Penguins waddle onto videogame shelves

"The Penguins of Madagascar" is the latest DS/DSi game sure to be on kids' holiday wish-lists. The game, published by THQ, features Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private in a series of madcap missions. They must use teamwork and acrobatic abilities to solve puzzles, build contraptions, unlock paths and avoid super silly obstacles to advance through the game.

Kids get "street" smarts about Jewish life

A blending of cultures has taken to the street as Shalom Sesame, a new series from the creators of Sesame Street aims to teach children about Jewish culture and traditions. Each of the DVDs feature American and Israeli celebrities as well as some new Sesame characters.
Initial titles in the series include "Welcome to Israel" where Grover and his new friend Anneliese explore Israel. Christina Applegate makes a special guest appearance. Also new is "Chanukah: The Missing Menorah" which features Grover and Anneliese celebrating the holiday in Israel. The problem is that just as Grover is on his way to bring latkes to the celebration, Anneliese loses her special menorah after playing a game of tag with a chicken. The friends embark on a search for the menorah hoping to find it before the holiday begins. Debi Mazer makes a guest appearance in the episode.
Future titles will be released beginning January 2011 and will further educate viewers about Jewish traditions, cultures and holidays. Aspects of Jewish life such as celebrating Shabbat, exploring Jewish values and mitzvot, and the Hebrew alphabet will be introduced, along with holidays such as Purim, Passover, Rosh Hashanan and Yom Kippur.

Ho! Ho! Holiday Games

There will be no shortage of video games nestled by the menorah or under the Christmas tree this holiday season as THQ is debuting a broad range of titles based on popular television shows, blockbuster films and toys.
One of the most popular interactive health and video games is back with "The Biggest Loser Challenge" (Wii)/"The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout" (Kinect for the Xbox 360) complete with workout routine.
Game show lovers will enjoy a trio of games when "Wheel of Fortune" (Wii, DS); "JEOPARDY!" (Wii, DS) and "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Back to School" (Wii, DSi/DS) hit retail shelves.
You don't have to be a mind reader to know that kids will love "Megamind" (Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, DS). Based on the upcoming film from DreamWorks Animation, the game allows players to battle villains with inventive mega-gadgets and super abilities. Also destined to spark kids' imaginations is "Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet" (Wii, X360, PS3, DS) where they can choose from among 30 Super Heroes and Super Villains and fight for good, evil, or just plain fun.
For younger gamers comes "Fancy Nancy: Tea Party Time!" (DSi/DS) where players help Nancy find all the special tea set items needed for the fanciest tea party in the neighborhood. Also headed to shelves are "Penguins of Madagascar" (DSi/DS) which emphasizes team work to decide strategy and solve puzzles while staying true to the Penguin spirit. Boys will surely enjoy "Hot Wheels Track Attack" (Wii, DS) filled with high-octane creativity through the customization of more than 30 signature Hot Wheels vehicles. Finally, girls will have a fetching time playing "Barbie Groom and Glam Pups" (Wii, DS), where they can style and train six dog breeds.
The fun won't end as the holidays come to a close as THQ readies the release of the first augmented game for Kinect for Xbox 360. "Fantastic Pets" (due March 2011) puts players on-screen where their movements and voice commands allow them to play side-by-side with a pet of their own creation.

Don't play around, shop early for holiday '10

The early bird catches the worm, or in this case, the toy, when it comes to nabbing the most-wanted gifts on your holiday wish-list this year.
The good news for consumers is that toymakers are scaling back price points with many of the hottest items coming in at under $50. The bad news for these same consumers is that if they don't act fast, they will be hard-pressed to find that coveted item anywhere except places like eBay where they'll likely pay a premium.
Retailers have been scaling back holiday inventories over the past few selling seasons and this year is no exception. While shelves will feature the latest and greatest in toys, they will likely not be replenished fully as the days tick down to the holidays.
Don't fret though as there will be plenty to choose as toymakers continue to innovate both with new technology and some good old-fashioned creativity.
The hot trends woven into this year's gamut of educational toys, electronics, plush, collectibles and video games are music, interactivity, the "cute" factor and getting kids up and moving.
Nintendo proved that kids and adults alike were receptive to getting exercise with the Wii fitness category genre grossing over $700 million in 2009 and experiencing 60% growth year-over-year.
A major launch from 2K Play ties into this trend when Nickelodeon Fit hits shelves in November. Skipping rope with the Backyardigans, river rafting with Diego and leaping hurdles with Kai-lan are just a three of 30 activities kids can engage in by using the Wii Remote or Wii Balance Board.
Microsoft's Kinect for Xbox 360 ($299) also encourages movement and will no doubt be a holiday must-have. First products are due in stores in November. The controller-free gaming device allows users to step in front of the sensor and enables the device to recognize them and respond to their gestures.
Music will influence lots of play patterns this holiday with cool items like
Paper Jamz from Wow Wee letting aspiring musicians rock out on play guitars or drums that include 3 songs. Kids can also control the rhythm for each song, play real chords or drums to create their own songs or mute the vocals, drums or backing tracks and do karaoke. An AMP that features a built-in NXT speaker hooks up to the instruments and acts like a loudspeaker.
Kidz Bop tuned into its musical roots once again with the release of Kidz Bop Dance Party! CD which includes 12 of the hottest Kidz Bop dance tracks; Kidz Bop Dance Party! TheVideo Game, exclusively for the Wii and Kidz Bop Dance Moves DVD which includes four dance instructionals and four brand new music videos.
Justin Bieber fans can get their hands on the pop icon literally as a line of JB Style Collection figures and Music Video Collection Figures head to stores. Each plays a 30-second clip of one of his hit songs and are dressed in clothes from his videos and red carpet appearances. The toy line also includes a collectible signature plush and the Ultimate Concert Kit that includes a singing microphone which plays two of Beiber's hit songs and cool sound effects, plus an autograph book and photo sleeve.
Educational toys will continue to draw attention with three to six-year-olds sure to love the iXL Learning System from Fisher-Price. It includes a Story Book with one animated story with 15 pages and two modes; a game play preloaded with one classic arcade game, a music player preloaded with one learning song and is compatible with MP3 and WMA file formats; an Art Studio which with stampers, backgrounds, bucket fills, colors pen styles and an erase button; a Note Book where kids can trace uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers 1-20 and a Photo Album preloaded with three sample images. Kids can transfer more photos from the computer and even draw on their photo images.
Preschoolers will also enjoy Dance Star Mickey (2+) which walks, talks and dances to six different songs with styles including disco, Latin, techno and the moonwalk. It also comes with interactive games and will be supported by an iPhone app and online game due this month.
Dora will also keep little girls dancing with the We Did It Dora Anniversary Doll from Fisher-Price. The doll features a new take on Dora's signature "We Did It" song and dance. Other items include Dora Surprise Wooden Dollhouse which has magical changing windows. The windows change from day to night in real time and random seasons show up on the windows as well as images of Dora and her friends. Once its nighttime, lights go on in each room.
Mattel's Mattel's Barbie Video Girl Doll is a perfect gift for girls' six and up as it allows them to create movies with a real video camera inside Barbie doll. The camera lens is in her necklace and a color LCD video screen is on her back.
Already in short supply, Squinkies!, is a squishy line of mini doll and pet, accessory and playset line. Each collectible Squinky figure comes encased in a plastic toy bubble that pops open to reveal its content. The first 96 figures (series 1 – 6) are packaged in sets of 16; 12 encased in transparent bubbles clearly showing the particular figure inside while the other four figures will be packaged in frosted bubbles that conceal their content and offer an exciting element of surprise.
Mix Pups, too, are fetching lots of attention with an exclusive run at Toys "R" Us. The line of 16 poseable, collectible, pocket-sized puppies from Jazwares that young girls can customize by mixing and matching their detachable front and back legs, designer hair style pieces and clothing. Each Mix Pup is numbered and comes with a personalized dog bed featuring the puppy’s name on it.
Kids love cute and it is in fully supply with Teacup Pigs from Toy Teck. These 6" miniature versions of real-life teacup pigs talk (over 20 phrases), laugh and love affection. Each comes with its own teacup, accessories and birth certificate. Wardrobe and playsets are sold separately.
But there's enough room in the Zhu-niverse for other cute critters as Cepia unleashes ZhuZhu Princess, a new collection of hamsters, playsets and accessories with a castle theme and available exclusively at Walmart. ZhuZhu Princess is powered by the hamsters themselves as kids need only to pet the hamster's back to make them swirl, twirl and dance. Also new are ZhuZhu Babies, a collection of much smaller Zhu Zhu Pets that will be exclusive at Toys"R"Us.
More boy-focused items sure to make the holiday list is Ground Force Drifter, kids 8 and up, an electric powered drifter kart from Razor that features a race-tuned chassis, super slider POM rear wheels and a high torque motor. Riders can do burn-outs and fast 360-degree spin and reach speeds up to 12 mph. The company also debuted the industry's first iPhone scooter game available to download for free in early October.
New Air Hogs items take flight with SpinMaster debuting Air Hogs Hawk Eye, the first ever indoor video camera helicopter that can capture five minutes of video or hundreds of photos while it's flying in the sky. Kids will also love Air Hogs Moto Frenzy, the world's smallest R/C stunt bike that performs indoor stunts using its stabilizing fly wheel.
MEGA Brands builds on the success of Dragons Universe with a line of new items including Ultimate Action Dragon Destroyer buildable set which includes one Alliance General and two Troopers with shields and weapons as well as two exclusive dragons. Other products in the line include a Deluxe Dual-Blast Dragon Hunter, Rapid Fire Dragon Fighter, Dragon Egg Assortment and Dragons and Vehicle Assortment.
Holiday blockbusters will likely exert an influence with Tron, the latest Disney movie due December 17, has inspired a variety of toys including 7" and 12" action figures from Spin Master; gaming headphones and an iPod Dock from Monster; Another Disney holiday movie "Rapunzel" will also come to life on toy shelves with Disney's Tangled Rapunzel Fairy-Tale Tower is inspired by the upcoming movie (due Nov. 24) and includes five different rooms and the opportunity for girls to recreate the hair scene in the movie.

