Springfield, Illinois

Toys “R” Us

Batman action figures, Mattel, El Segundo, Calif. ($9.99 and up)

Star Wars action figures, Hasbro, Pawtucket, R.I. ($7.99 and up)

Megaman action figures, Mattel, El Segundo, Calif. ($9.99 and up)

Doodle Bears, Play Along, Deerfield Beach, Fla. ($15.99)

Bratz Dolls, MGA International, Van Nuys, Calif. ($7.98 and up)

Strawberry Shortcake, Bandai America, Cypress, Calif. ($9.99 and up)

Halo 2 for Xbox, Microsoft, Redmond, Wash. ($39.99)

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith for Xbox, LucasArts Entertainment, San Francisco ($49.99)

PS2 Lego Star Wars, Eidos Interactive, London ($29.99)

PS2 Juiced, THQ, Calabasas Hills, Calif. ($49.99)

PS2 Madagascar, Activision, Santa Monica, Calif. ($39.99)

Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition for PS2, Rockstar Games, New York ($49.99)

Jason Devall, video sales associate at Toys “R” Us tells Playthings that summertime is really a slow season for noticing any trends in the video world. “You will really notice more of that in October when a glut of new games come out as all of the makers are trying to top each other with the best game.” he says. “There is a new system coming out that is expected to be a big seller, Xbox 360, although Microsoft hasn't released an exact street date yet.”

Target

Star Wars action figures, Hasbro, Pawtucket, R.I. ($9.99 and up)

Star Wars Episode III Anikan Skywalker Mini Light Saber, Hasbro, Pawtucket, R.I. ($34.99)

Hot Wheels cars, Mattel, El Segundo, Calif. ($5.99 and up)

Bratz I Candy and Sportz Dolls, MGA International, Van Nuys, Calif. ($9.99 and up)

My Scene Barbie, Mattel, El Segundo, Calif. ($9.57)

LeapPad, LeapFrog, Emeryville, Calif. (39.99)

Wal-Mart

Doodle Bears and Monsters, Play Along, Deerfield Beach, Fla. ($14.88)

Lucy Doll the Operetta I Love Lucy, Mattel, El Segundo, Calif. ($34.66)

Winx Club Pixie Dolls, Mattel, El Segundo, Calif. ($14.96)

Chicka Chicka Conga Blue, Fisher Price, East Aurora, N.Y. ($32.76)

Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus Doll, Mattel, El Segundo, Calif. ($19.96)

Polly Pocket Playsets, Mattel, El Segundo, Calif. ($27.88 and up)

My Scene Goes Hollywood Lindsay Lohan Doll, Mattel, El Segundo, Calif. ($27.99)

Kohl's

Plug it in and Play Madden 95 and Star Wars, Jakks Pacific, Malibu, Calif. ($19.99)

Boobah, Playskool, a division of Hasbro, Pawtucket, R.I. ($7.49-$26.24)

Leap Start Learning Table and Learning Gym, LeapFrog, Emeryville, Calif. ($29.99)

Care Bear Cubs, Play Along, Deerfield Beach, Fla. ($11.99)

Barbie Dolls and Activities, Mattel, El Segundo, Calif. ($11.99- $79.99)

Nerf Sports Sets, Hasbro, Pawtucket, R.I. ($11.24)

Linens & Things

Plug and Play World Poker Tour, Star Wars and Disney Princess, Jakks Pacific, Malibu, Calif. ($19.99)

Revolving Poker Rack, Cardinal Industries, Long Island City, N.Y. ($29.99)

Pick Up Pets, SMR Entertainment, Philadelphia ($4.99)

Color and Carry Sets, Giddy Up, Ann Arbor, Mich. ($5.99)

Rub A Dub Squirters and Draw in the Tub, Alex, Northvale, N.J. ($5.99 & $6.99)

Little People and Elmo and Pal Tubes, Fisher Price, East Aurora, N.Y. ($4.99)

Care Bears Collectible Friends, Play Along, Deerfield Beach, Fla. ($5.99)

“Care Bears and Disney's Barbie Princess are big right now,” says Larry Mulberry, general manager, Linens & Things. “With the bigger kids and those that attend college, it's all about poker. Color and Carry arts and craft products are great for parents who have small children in strollers. They can keep them occupied while mom and dad continue to shop. They are also great for those who are traveling.”

