poseable bodies and twisting waists for splits and high kicks with the Dance 'N Flex and Cheerleader dolls.

The tween market gets a new My Scene lifestyle brand with Barbie, Madison and Chelsea dolls featuring face sculpts that depict a more glamorous style. My Scene friends, cars, fashions and accessories are targeted toward older girls and incorporate the latest trends. Dolls based on the Mary-Kate and Ashley video, Getting There, and the teens' animated series, Mary-Kate and Ashley in Action, also make their 2003 debuts.

The Little Mommy brand of large dolls for younger girls offers a Baby Care Center and tricycle and stroller accessories. Skateboard Shannen gets a plush puppy pal called Scootch who, like the radio-control doll, uses Tyco R/C technology.

Responding to parents' pleas for a nurturing doll, Mattel's Happy Family line offers Midge and babies Allan and Ryan and Baby Doctor Barbie.

Polly Pocket makes a stretch this year with a magnetic Polly that twists and bends and has magnets in her hands, feet and mini environments. The petite Fashion Polly jazzes up her lifestyle with a new Designer Mall and Groovy Getaway Jet.

Combining social play with activity and crafts, the new Ello Creation System lets girls build open-ended environments and personalized characters and accessories typically associated with boys' building toys. The systems available are Ello-Polis, Ello Aquaria, Ello Fairyopolis and Ello Jungala.

Finding hidden items is the focus of the I Spy-based View-Master reels by Fisher-Price.

The I Spy pack has three reels with seven images on each reel, all based on scenes from the book series. The images let children look for items starting with each letter of the alphabet.

It's hog heaven when Spin Master takes to the skies with a line of Air Hogs products to help celebrate the Centennial of Flight, featuring a national contest with a Grand Finale in Kitty Hawk, N.C. Among the Air Hogs R/C aircraft that will be buzzing into retail are a new R/C Stunt Plane, a Defender Mini-R/C and an Air Pressure Helicopter, which features both military and police themes.

The pedal really is going to the metal with Metal Maxx, Spin Master's brand of die-cast vehicles, including the Crash Zone R/C and Light FX Tuners. Kids of all ages can look forward to the 60^th anniversary of Slinky with E-Slinky, an electronic version of the wondrous spring, plus a new line of Catch-A-Bubble including Scented Bubbles, Bubble Burst Candy and PEZ Flavored Bubbles. These new introductions prove that this bubble may never burst.

Spin Master is also wiggling from Down Under with a line of children's products based on The Wiggles. Captain Feathersword's Laughin Sword is a feather blade featuring three laugh modes for kids two and older. Wiggles Beanies and Musical Plush promise to delight the young fans of the series.

Nikko comes to town with a host of new items. The 1/10th Ford GT touts speeds up to 20 mph, digital steering, a powerful Mabuchi motor, lightweight durable lexan body, pistol grip controller with trim controls and adjustment for left-handers.

The 1/14th Jeep Rubicon is a licensed Jeep Rubicon modeled after the new Jeep release for 2003. Finally, Nikko's Fast and Furious Lancer is a 1/16th scale street racer, licensed with the Fast and Furious movie. It is fully functional and crash-resistant.

In time with the Universal Studios release of The Hulk in theaters this June, Funrise will have Hulk-branded vehicles including attack trucks, search units and Humvees. The vehicles will feature lights, sound and free-wheeling play for children and collectors of all ages. Expect these vehicles to drive into major mass merchants this spring.

W.J. Fantasy's line of building blocks encompasses over 16 different themes, from My Home Town (each block is a building found on Main Street) to a new set of Touch & Feel building blocks called My Busy Day. Each block encapsulates one part of a child's day: from morning until bedtime, from playtime until nap time. Each block incorporates a touch/feel device—from soft or fuzzy, to squishy or fluffy.

Also new to their list of blocks is the 10-story Doll House set. This beautifully designed Victorian-style dollhouse stacks as a set of blocks, yet also has rooms inside each of the blocks with exquisite details.

While W.J. Fantasy's name is synonymous with building blocks, its product range also encompasses many gift/toy sets. These include My Tea Party, My Little Firehouse, My Jewelry Party and a new title, Let's Play Drums, which is a five-drum set, complete with a set of drumsticks and packed as a set of building blocks.