Other standouts include:

CRA-Z-ART with the first of its kind Electra Doodle Creative Light System. The Electra Doodle allows children and adults to draw and doodle, to play electronic games, solve mazes, do dot-to-dot games, and create kaleidoscope designs.

TechnoSource celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Rubik's Cube with Rubik's Slide, a new electronic puzzle game where players begin each puzzle by checking the goal pattern and then sliding the lights into the correct pattern by twisting and shifting the top panel. Once solved, players will advance to the next level. Adults also won't want to put down the Bicycle World Series of Poker Touch Screen Texas Hold 'Em game complete with fully illuminated LCD touch screen.

The element of surprise is on tap for DC Universe Squatz, a line of compact collectible figures from Wild Planet embedded in dissolving tablets. Each double-pack contains one visible core and one mystery bonus character, all with interchangeable heads. Wild Planet also adds some new products to its Spy Gear line including the Lie Detector Kit which includes a galvanic skin response sensor, chart paper (free refills online), clue book and carrying case; a Security Scanner, a hand-held metal detector with a light and Spy Decoy Listener which is disguised as a cell phone and features time delayed ring, directional microphone and speaker.

Innovation First Labs Inc. comes to market with the first glow-in-the-dark HEXBUG Nano which comes to life day or night. The Nano test tube includes a code that can be entered at www.handandstar.com to keep track of their collection. The website also includes fun facts about real scientists and their discoveries. Also new is the HEXBUG Spider, a six-legged remote-controlled electro mechanical marvel with 360 degree steering, an LED forward eye and two-channel, user selectable infrared remote control. It will be available exclusively at Radio Shack and online at www.hexbug.com. Also new are three habitat sets for HEXBUG Nano including Bridge Battle, Raceway and Elevation.

Oregon Scientific has several licensed learning laptops including Batman: The Brave and Bold with 52 (26 English, 26 Spanish) activities and B-Smart Learning Laptop with 70 English and 10 Spanish activities. Also for Barbie is a Pocket Learner, Little Learning Laptop and B-Bright Learning Laptop.

Hasbro brings new excitement to the game aisle with Cuponk, a ball and cup game where players are rewarded for making the wackiest trick shots possible. Fans of Bop It! will really enjoy Bop It! Bounce where players see who can bounce the fastest, highest, or most accurately as you bounce the included ball on the hand held game unit with the built in trampoline. A really cool spin has been added to Scrabble with Scrabble Flash, a fast game where players (8+) slide, move and shuffle electronic letter tiles in a race to create new words in 60 seconds. Played without a game board, its letter tiles contain ‘Wonder-Link Technology’ which recognizes formed words when the tiles are placed side by side, and keeps score of correctly spelled words.

Any holiday list wouldn't be complete without a few videogames. Coming down the pike are iCarly 2: iJoin The Click! for the DS (DSi enhanced) and Wii. Due Nov. 16, the game from Activision lets players hang out with Carly, Sam, Freddie and Spencer and features locations from the show, fun games and the challenge of unlocking and collecting crazy items.
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light is the first original Final Fantasy title for the DS. Players are engaged by storybook visuals as they help Brandt rescue the princess who was abducted by the Witch of the North.