He added, “In terms of merchandising, we host most of our juvenile lineup near the registers and they are more of an impulse buy. We also use the many columns in our store to feature items that are more theme related.”

Bed, Bath and Beyond

Mushables, Jay at Play, New York ($19.99)

Toypedo Flash, Swimways, Virginia Beach, Va. ($14.99)

Catch-A-Bubble, Spinmaster, Toronto ($2.99)

Game Towels (Checkers, Candyland and Ring Toss), Jay Franco and Sons, New York ($11.99)

Turbo Champions Racing Car Set, Carrera, Rockford, Minn. ($24.99)

Squishable Sports Balls, Homedics, Township, Mich. ($2.99)

Dippy Dome Bubbles, Imperial, Los Angeles, ($2.99)

Hot Shots Sports Hockey, Wow Wee, Montreal ($19.99)

Best Buy

Sega Six Games in One, Radica USA, Dallas ($19.99)

RoboRaptor, WowWee, Montreal ($119.99)

Gold RoboSapien with Mini, WowWee, Montreal ($79.99)

Licensed NFL Control Pads for Xbox and PS2, Madcatz, San Diego, Calif. ($29.99)

Smack Down Controller, Intec, Miami ($19.99)

Xavix Bowling and Baseball, SSD Company Limited, Kusatsu- city Shanga, Japan ($49.99)

Nintendo DS, Nintendo, Redmond, Wash., ($149.99)

Gameboy SP, Nintendo, Redmond, Wash. ($79.99)

NASCAR Racing Wheel, Logitech, Freemont, Calif. ($59.99)

Luers Kidz Kloz

Melissa & Doug Puzzles, Lights Camera Interaction, Westport, Conn. ($9.90 and up)

Thomas & Friends Wooden Engines and Vehicles, Learning Curve, Oakbrook, Ill. ($9.90 and up)

Melissa & Doug Craft Kits, Lights Camera Interaction, Westport, Conn. ($5.99 - $9.90)

Russ Dolls, Russ Berrie, Oakland, N.J. ($12.99)

Ty Beanie Babies, Ty Inc., Oakbrook, Ill. ($5.00)

“Melissa & Doug's Craft Kits have been huge sellers for us,” a sales associate at Luers Kidz Kloz tells Playthings. She adds, “The 'Make Your Own Mirror' set is especially darling.”

ErgaAdoo

Thomas & Friends Wooden Engines and Vehicles, Learning Curve, Oakbrook, Ill. ($10-$40)

Melissa & Doug Wooden Puzzles, Lights Camera Interaction, Westport, Conn. ($6.90 and up)

Gears, Learning Resources, Vernon Hills, Ill. ($30)

Baby Development Toys, Learning Curve, Oakbrook, Ill. ($20)

Klutz Craft Books, Klutz, Palo Alto, Calif. ($15-$20)

Magnetic Alphabets, Learning Resources, Vernon Hills, Ill. ($15.00)

Toobs, Safari, Miami ($5.00)

Store owners Stephen Briggs and Susan Clause sell primarily to teachers and day care centers but also try to meet the educational toy needs of the general public. “Magnetic Alphabets are always a big seller and we carry them in many different styles and sizes, but it is the jumbo size that parents go for because those are easier kept out of a child's mouth,” says Briggs.” He also noted, “our Toobs Critters are meant for imaginative play, but many students use them for their class projects like dioramas.”

Unless otherwise noted, all prices are retail prices.