For kids who love to create, construct and fix, KidKraft is introducing a pint-sized tool kit. The new John Deere Tool Set is light enough for the youngest handyman (or lady) to tote around and use. The wooden set offers plenty of compartments to keep tools neat and tidy and includes a screwdriver, hammer, wrench, ruler and six bolts–-each with John Deere's signature colors of green, yellow and black.

Working on the farm is also easy and fun with the John Deere Rocking Tractor for kids age two to six. The brightly colored rocker also features the signature green and yellow colors and has been crafted to look like a real tractor.

KidKraft also proves it still has a bit of the "born to be wild" spirit, as it announces a new line of Harley-Davidson items that continues the relationship that began almost three year ago. Three new items, including storage bins, tool set and toy caddy, will be introduced at Toy Fair.

Following on the wheels of last year's launch of Dub City vehicles, Jada Toys introduces 1:64 Dub City Wave 2, as well as its first entry into the 1:18 scale die-cast category.

The company's 2003 Dub City 1:18 Escalade features 24-inch working Spintek Wheels and detailed interior including seven TV monitors, custom sound system, video game controller, floor mats, chromed engine and more.

And there will be more where that model came from. Other releases throughout the year will include the new Silverado and Dodge Ram Quad City Cab.

Like the 1:64 Dub City Wave 1, the new wave will have 12 pieces per assortment. All models feature Dub style wheels and diverse paint schemes and provide that same heavy weight, feel and quality.

Big kids (think adults) will flip over the Lifestyles Kitchen from Step2 for preschoolers that features the latest trends in kitchen gadgetry.

Granite-like countertops and wood-look cabinetry have authentic-looking "stainless steel" handle hardware. Add the plate rack, wainscoting and crown molding that is highlighted by a framed window and wallpaper border. The double-bowl sink has both a faucet and pullout sprayer, and there is a slotted silverware drawer and two simulated dry goods drawers.

For the serious little cook, a stainless steel-looking microwave, oven and refrigerator are part of the setup. Electronics abound in the dome light, push-button mobile phone, stovetop, oven, microwave and dishwasher. A 28-piece Little Helper's Dining Room and Pots & Pans Set with skillet and boiling pot for the electronic burner round out the set. Lifestyles Kitchen requires 14 batteries (not included) and is for ages two and up.

Ohio Art's Betty Spaghetty and friends are going to become a lot more active, as the new 2003 collection includes: Makin' A Splash, Hittin' the Slopes, Campfire Fun n' Friends and Super Cool Closet. A few accessory kits add new activities for the dolls: Mall Makeover Madness, Betty Spaghetty Accessories Sets, Betty's Carrin' Pack and Betty Spaghetty and Friends. The line will also be introducing a new character, Zoe's cousin Celeste, who will be part of the Campfire theme toys. Betty will also be getting more vocal with Betty's Talkin, featuring technology that will have the doll chatting with girls about clothes, school, plans and dreams. The conversation is triggered by girls mixing and matching the two outfits that come with the doll. Each of these additions to the Betty Spaghetty line will be rolled out at times throughout the year.

Also from Ohio Art comes a toy that will appeal to both boys and girls eight and up: the A.R.M. 4000 XL. This one-armed water weapon holds two liters of water in its pack, shoots up to 30 feet away and can sustain 30 seconds of soaking pressure. Kids will also enjoy the A.R.M., as it requires only one hand to operate. The soaker will be available just in time for summer.

Mega Bloks introduces new additions to the 2003 Micro Collection and a licensing agreement with Disney. Micro additions include an expansion of the Dragons line, with new sets such as Fire Mountain and Draigar Castle. Mega Bots Mission X playsets are interconnecting military-themed playsets that feature vehicles, booby traps, spring-loaded launching weapons and targets to create challenges and solve missions. The mission of the Hum playset is laptop recovery, while the Chopper set focuses on satellite rescue.