Girls to Fancy new video game

Girls who fancy Nancy can get their hands on the new "Fancy Nancy Tea Party Time! game for the DS. Nancy's neighbor Mrs. Devine is hosting a tea party and players can help Nancy gather all the special tea set items for the big event. Players can search the neighborhood for hidden tea sets and decorative items to bring to the party. The game also features five mini-games where players can collect colorful beads or fancies along the way that can be traded for stickers. Nancy can also be dressed up in six different costumes that give her special abilities to unlock bonus materials or reach certain fancies. Gamers can also embed photos into the game of themselves and friends using the DSi camera.

Wanna "Feud" with your family?

Survey says ... Those words will ring through households in November when "Family Feud Decades" hits store shelves. Created for the Wii, the interactive video game by Ubisoft challenges players with thousands of authentic survey questions from four different eras: 1970s, 80s, 90s and 00s.

Beyblade to take a spin on DVD

Beyblade fans will be able to relive the excitement of the series when the first 51 episodes head to store shelves. Content of "Beyblade: Metal Fusion" will be available in seven DVD releases with Volume 1 due Nov. 9 in English, French and Spanish outlets across North America. The series, from Nelvana and d-rights Inc., offers a fresh take on the original series with new characters competing for dominance with their spinning Beyblade tops, battling against an evil organization, The Dark Nebula. The new series is a unique mix of 2D animation and battle scenes with the tops spinning in CGI animation. It airs on YTV in Canada and Cartoon Network in the U.S. and is set to launch in the U.K., Europe and beyond in the coming year.

CBS shows inspire video games

Video game enthusiasts will be racing to their favorite retail outlet to pick up the new "The Amazing Race" game. Due October 26, the Wii game will challenge players to overcome various challenges as they make their way through exotic locations all across the globe. Series host Phil Keoghan is featured in the game and greets players at every pit stop to read the clues, introduce challenges and give away prizes to players.
Another CBS series heading to store shelves in October is "CSI: Fatal Conspiracy" which features five new connected cases written by the same writers from the TV series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." Players will experience an authentic crime-solving video game with real CSI characters, heart-pounding interrogations and enhanced graphics. A unique story structure that unveils the truth piece by piece brings a new level of suspense and intrigue. The game will be available for the Wii, Xbox 360, Windows PC, and for the first time ever on the PS3.

The Penguins of Madagascar got game

Team Penguin will bring their madcap missions to the Nintendo DSi and DS in the first ever game for The Penguins of Madagascar. Due in November, the game features Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private working together to complete levels and build useful tools and gadgets to advance in the game. The game, created by THQ, is packed with exciting puzzles to solve, and enables players to alternate between the Penguins, performing acrobatic moves, unlocking paths and creating helpful contraptions. The game will also feature stealth-based missions, super silly interactive moments, bonus levels and mini-games. A special DSi camera feature includes King Julien’s sassy critiques of players’ own photo snapshots.

Great gifts in store for holiday 2010

There was no shortage of great ideas at this year's Holiday Gift Guide Media Event as the aisles were brimming with unique products sure to add a bounty of holiday cheer to anyone's shopping list.
Due on retail shelves for fall, the products ranged from toys, housewares, electronics, specialty food items and desserts, customizable books and jewelry.
Heading to toy aisles are a range of Barbie themed electronics from Oregon Scientific including a B-Smart Barbie Laptop (5+) with 70 English and 10 Spanish activities and the Little Learning Laptop (3+) where girls can enjoy eight interactive educational activities and games. Tinker Bell will also be featured on a Pixie Hollow Laptop (5+), Pixie Hollow Learning Laptop (3+) as well as a Pixie Pocket Learner (3+).
Preschoolers will love Sesame Street: A-to-Zoo Adventure and Sesame Street: Cookie's Counting Carnival, two early development games from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment available on the Wii, PC and DS. Each Wii and DS game includes a gameplay helper, a soft and fuzzy character cover with special grips that slips over the Wii remote and a jumbo click stylus for DS fans.
Out of the Box Publishing added 10 Days in Americas and Pirate versus Pirate to its lineup as well as Word on the Street Junior and Word on the Street Party Case. Card game 7 Ate 9 and Shake 'n Take round out the six new offerings.
Kids of all ages can learn the value of doing a good deed with Boom Boom! Cards, a set of 26 cards from Boom Boom Revolution with an act of kindness on each one. People are encouraged to do a card, post their experience on the website's map (www.boomboomcards.com), then give the card away for someone else to use. Each time the card is used, the person gets notified. There is a family deck, teen deck, green deck and original deck which retail from $9.99 to $14.99.
Friends of Mel Foundation created Mel's Bracelet, a beautiful beaded bracelet in memory of Mel Simmons with proceeds donated to cancer research, education and patient support.
For candy lovers, Mars readies MY M&Ms Chocolate Candies including personalized packaging with customizable messages; personalized gifts, like a candy dispenser with a favorite photo printed on the glass; personalized favors and two holiday-themed gift boxes, glass gift bowl and a teddy bear.
Sweet on cupcakes? Saint Cupcake (www.saintcupcake.com) makes sending customizable cupcakes a piece of cake with kits that allow customers to choose the flavor, icings and sprinkles in sets of 3,6 and 12. The site also offers party supplies such as a make-your-own party banner and handmade tissue poms.
Other great online gifts for foodies include cookies for a koz (www.cookiesforakoz.com) where more than a handful of delicious chocolate chip cookies (including white chocolate raspberry and red velvet) can be ordered. Ten percent of the purchase price goes directly to Starlight, a charity that improves the quality of life for children with serious medical conditions.
Fans of top notch extra virgin olive oil and homemade specialty food items must check out www.globalgardensonline.com where they can purchase everything from dark balsamic fruit vinegars such as raspberry and fig as well as meyer lemon extra virgin olive oil. All the outstanding items are also available at the retail store located in Los Olivos, Calif.
Did you know that buying jewelry can be good for you? Especially if it's Count Me Healthy Jewelry, the first health journal for the wrist. Women select a goal and assign a counting value to each bead. Each time they achieve a goal, they can slide a bead over to mark the accomplishment. The bracelets ($80 to $120) are available in themes such as Mommy & Me, Golf Goddess, Happy and Blessed, Bride-To-Be, My Bridesmaid's Bracelet, Helping Hearts and Counting for a Cause, both part of the collection benefitting heart disease and breast cancer research.
Keeping personal items safe is a challenge that the creators over at The Racktrap (www.theracktrap.com) have tackled with a one-size-fits all bra pocket that holds everyday necessities. The Racktrap is available in a fashion three-pack of black, white and nude lace ($15.95) as well as a water-resistant sport version ($9.95) or a special edition gold ($7.95).
U Novels (www.ustarnovels.com) lets consumers unleash their inner hero or heroine by letting them take their favorite classic novels ($24.95) and change the main characters to include friends, family members or even work colleagues. Books such as Frankenstein, Jane Eyre, Little Women, Peter Pan or A Christmas Carol can be personalized with a new cover title along with a dedication inside the front of the book. The company also offers romance novels ($39.95) that contain much spicier content.
Creative types can also get their blurb on with blurb.com, a publishing platform that enables anyone to design, publish, share, promote and sell bookstore quality books.