Dragons and military aside, Disney and Mega Bloks have teamed up to create construction toys featuring Disney characters for the younger crowd. Winnie the Pooh, Disney Princesses and Power Rangers are some of the ones set to grace the new construction sets.

Tiny Love recently introduced several new additions to its developmental toy lines, designed to stimulate baby's senses. The Developlay Activity Center has over 20 activities for babies 3 to 24 months to play with, including sound effects, peek-a-boo games and musical buttons.

The New Sensations line also uses music, light and sound to stimulate babies with six accessories, such as Crazy Daisy, the squeaking bird. The Touch and Play musical mirror has a large surface, allowing babies to see their reflection, while touching different textures and activating the musical surfaces.

Funky black light popularized in 1960s teen bedrooms and family basements makes a comeback with Blacklight X-Press by Play Visions. Fluorescent chopsticks and jewelry sets, personal black lights, glow-in-the-dark tattoos and UV art hair spray each come with a mini black light and "try me" packaging, which is printed on rainbow Mylar with real black-light effect.

For more light illusions, Play Visions offers the Electro Luminescent Light Spinner that creates changing light patterns in motion. The glowing effect can be varied with dual speed controls when illuminated in low-light environments.

Not quite as soothing is new Velvet Slime, a solid material that drips and oozes for freaking out friends. Centipede, Worms and Slugs are the first styles of the slippery stuff designed by a Florida mom.

Move over, Pokemon, as Yugi and the Dark Magician take the helm. The Yu-Gi-Oh! craze continues with a Labyrinth of Nightmare booster set and next-generation starter set (Pegasus/Joey) that enhances the level of game play.

This year, Upper Deck Entertainment supports the Yu-Gi-Oh! collectible trading card game with a national mall tour, weekly one-day competition events hosted by Toys R Us and KB Toys and Duelist King Tournaments at participating mass retailers.

Nickelodeon characters SpongeBob SquarePants, Jimmy Neutron, Fairly Odd Parents and Rocket Power enter the collectibles and trading card game markets this year, along with Upper Deck Entertainment's Disney Classics Disney Tribute Collectible Cards. The set incorporates reel pieces and sketches in the cards. Movie memorabilia, like mini bobblers based on Disney characters, round out the line.

The Montgomery Schoolhouse My Train Collection gets a new car this year from Maple Landmark that is engineered to help children spell over 36 words. It is also meant to encourage experimentation with letter sounds and sound combinations using hardwood spinning blocks.

A limited-edition Rainbow Car comes aboard with four rainbow-colored, arch-shaped pieces that spell out 2003 when stacked together on the flatbed.

Additions to the NameTrains line include a brick-designed Engine House that can park any engine and is built on six-inch interlocking track. The 2003 limited edition NameTrains Starry Sky Express blue engine has a shooting star and is compatible with all NameTrains components and wooden track systems.

The third introduction is a yellow diamond-shaped train crossing sign with NameTrains engine, giraffe and caboose graphics.

Maple Landmark also brings back the traditional hobby horse in a 36-inch long pine version.

2003 Lionel trains, including the New York Central Flyer and Pennsylvania Flyer, run on the new FasTrack track system.

The hobby train maker's first new track in 46 years, the FasTrack—coupled with the CW-80 Transformer—is geared to provide stable track that can be connected on most surfaces (including carpet) and 80 watts of power in a compact package. The New York Central die-cast metal locomotive is equipped with the RailSounds system, creating chugging sounds, bells and whistle blowing. The Pennsylvania Flyer features opening doors on boxcar and metal brake wheels. Both Flyers come with the FasTrack track system and the CW-80 Transformer.

The Disney magic continues with a new generation of product spotlighting favorite characters and some new ones from upcoming feature film releases, Disney/Pixar's Finding Nemo and Walt Disney Pictures' Brother Bear.

Mega Bloks introduces Disney characters into the world of construction with Pooh, Princess, Theme Parks and Power Rangers. Boys now have construction blocks and playsets to build the world of the Power Rangers with figure play sets, a set of three Zords and The Ninja Headquarters Playset. Young girls also have the opportunity to build with Princess Construction Building Sets that feature Cinderella's Coach, Ballerina and Cinderella's Castle.