LEGO puts its brand on New York City

A new 3,000 sq. ft. LEGO store opened today on the corner of Rockefeller Center in New York City.
To commemorate the grand opening, guests are invited to help to build a 16-foot high, 2 1/2 ton LEGO model of a giant red apple in honor of its hometown city. The first 500 guests to spend $35 in the store on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday will receive an exclusive, limited-edition LEGO I love New York t-shirt! Shirts are available in child’s sizes only.
A LEGO lovers dream, the store features smaller scale LEGO versions of some Rockefeller Landmarks including its Prometheus and Atlas statues. Other cool happenings at the store include the opportunity to host a LEGO-themed parties at the store, take classes from "master builders" or attend club meetings with other LEGO fans.
The store also boasts the "world's largest" pick-a-brick wall with stacks of bins where customers can select any of 163 LEGO bricks.

The Last Airbender makes videogame debut

The Last Airbender video game hit shelves today for the Wii, DSi and DS systems. The new THQ Inc. game is based on the highly anticipated live-action adventure film and brings the world of bending to life as it invites players to relive the movie’s epic adventure from the perspective of Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation. The game also includes never-before-seen in-game cinematics and levels that extend the story and expand the thrills beyond what is shown in the film. The game is rated T for teen (Wii) and E10+ for everyone 10 and older (Nintendo DSi/DS) and is available for $39.99 (Wii) and $29.99 (Nintendo DSi/DS). The game will also be available throughout parts of Europe and Asia in the coming months.

Kids to flip over Wild Planet games

Preschoolers will flip over Flipper Frenzy, a new game from Wild Planet Entertainment that promotes physical activity and early learning skills. The game (due in fall) features four sea creatures and an electronic hand-held scoop shaped like a smiling shark. The shark calls out characteristics of the animals and players run to scoop up the corresponding creature. The game also has a hide-and-seek game and a listening game called Sharky Says.
For kids six years old and up comes Hyper Dash Extreme which kicks up the elements of the original game with more games and an upgrade from static targets to moving ones.
Under its Crayola line of branded games comes Guess My Picture, a game of creating and identifying pictures made from different shapes; Doodle Match, a memory game in which players practice matching colors and objects and Color Mix-A-Roo, a no-mess game of color-mixing that teaches basic blending skills.

Lots to Discover with new toy line

Want to tune into some really cool items for the holidays?
Look no further than your local retail store come fall when Discovery Channel debuts a broad (and truly interesting) line of toys in a variety of price points to meet everyone's budget.
Some of the most interesting items include some innovative items from the popular "Mythbusters" series including Mythbusters Hit the Target Game ($24.99) where players learn the answers to 400 myth-busting questions like "Can a penny kill someone if you drop it from the Empire State Building?"
Other favorites include the Teach & Talk Exploration Laptop ($19.99) which helps kids practice spelling, geography, music and more on this wireless laptop featuring a pivoting LCD screen, two-button mouse and over 60 challenging games and the 3D Pyramid Puzzle ($14.99), a cork-backer puzzle displaying ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs as well as a decoder on box.
The company's online arm at DiscoveryStore.com is filled with serious selections including the 4D Space Shuttle Puzzle ($99.95), a puzzle that modelers and space enthusiasts (8 and up) will enjoy assembling without glue, paint or decals. The 20 inch NASA Orbiter complete with 143 removable pieces that snap together.
New York Cityscape Puzzle ($39.95) includes 120 plastic buildings that depict the city as it appeared from 1812 to 1972 with the addition of the World Trade Towers and into the future in 2013 with the completion of One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower).
Each building fits into pre-cut holes in a traditional 2D jigsaw puzzle composed of 575 pieces the form the city's street layout and islands with glow in the dark streets. An online educational feature with more than 2,000 facts is also included.

Apps head to iPad

Clifford the Big Red Dog and I Spy are available on the iPad for the first time for $3.99. The apps include CLIFFORD'S BE BIG With Words: The Big Red Dog which encourages early readers to build their skills in spelling, phonics and vocabulary as they spell words and are rewarded with pictures to show the words’ meanings. In I Spy Spooky Mansion, players must collect keys while they search through scenes and solve I Spy riddles.

Nintendo to debut new 3D platform

Nintendo will introduce the 3DS, a handheld device that promises 3D effects without the need for special glasses. A suggested retail price has yet to be announced.
Due March 2011, the new platform includes a 3.53-inch top screen and a 3.02-inch bottom touch screen and three separate camera that deliver 3-D effects. The device also includes a motion sensor, a gyro sensor and a slide pad that allows 360-degree analog input. First games out of the gate include "Kid Icarus," "Mario Kart," "Nintendogs," "Pilotwings," "Animal Crossing," "Mario" and "Starfox." Additional games are in development by Disney Interactive Studios, Majesco, Marvelous Entertainment, Rocket, SEGA, Takara Tommy and Take-Two Interactive.

Nick faves favor fitness

Dora, Diego and other Nickelodeon faves will help kids stay healthy with a new youth fitness product designed exclusively for the Wii.
Due this fall, the Nickelodeon Fit features 30 exercise games targeting cardiovascular activity, core muscles, upper and lower body strength, balance, motor skill development and foot and hand-eye coordination. Using either the Wii Remote or the Wii Balance Board accessory, kids embark in an imaginative array of physically challenging activities. They can jump rope with The Backyardigans, go river rafting with Diego, leap over hurdles with Kai-lan, pogo stick with Dora and even participate in a stamina-building relay race featuring all of the game’s characters.
Parents can also use a tracking feature in the unit to monitor the progress of their children in metrics, including total exercise time and different intensities of physical activity on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. In addition, they can customize workout routines to focus on designated areas of improvement.

Add some Disney magic to the summer

Can't get to Disney World this summer? Well, bring a little bit of the magic to your home with a range of new video games.
"Disney Sing It: Party Hits" will hit this summer for the Wii and PlayStation 3. The karaoke game will feature songs and music videos from Justin Bieber, Black Eyed Peas, Jonas Brothers and others.
In September, girls can release their inner fairy playing "Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue" for the DS. The game is inspired by the upcoming direct-to-DVD release "Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue" (Sept. 21) and will offer connectivity to virtual world Pixiehollow.com.
For "Cars" fans comes "Cars Toons: Mater's Tall Tales," exclusively for the Wii this fall. The game will feature a variety of mini games based on the animated series "Mater's Tall Tales."

WWE has got a lock on summer fun

Now you'll have a real reason to wrestle your kid for the video game remote as several new World Wrestling Federation games are planned for 2010 and beyond. Upcoming games include WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 (Oct. 26), WWE All Stars (early 2011) and WWE SmackDown vs. Raw Online (early 2011 in Korea).

Gearing up for some super cool spying

If your aspiring secret agent is spying for something to do this fall look no further than your local toy shelves where Spy Gear will debut three cool new products.
Wanna have some fun while getting to the truth of the matter? Then check out the Lie Detector Kit, a portable truth-detecting device ($14.99-$19.99) that includes a galvanic skin response sensor, chart paper (free refills online), clue book and carrying case.
Kids can also protect their valuables and make sure their buddies aren't trying to smuggle unwanted stuff into their space using the Security Scanner, a hand-held metal detector ($19.99-$24.99) with a light and sound alarm that will shine if they're trying to sneak in a camera, microphone or other metal.
Just gotta hear what's going on in the next room?
The Spy Decoy Listener ($9.99-$14.99) looks like a cell phone, but is really a listening device that features a directional mic that amplifies sound allowing kids to hear distant discussions more clearly.

VeggieTales: A Good Pick in Fall

In a pickle about what to do with the kids?
Take them to see the "VeggieTales Live! Sing Yourself Silly!" tour which heads out to venues in over 37 major markets this fall.
The show focuses on Junior Asparagus and his struggle to fall asleep. No amount of sleep-inducing tactics from his Veggie friends seems to work! But when Junior’s babysitter Suzie reminds him that the Bible tells us to “think about whatever is true, right, pure and lovely,” and that God is bigger than any fear or problem we may have, Junior begins to understand that he is safe under God’s protection—even when he is sleeping!
Fan favorites include classic silly songs such as “His Cheeseburger,” “I Love My Lips,” “Oh, Where is My Hairbrush,” “The Water Buffalo Song,” and more, as well as the original, never-before-heard silly song, “My Bear” featured on the brand new VeggieTales: It’s A Meaningful Life DVD coming this fall!
The tour kicks off on September 28 in Shreveport, Louisiana before heading to cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Louisville, Nashville, Orlando, Washington, D.C. and Birmingham.
For the latest itinerary, ticket information and group sales (ranging from $10 - $25), please visit www.bigidea.com/events.

Girls to fancy new DS game

Girls that fancy playing something new this summer can pick up a copy of the "Fancy Nancy: Tea Party" video game for the DSi and DS systems. The game is based on the best-selling book series and will allow girls to play as Nancy and become the fanciest girl around.
In fall, game show fans can spin the wheel or test their knowledge with Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! games for the Wii and DS. Both games will use the Wii Speak feature for an enhanced gameplay experience and feature the voices of the show hosts, Pat Sajak, Vanna White and Alex Trebek.

New scooter hits the pavement

Now that school is coming to end, getting kids to spend more time outdoors will be a challenge facing parents everywhere.
A fun solution could be Whiplash, a self-propelled, part scooter, part Wave (caster board)that is great for kids 5 and up.
The Whiplash is available throughout the US (also on Amazon.com) and retails for around $79.99.

Toy Story 3 heads to Toys"R"Us

The hot "Toy Story" at Toys"R"Us these days is a new boutique filled with action figures, construction sets, role play accessories, musical instruments and electronic devices to support the upcoming "Toy Story 3" movie. As a special promotion, customers who purchase $25 in "Toy Story" merchandise from June 13 to June 19 will receive a complimentary “Toy Story 3” movie ticket, while supplies last. In addition, Babies“R”Us is showcasing a carefully selected assortment of “Toy Story” merchandise geared toward younger children including room décor, with a large assortment of baby furniture, toddler beds, stepping stools and more featuring “Toy Story” characters. Additionally, the boutiques include “Toy Story” playthings for the tiniest tikes, such as the “Toy Story 3” Imaginext line from Fisher-Price^. Fans can also visit Toysrus.com/ToyStory to view the toys as well as downloadable coloring sheets and wallpaper for iPod touch and computers. As an added bonus, shoppers can also find videos highlighting the unique features of the hottest “Toy Story 3” products.

Series adds some drama to summer viewing

The wait is finally over!
Kids can kick off their summer vacation with "Total Drama World Tour," which builds on the popular Cartoon Network series' "Total Drama Island" and "Total Drama Action."
Airing Monday, June 21, the series takes the show's 17 contestants, some old faves and some new, around the world to compete in the painful and embarrassing challenges for a chance to win $1 million. The new series will be hosted by Chris McLean and Chef, as the group travels the world in the Total Drama Jumbo Jet.
The contestants can be followed online at www.TotalDramaWorldTour.com. Games like “Splat Oberfest” and “Drop of Shame,” will debut throughout the season, and four aftermath specials, presented by new guest host Blainely and past contestants, Geoff and Bridgett, will premiere exclusively on the site.

Things that Go Bump

Kids can tune in to their favorite episodes of The Mr. Men Show when "Mr. Bump Presents: Planes, Trains and Dillymobiles!"heads to store shelves on May 18. The six episode DVD includes "Car Wash," "Flying," "Trains," "Cars," "Boats" and "Inventions."
Some bonus features include Meet the Character, a montage of character highlights; Learn to Draw the Character, a step-by-step look at how to draw the characters; Find the Character, a game to find the character hidden in a picture and Dance Sequence, a montage of musical segments.

Kids to say iWant iTunes

Preschoolers can see even more of their Sesame Street faves as new TV episodes, movies, apps, music and podcasts are available at www.iTunes.com.
Brand new are three apps in the “Count with Sesame” series for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users including “Rosita’s Jump Count,” in which Rosita jumps rope and counts in English and Spanish as you jump from uno to 100. In “Bert’s Bag,” Bert’s collections are kept in brown paper bags. What’s inside? You must open the bag and shake out the contents to find out. “Count TV” features nine classic Sesame Street videos such as “Queen of 6” and Alistair Cookie in “1 Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Choose a number on The Count’s remote control to start counting the objects featured in the video.
“Rosita’s Jump Count” is available for $1.99, while “Bert’s Bag” and “Count TV” are available for $2.99, from the App Store or at www.itunes.com/sesamestreet.
Twelve titles are also available for permanent download including “Elmo Loves You,” “Abby in Wonderland” and “Being Green.” In addition, the “Learn Along with Sesame” series, a collection of online educational resource videos and podcasts, are available as free downloads to all iTunes customers. Episodes of the TV series, available in English and Spanish, are also available on iTunes. All Sesame Street content can be found directly at www.itunes.com/sesamestreet.
Also premiering on iTunes is the first season of "Fat Albert and the Cosby kids" the popular television series created by and starring Bill Cosby.
The shows can be found under “TV Shows” within both the “Animation” and “Classic” genres. Season 1 (36 episodes) is currently available for $29.99 and each individual episode can be purchased for $1.99 at the iTunes Store at www.iTunes.com.