The Disney Princess brand presents Little Princesses by Playmates for young princesses-in-training, featuring Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and a new version of Belle. Each doll comes with accessories and a pet. The littlest princesses can also play out their princess fantasies with My First Princess figures and playsets from Fisher-Price. Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty have hair to style and are sized for girls 18 months and older.

With the Fisher-Price Spin 'N Surprise Castle, children can play with three of their favorite little princesses in one toy, either in Cinderella's playground, Belle's kitchen or Snow White's bedroom. In each area little girls can press a character icon to hear one of three character phrases, a melody and sound effects and to see lights.

For growing princess fans, Disney Soft Body Princesses are 12-inch soft cloth Cinderella and Belle dolls by Playmates designed to have interchangeable fashions and soft furniture accessories to help children create a royal play environment. Pretty as a Princess dolls by Hasbro come with 20 stretch fashions and accessories packed in a carry-along fashion purse with a mini story booklet.

With Mattel's Fashion Assortment, girls can dress up Disney Princess dolls with many fashion pieces that can be transformed and reversed to create hundreds of looks. A magical throne transforms into a vanity and has a surprise pop-open drawer, which stores the fashions and accessories.

Disney's Winnie the Pooh 1,2,3 Exploring Tree by Fisher-Price keeps babies engaged as they go from sitting to crawling and standing. The Tree is loaded with basic infant activities on the bottom, including a bat at Baby Tigger, Baby Eeyore with a spinning ball, a butterfly with crinkle material and an open and close door, which also acts as storage for the play pieces. Get Up and Bounce Tigger not only bounces—he sings, dances and stands up and sits down all by himself! Kids squeeze Tigger's paw to get him started and he also says lots of fun phrases with sound effects. Tigger does all of this to a re-mix version of the "Whoop-de-Dooper Bounce."

With more than a decade of protecting the world from evil under their belts, the Power Rangers are back for an 11^th TV season with Power Rangers Ninja Storm. Bringing the series to life is a new toy line from Bandai. In addition to deluxe action figures, Mega Zords, playsets, talking action figures and ride-on vehicles, Ninja Storm will also introduce the Power Rangers into new categories, such as construction, die-cast vehicles and a collectible card game.

For sports fans, Jakks-Pacific and Disney have teamed up to reinvent some classic toys based on popular sports themes that infuse Goofy's personality into golf sets, bowling, basketball, frisbee and T-ball sports products.

Walt Disney Pictures presents the underwater adventure Finding Nemo, a Pixar Animation Studios Film in May, and Hasbro will celebrate the magical fish tale with a line of plush, playsets, action figures, games, puzzles, bath toys and candy novelties.

Nite Brite Nemo 16-inch fish has voice recognition interactive play that activates when kids first squeeze his lucky fin and responds to kids when they say three phrases. Tell Nemo "Nite nite, sleep tight, don't let the sharks bite," and his eyes light up, he yawns and he begins to snore himself to sleep as he responds, "Nite nite, sleep tight."

Three of the movie's most colorful characters are available in Hasbro's plush assortment, each with speech and special features that play up their personalities. High Five Nemo talks and flutters his lucky fin and gives fish high-fives. Super Talkin' Squirt speaks in cool surfer talk. Give Squirt a hug and he'll say a variety of phrases, such as "Let's ride the current" and "I love you, jellyman." Bitin' Bruce is a plush shark that "clamps" onto your arm.

Walt Disney Pictures' Brother Bear is an epic adventure of brotherly love set against the rugged, beautiful landscape of the Pacific Northwest. The film follows the story of a headstrong boy who is magically transformed into a bear by the Great Spirits to teach him a valuable life lesson. Now, walking on all fours, he must make a heroic journey to regain his human form. Along the way, he meets an irrepressible bear cub that becomes his guide and companion.

Tumble N' Laugh Koda 12-inch plush toy laughs and kicks his feet and the more he laughs, the more excited he gets—until eventually he rolls on his back and laughs some more. Hasbro's Talking Plush also includes Bear Buddies Kenai and Koda with voice activated phrases, Story Time Koda and Bear Trap Adventure Pack with Koda, Kenai (bear), Tuck and a collectible bear.