BEYBLADE to roll out to audiences

BEYBLADE is taking another spin on TV this summer with "BEYBLADE: Metal Fusion" premiering on Cartoon Network on Saturday, June 26 at 7:30 am. Canadian audiences will be able to see four back-to-back episodes starting on Saturday, May 15 at 12 pm.
The 51 new episodes offer a fresh take on the original series with new characters competing for dominance with their spinning BEYBLADE tops, battling against an evil organization, The Dark Nebula. Staying true to the Japanese version of BEYBLADE, it features a new storyline brought to life in a unique mix of 2D animation and battle scenes with the tops spinning in CGI animation.
A new line of toys with an innovative metal gear system and an online virtual battle component will be rolling out this fall as well in the US.

Retailers plant new products for Earth Day

Retailers are getting behind Earth Day in a big way this month with Disney Stores and FAO Schwarz carving out shelf space for new eco-friendly lines.
Toy Story's three-eyed green alien is starring in a line of products including Save Planet Earth totes, 100% organic cotton tees for kids and adults, reusable aluminum bottles, journals made from recycled paper and organic cotton, as well as an exclusive Toy Story plush alien.
A portion of the proceeds from sales of the line will benefit The Nature Conservancy's Adopt a Coral Reef program. The merchandise, available through Earth Day, is also available at DisneyStore.com.
Disney's "Oceans," a live-action film that promotes awareness of the world's waterways will also arrive in theatres on Earth Day.
GREENZYS is also making an impact over to FAO Schwarz with books and toys available exclusively at the chain and online for the entire month.
Shelves will be brimming with plush toys featuring book-based characters such as Peat the Penguin, an ardent supporter of recycling, reusing and reducing waste; Yew Yew the Panda, who grows bamboo to prevent erosion and create oxygen; Willow the Elephant, who collects rainwater for her plants and uses her trunk as a water hose; and Violet the Giraffe, the ecological genius who teaches the GREENZYS how to reduce their carbon paw print in an effort to protect the environment. Each plush is made from soy fibers and non-toxic dyes with packaging made from recycled paperboard.
A portion of every GREENZYS purchase will benefit the non-profit Environmental Media Association (www.ema-online.org) as well as the Arbor Day Foundation (www.arborday.org) with the planting of a tree for each toy purchase between now and December 31.
Kids can also visit www.greenzys.com, to receive a personalized digital certificate acknowledging their planted tree contribution from the specific GREENZY they’ve purchased.

Geronimo Stilton greenlit for season 2

There's good news for Geronimo Stilton fans as 26 new episodes of the children's animated series will air in fall 2011.

Based on the popular children’s chapter book series of the same name, Geronimo Stilton the animated series centers on the life and adventures of the famous Geronimo Stilton - head of a veritable media empire, erudite mouse, and klutz extraordinaire.

Make the "Trek" to Kennedy Space Center

Fans willing to make the trek to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex can see "Star Trek Live," a new interactive stage show starting June 11, 2010.

The 30-minute show introduces a world of discovery by combining science with entertainment to teach and encourage scientific literacy. In the show, the audience portrays new Starfleet cadets assembled for the first day at the Starfleet Academy led by its best and brightest. The new cadets will have to learn quickly the intricacies of living and working in space, modern space travel and the latest in communication and technology.

Based on the popular science-fiction franchise, the show will be presented five times a day at the facility's 300-seat Astronaut Encounter Theater. The show will be open daily and is included with regular admission to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

For more information about the live action show, call Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex at 321-449-4400 or visit www.KennedySpaceCenter.comor www.madscience.org/stageshows.

Watch Out for new DVDs

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy stars in "Escape from Dino Island" due in stores on May 4. This latest installment features Wubbzy and his friends on an adventure from Wuzzleburg to the mysterious land of Dino Island, where they discover the Wazumboo Jungle and tame a Doodleberry patch gone wild.

"Mr Bump Presents: Planes, Trains and Dillymobiles!" heads to shelves on May 18. The DVD ($14.94) contains six fun-filled shows, plus catchy songs, and interactive bonus features. including Meet the Character , a montage of character highlights; learn to Draw the Character, a step-by-step look at how to draw the characters; Find the Character, a game to find the character hidden in a picture and Dance Sequence, a montage of musical segments.

Kids can carry their favorite DVDs with them this summer as Barney and Thomas & Friends are featured in the first-ever On-The-Go DVD Packs.
Each portable carrying case (due May 25) features three DVDs with room to hold an additional nine DVDs per pack. Barney On-The-Go Pack DVDs include, "Red, Yellow, Blue," "Barney's Colorful World Live! and "Happy Mad Silly Sad," while the Thomas & Friends On-The-Go Pack DVDs include "Hooray For Thomas," "Trust Thomas," and "Percy & The Dragon."

It's double the fun for fans of Thomas & Friends as a new two-disc special edition DVD set heads to shelves on June 1. "Thomas & Friends: The Greatest Stories" features 20 favorite episodes, including the first ever Thomas & Friends episode. The DVD is full of fun including a Create Your Own Thomas Story DVD-Rom game where children can place themselves right in the Island of Sodor with their name and favorite things as well as five games, a Thomas Trivia Game, four music videos, four sing-alongs, and an enhanced read-along.

JCPenney targets fashionable "actionistas"

There's a supergirl in all of us particularly now that JCPenney will carry an exclusive line of lifestyle apparel for 8- to 12-year-olds inspired by five-time Olympic medalist Nastia Liukin.
Supergirl by Nastia ($20 to $38) heads to stores in July and includes active fleece, dresses and tunics, knit pants, signature Supergirl tees, dancewear, fashion leggings, shrug tops and more.

Unleash Your Inner Viking at Walmart

Walmart has created in-store themed areas for the upcoming movie "How to Train Your Dragon" in more than 2,500 stores.
The areas feature a Viking ship and more than 100 products including foam swords and helmets, apparel, skateboards, hooded towels, sunglasses and snacks. Walmart has also developed a "How to Train Your Dragon" activity book, which will be available in Happy Meals at 1,000 McDonald's location in stores.

New DVDs are springing onto store shelves

Why not spring for some new DVDs that are heading to shelves over the next few months?
• "Bob The Builder: Heavy Duty Diggers" hits stores March 23 and features Bob, Muck, Scoop, Digger, Wendy and Roley in their new location in Harbor Town. Here, Lofty leads the construction of a new ocean pier and transforms an old shack into a surf school. Scratch, the newest addition to the Top Team, is also digging his way into all sorts of adventures with Scoop at the museum; and Scrambler attempts to build a tree house at the school by himself.
• "John Deere Earth Mover Action” rumbles onto DVD on April 13 ($14.95) with a 40-minute tribute to excavators, front-end loaders, graders, scrapers, and backhoes, and includes a fascinating look at John Deere’s newest – the fast, powerful, four-track 764 Dozer.
• Shaun the Sheep is baa-aa-aack on June 1 in new six-episode collection, "Shaun the Sheep: One Giant Leap for Lambkind." The DVD ($14.95) features Shaun and his barnyard buddies Bitzer, Shirley and Timmy, as they encounter more madcap mischief along with those Naughty Pigs next door.
• Toot! Toot! That's the sound of Thomas & Friends heading over to retail shelves on June 1 in "Thomas & Friends: The Greatest Stories." The new two-disc special edition DVD set ($16.98) features 20 favorite episodes, including the first ever Thomas & Friends episode. The DVD also includes a Create Your Own Thomas Story DVD-ROM game, a Thomas Trivia Game, four music videos, four sing-alongs, and an enhanced read-along.

Bakugan battles for fans' attention

There will definitely be some brawling on store shelves this month with the launch of the Bakugan Season 3: Gundalian Invaders toy line.
Young warriors will be able to get their hands on the Bakugan Battle Gear (weapons that magnetically attach to the Bakugan) and new Core Bakugan characters and be able to act out the adventures of Dan, Marucho and Shun, as they attempt to save Earth from the evil Twelve Orders.
The third season also dovetails with the launch of the free Bakugan online game, Bakugan Dimensions.
Each of the products contains a new heat activated online access code that magically appears by rubbing it with your finger. Once the code has been unveiled, players may enter it online at www.bakugan.com where that specific character will appear in Bakugan Dimensions so they can battle online against people from around the world.
Starting April 1st all Season 3: Gundalian Invaders access codes entered online at www.bakugan.com will automatically be entered to win one of four prize packs.

MLB scores with Victoria Secret

Ladies can get up close and personal with their favorite baseball teams now that Victoria Secret is launching a co-branded line of apparel in more than 100 stores and online.
The MLB and Victoria's Secret Pink apparel includes tees, sweats, hoodies, tanks and shorts, will feature names and logos of the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.

Walmart creates "Twilight" shops

Lots of cool Twilight merchandise will scare up interest over at Walmart with themed shops through mid-April.
The Twilight Saga shops will offer a special fan edition two-disc DVD and Blu-ray (after midnight March 20), tees, jewelry, key chains, books, posters, character dolls and the soundtrack.The shops will also host themed giveaways.
A microsite has launched at www.walmart.com/twilight.

Anime faves to air on new website

VIZ Anime (www.VIZAnime.com) is a new web destination that will become a permanent home for some of today's hottest animated series.
The free site kicks off with more than 400 episodes from BLEACH, BUSO RENKIN, DEATH NOTE (complete series), HIKARU NO GO, HONEY & CLOVER, INUYASHA (complete series) and INUYASHA: THE FINAL ACT, NANA, NARUTO (complete series) and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN as well as THE PRINCE OF TENNIS. The site will also be the future web home for many other anime series set to launch later this year.
Some cool features: users can “follow” as many series as they like and choose to be notified each time a new episode is released, as well as keep track of the last episode they’ve watched. Users can comment on individual episodes and also meet and interact with other fans, invite friends to join, ask questions and debate plot twists and characters, voice their opinion on what’s happening in a particular series, and also find out what else is going on across the anime and manga spectrums.

Poptropica heads to retail shelves

Fans of Poptropica (www.poptropica.com) will be able to find toys, apparel and room decor products inspired by the popular kids' website.
At www.poptropica.com kids create an avatar to explore a virtual world that entertains and educates millions of children across the globe by engaging them in narrative quests and online games. Kids can safely communicate and compete in head-to-head competition with other kids, collect objects, read digital books and comics, and more.
Poptropica’s content is developed under the creative direction of Jeff Kinney, author/illustrator of the bestselling, and soon-to-be movie, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series.

Cartoon Network is in the "Pink"

Pink Panther & Pals have moved onto the small screen over at Cartoon Network with a new animated series. The series is the first new "Pink Panther" series in 17 years. In his new incarnation, Pink Panther is more teen than grown-up, but he still embodies all the cool, savvy, curiosity and confidence the grown-up Pink Panther was known for. Each show contains two seven minute episodes of a teenage Panther and his buddies, and one short of the classic Ant & the Aardvark characters.

Sesame Street "drives" interest in characters

Kids who love Sesame Street can take their favorite characters anywhere they go with a collection of seven USB drives with a special "wearable" connector strap. The drives feature Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover, Abby Cadabby, Ernie and the Sesame Street street sign and will be in stores next month. Each drive holds a capacity of 400 photographs, songs and printable content. Each wearable drive comes with a complementary character-specific full-length home video: The Best of Elmo, Abby in Wonderland, Big Bird’s Do the Alphabet, Bert and Ernie’s Word Play, Cookie Monster’s Best Bites, A Celebration of Me: Grover, and Sesame Street’s 25^th Anniversary: A Musical Celebration.

New site is Mighty Fine

Looking for cool licensed tees?
Mighty Fine has made them easy to find with WeLoveFine.com where consumers can order a tee featuring faves like Hello Kitty, Fifi Lapin, Marvel or Peanuts or use the "do it yourself" feature to customize their own.
All shoppers receive 15% off and can create a personal profile for all future orders. With every purchase, customers will also receive a free Mighty Fine tote.

Shaun White to star in skateboarding game

Fans will have to wait until the holidays to get their hands on "Shaun White Skateboarding," the first skateboarding video game in the best-selling Shaun White franchise.
The video game will provide an innovative twist and fresh take on the skateboarding and action-sports genre. White is the first athlete to win both gold medals in skateboarding and snowboarding at the Summer and Winter X Games.
More details about the game are available at www.shaunwhitegame.com.

The Can-Do Crew star in new DVD

Bob the Builder fans will see the can-do crew in an all-new CG animated series, "Bob the Builder: Heavy Duty Diggers" on March 23. Bob and the team are hard at work in their new location in Harbor Town where Lofty leads the construction of a new ocean pier and transforms an old shack into a surf school; Scratch, the newest addition to the team, is digging his way into all sorts of adventures with Scoop at the museum; and Scrambler attempts to build a tree house at the school by himself. The DVD includes five episodes including: "Scratch’s Hidden Treasures," "Scrambler’s Best Idea," "High Tide for Loft," "Scoop the Artist," and "Lofty and the Monster."

Bringing luxury into the home

Consumers will soon be able to bring the luxury of a spa experience to their own home with a new collection of Elizabeth Arden bedding, bath and spa accessories.

Meaningful Entertainment on the Go!

With texting, email, Facebook and iPods, it's getting harder and harder these days to get people to actually sit down and have a face-to-face conversation.
Around the Table games has a great solution to this dilemma with Family Talk, Grandparent Talk, Buddy Talk, Teen Talk and Camp Talk. These card-based games engage participants in colorful conversation as they answer the included questions. Even better, they are housed on a carabineer clip that is portable and can be attached to backpacks, sport bags or overnight bags for entertainment on the go. Each collection contains either 50 or 100 questions.