Hasbro Boys tackles action and adventure beginning with the BeyBlade Basic Start Set Assortment of unassembled top, stickers, launcher and ripcord.

From a galaxy far, far away comes the latest Star Wars Basic and Deluxe Figure Assort- ments and Speeder Bike Vehicles based on the flying bikes seen in Episode II and Yoda's Electronic Lightsaber.

Hasbro's Transformers Armada Mini-Con, Ultra Figure and Deluxe Figure Assortments join Zoids Action Figure Model Kits and Zoids Z-Builders Plug-N-Blox Basic Assortments.

Hasbro jumps in the deep end with products for the upcoming Disney/Pixar film, Finding Nemo, with Nite Brite Nemo, jumbo and feature character plush, Aquarium Adventure Play Set and Boat Escape Play Set.

NakNak stacking battle action figures arrive as robot and alien figures, with more than 90 different NakNaks to be released throughout 2003. The NakNak 5-Pack has five stackable action figures, along with a set of NakNak Challenge Dice and handbook.

A girl's classic, Hasbro is introducing an array of My Little Pony merchandise.

In the Rainbow Celebration Assortment, each pony comes with a brush for hair styling. The assortment includes Sunny Daze, Wysteria, Sweetberry and Rainbow Dash.

The Glitter Celebration Assortment—which includes a charm to wear—features Pinkie Pie, Sparkleworks, Kimono and Minty.

The Celebration Assortment—which includes Razzaroo and Moondancer—features magnetic effects for enhanced play. Birthday Celebration Razzaroo comes with a birthday cake that plays the birthday tune. The pony figure comes with four each of cake slices, forks and plates; gift box; brush and pony charm. The Moondancer set comes with sleeping bag, teddy bear, four bunny slippers, two cans of soda, bowl of popcorn, candy dish, brush and pony charm.

Individual playsets are among the newcomers, highlighted by Cotton Candy Café and Celebration Castle.

Ham-Ham Treetop Playhouse and Ham-Ham Ferris Wheel are two other playsets aimed at creative play. This year Dancing Hamtaro Ham-Ham will also debut. Additional Ham-Ham merchandise includes a compact assortment of portable playsets with lots of storage space for accessories, Happy Hangout and Princess Parlor.

An assortment of charms—six styles in all—completes the new Ham-Ham line. The charms can be attached to backpacks, belt loops, pocketbooks, sneakers or zipper pulls.

With several groups in the company's game divisions, Hasbro this year again is offering a diverse selection of new products.

For preschoolers, Milton Bradley is launching the Storytime Game With Mother Goose, which transforms four classic nursery rhymes—Jack and Jill, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Hickory Dickory Dock and Humpty Dumpty—into sing-a-long games. A plastic, electronic Mother Goose directs players.

The ABC Song Game, also for preschoolers and set to launch this summer, is the musical alphabet game that teaches children their ABC's and how to recognize letters. There are three levels of play: The first level requires the player to find letters that are all face-up, the second game requires the child to find letters that are face-down and the third has an additional memory component.

Silly Soccer Game, which will be available in June, is the latest addition to Milton Bradley's line of Silly Sports. Aspiring soccer players will get a kick out of the animated soccer goal as they attempt to get the ball into the net. To add some challenge to the game, the motorized goal shifts from side to side just as a goalie would in a game.

In the electronic arena, Milton Bradley's Aerogroove— for ages 8 and up—will be available in the fall. Combining music, games and physical activity in a hand-held electronic game where players respond to random voice and light commands, this game's object is to complete musical "groove" moves.

The Twister Moves Game is another for kids 8-years-old and up. Scheduled for a spring launch, the game is geared to get players on their feet and moving to the direction called out by two recorded DJs. Complete with three CDs—each with 60 minutes of dance-style music and mats—Twister Moves has 200 different dance moves.

In the Battleball Game, another spring offering, kids take on the role of coach in this futuristic, battling football game that has them strategize as they move their team. The game comes complete with 22 detailed miniatures (player pieces), each with different levels of speed and strength as determined by the color on the base of each player piece.

A game that can be played alone or with others, Projax is a collecting, catching, battling version of the classic game of Jacks. Special power play cards are included in each set—starter, arena and travel pack.

Hasbro's Parker Bros. is introducing Clue Deluxe, an enhanced edition of the family favorite. In this version, Clue comes to life with sound and a whole new mystery to solve.

Power House, the second alternative energy science kit from Thames & Kosmaos, is now available for shipping. The kit contains 70 experiments and 20 building projects.

Power House: Experiments in Future Technics is geared to provide an introduction to regenerative energy sources, while teaching basic concepts and principles in physical science. The kit focuses on the heat and light energy from the sun, the energy from the wind, as well as electrochemical and plant energy.

Kids can build a model house complete with solar panels, windmill, greenhouse and desalination system with the Power House kit. They can also build and operate an electric train, windmill, solar cooker, solar hot water tank, hygrometer, electric motor, power hoist, sail car and more.

Power House joins the company's Fuel Cell Car and Experiment Kit, 30 experiments teaching physics and chemistry concepts using a car that is built and run on water using energy technology.

Kids can take part in an odyssey that will allow them to venture across the globe and span time itself. Odyssey Toys has expanded its World Stars line of fully poseable historic figures for children four and up. The new addition of four-inch figures with gripping hands, removable hats and vibrant sewn clothing include Blackbeard the Pirate, Space Shuttle Astronaut Val, Knight William Marshall, Sacagawea, Benjamin Franklin, Amelia Earhart, Annie Oakley and Buffalo Soldier Brent. In total, there are now nearly 40 different explorers, patriots, westerners, adventurers, Native Americans, world leaders and other celebrities from the past.

Odyssey Toys is also expanding its Apollo Moon Scapes line of interconnecting wooden play sets with a Deluxe Table Set, which combines the five sets of space adventure. The new set includes a rocket, a lunar module for landings and making that one giant step, a pull-out mission control room and stunning moonscapes where astronauts can bounce in low gravity and plant the American flag.

There's a whole lot of shaking going on with Buffalo Games' new 1,000-piece Elvis Photomosaic Jigsaw Puzzle. Photomosaics are digital portraits made up of thousands of tiny individual ones. In this case, the portraits are candid shots that capture the charisma of the King, taken from photographer Alfred Wertheimer's collection, who had almost unlimited access to Elvis.

Also new is the Written Images Collection, a line of 1,000-piece puzzles featuring beautiful images made entirely from celebrated text. Such inspirations include The Statue of Liberty edition created from the U.S. Constitution or Genesis, an image of the earth cradled in strong hands made up of text from the Old Testament.

Babies are invited on a musical voyage with sea turtle, duck and octopus puppets as they journey through the waves and underwater in Baby Neptune: Discovering Water. The Baby Einstein Company video features George Fredric Handel's Water Music, explores the nature of water in streams, rivers and waterfalls and explains how water forms raindrops and puddles.

Complementing Baby Neptune, which will be available next month, is a music CD featuring Water Music, as well as selections from Handel's Messiah and Royal Fireworks and compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven—all re-orchestrated for little ears.

Baby Einstein books introduce babies to the beauty of art and nature with themes on painting, art and poetry, along with favorite animals and wildlife. Baby Einstein Master Pieces features an interactive, giant lift-the-flap that helps children associate elements within the masterpieces to everyday objects in their world. Who Lives in the Pond? and Mimi's Toes vinyl bath books are for the youngest bathers and will be available next month.

Baby Einstein puppets are made of soft fabric and have simple facial features with a straight-arm design for easy carrying. The first puppets are the Green Dragon from the Baby Mozart Music Festival video, the red-eared Dog from Baby Einstein Neighborhood Animals and the Blue Goat from Baby Van Gogh World of Colors.

Radica and Girl Tech have a whole grouping of new battery-operated handheld games to keep young ones busy. For ages eight and up, last year's popular Skannerz gets a promotion to Skannerz Commander, which has 126 new monsters to scan, train and battle against other Skannerz of the rank.

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

Since girls just want to have fun—and maybe help out some furry friends in the process—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 these animals back to health and even dress them.