Burger King to host "Twilight" promotion

Burger King will support "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" with an in-store promotion. Specific produc details are not clear yet, but for the second installment of the Twilight franchise last November, the chain rolled out a special New Moon fan pack, a series of limited-edition New Moon-themed BK Crown cars, New Moon water bottles and more. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse hits theaters on June 30.

Toys"R"Us makes buying alittle easier

Toys"R"Us is expanding its layaway program to include bikes, ride-on toys, swing sets, trampolines, pools, water slides and basketball systems.
The company also continues to offer layaway on a selection of must-haves for infants and toddlers such as car seats, play yards, travel systems and strollers in Babies“R”Us and Toys“R”Us stores nationwide.
Layaway is also offered on select dollhouses, play kitchens, karaoke machines, keyboards, musical instruments and indoor table games, including air hockey, foosball and table tennis.
All layaway orders require a 20% deposit of the total purchase and a $10 service charge. Customers have 90 days to pay for their items, with 50% of the total due 45 days after the initial purchase date. Payments may be made at the store in the form of cash, check, or credit, debit or gift cards. Merchandise will be made available within 14 days of final payment.

GameStop to host Jirachi download event

Pokémon fans can wirelessly download Jirachi to their pokedex at GameStop this Saturday (through March 13) by bringing their Pokémon Diamond Version, Pokémon Pearl Version or Pokémon Platinum Version Game Cards, along with their Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi system. Jirachi cannot be acquired through normal gameplay and holds a secret that will be revealed in the upcoming Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version games. When you trade Jirachi into one of those games, you'll be able to unlock a special Route inside the Pokéwalker accessory -- a Poké Ball shaped pedometer that helps Pokémon gain experience and allows Trainers to encounter special Pokémon and find hidden items, all as a result of walking around in real life. Obtaining this rare Pokémon Jirachi distribution is the only way the Route map for Night Sky's Edge can be accessed.

Nancy Drew game heads to shelves

Amateur sleuths can help solve a trio of mysteries while playing "Nancy Drew: The Model Mysteries" for Nintendo DS. The game from THQ is based on the three-book trilogy “Model Crime,” “Model Menace” and “Model Suspect." As Nancy, players will use their investigative skills to interrogate more than 15 suspects across the three mysteries as they attempt to unravel a knot of scattered clues. Players must complete six mini-games, solve baffling puzzles, search locations, interview evasive suspects and sidestep danger as they hunt for the evil mastermind behind the vicious plots.

Roaming Around in Toyland

Now that Toy Fair is behind me, I can't help but being struck by all the new technology that will ultimately make its way into consumers' anxious hands.

There were hairbrush-shaped microphones that played music and musical make-up bags from Virtual Experience as well as sculpted USB flash drives from Tyme Machine (www.tymemachines.com) with the "New Moon" drive complete with the movie soundtrack. Also cool were t-shirts from Think Geek Inc. (www.thinkgeek.com) including an Electronic Rock Guitar Shirt (with a mini amp and magnetic pick), Electronic Drum Kit Shirt (with built-in speaker) and Personal Soundtrack Shirt (with working speaker embedded in the shirt and room for an SD card).

Wild Planet, maker of Spy Gear products, created the Spy Video TRAKR, the first Spy Video RC with digital transmission, full-color screen, recording capabilities and the option for users to create, download and share custom programs online for free.

TechnoSource has created Rubik's Slide, a handheld electronic version of the game and for dog owners, Mattel showcased Puppy Tweets, a dog-shaped plush with a device that sends owners a tweet (from about 500 phrases) about what fido is doing while they're away.

For the first time ever, LEGO is making board games with kids able to build, play and change the environment as they like. The first five games will head to stores in March, with another five due in August. Ones to watch are Creationary (7+, March) and Hogwarts game (8+, August).

Another interesting item is Hasbro's U-Build customizable games featuring Battleship, Connect 4, Mouse Trap and Sorry that allows kids to build the game and then play how they want. Also new is Monopoly U-Build which offers a new concept in Monopoly game play with players able to determine the length of the game depending upon how they design the game track.

Tween girls should watch out for Pop Art Pixies, a line of 14 activity kits from Crayola tied to four girls with unique personalities and styles. The activities are coupled with Popartpixies.com, an online world that debuts in conjunction with the products in September.

A real showstopper is Dance Star Mickey, a new interactive plush (due in October) from Fisher-Price and Disney that walks, talks and dances to five different songs and includes games for kids and parents. Preschoolers will also love iXL Learning System from Mattel (due July), a 6-in-1 handheld device with a story book, game player, note book, art studio, music player and photo album. Both PC and Mac compatible, the product includes an SD card slot and comes with a USB cord.

Rokenbok made ROK Blocks, bulky new blocks that make it easier for preschoolers to build, while Learning Curve created the Early Engineers Line, a first-ever Thomas Wooden Railway line geared toward train enthusiasts 18 months and older.

Fans of "Sid the Science Kid" should look for PLAYSKOOL's Sid's Super Fab Lab Science Kit where kids 3 and up can use a real working light-up microscope, 5 activity cards, scale, and 12 specimens. Another one to watch is Learning Resources' Primary Science Set, a line of science kits for kids 4 and up complete with a beaker, magnifying glass, funnel, test tubes and more.

For bubble lovers, Little Kids created Bubble Dooods with fuzzy rubber hair and a no-spill top as well as Jelly Belly Squeeze N Blow Pop Up Bubbles. Also cute are the No-Spill Bubble Tumbler Minis with bright, fresh graphics that preschoolers will love!

Lots of movie, book and TV inspired products will be headed to stores as well such as "The Last Airbender" action figures, vehicles, playsets from Spin Master utilizing innovative technology enabling fans to recreate favorite scenes from the film; a board game from Cadaco based on "The Deadliest Catch;" "Project Runway" arts & crafts kits from Fashion Angels; games and puzzles based on "The Guinness World Records" books from Haywire Group; "Dinosaur Train" products including action figures and magnetic and foam puzzles.

How time flies! Some classic properties and characters are celebrating milestones this year:

• Dora the Explorer celebrates her 10th anniversary with a range of new games and toys including Day to Night Dollhouse and the singing and dancing We Did It Dora Doll from Fisher-Price.

• Hasbro plans some items to commemorate the 95th anniversary of Tinker Toys and the 40th anniversary of Dressy Bessy.

• Rubik's Cube marks its 30th anniversary with a range of toymakers creating new items.

• Thomas & Friends marks its 65th anniversary with the engines having a voice for the first time in upcoming DVDs.

• JAKKS Pacific creates a line of products celebrating Sanrio's 50th anniversary with products featuring Hello Kitty and other Sanrio friends in limited anniversary editions.

• 50th anniversary of Etch-A-Sketch with Ohio Art creating a new signature edition filled with copper powder and red metallic screen in retro packaging.