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2009 "Hot Dozen" Toys for Holiday Shopping

Every year around this time toy sellers and reviewers alike would wait on the edge of their seats for the coveted Toy Wishes Magazine's Hot Dozen list. This was the list of twelve toys that were going to be the hard to get, the most coveted, or the top "must have" toys of the season. It was just speculation by the prophets of Toy Wishes Magazine but they had been, at least mostly, right so often that that list became the guideline for holiday toy enthusiasts everywhere.

The 2008 Hot Dozen toy list contained some great toys but really missed the mark on the "must have's", partially because of the new magazine makeup and partially because of the economy.

Well, now in 2009 say farewell to Toy Wishes Magazine. The two ruling figures have gone their separate ways in toyland, but one of them has decided to reveal a Hot Dozen list, albeit much less ceremoniously than in the past. I do not see this as the end-all be-all of toys for the Holiday season but I see a few good ones on the list.

Having a toy listed on one of these "Hot" lists might make it even more coveted. If your little one is looking forward to a special item that happens to make a list then you might want to pick it up before the holiday rush already underway...

Here is a sneak preview of what is slated to be released as FunFare's 2009 Holiday HOT DOZEN:

7n1 Maxus Drago Bakugan
Bakugan is a mega-hot collectable toy game. Hot=fire. Fire=dragons. We see where Spin Master is coming from with this impressive monster, made up of six Bakugan traps plus a Dragonoid Bakugan. Play them individually or combine them into Maxus, either way, this is one dragon who'll be flying off shelves this season. Ages 5+, $39.99, Spin Master

Crayon Town
Crayons pull double duty in this new line, co-developed by Crayola. In Crayon Town, those little waxy wonders color and build the world! Once kids decorate and fold the various buildings, they can add accessories to their crayons, transforming them into animals, trees or even road signs. Available in Neighborhood, Horse Ranch, Airport, Zoo and Construction Site themes. Ages 3+, $9.99+, Wild Planet

Disney Netpal
This netbook computer packs a powerful PC into a backpack-friendly package designed especially for kids (and parents' peace of mind). Available in either Princess Pink or Disney Magic Blue, the Netpal features an easy-to-use Disney interface, robust parental control options and dozens of Disney widgets and apps. (Translation: it's a small computer after all, but it's got everything you need for a complete Disney experience.) Ages 6+, $349.99, Disney Consumer Products/ASUS

Girl Gourmet Sweets Candy Jewelry Factory
If you're looking for a toy that can multi-task, this foodie fashion factory takes the cake, er, candy. Design your own candy? Check. Bake your own candy? Check. Make cool necklaces, bracelets and rings out of candy? Check. Eat the candy? You better believe that's a check. Fresh off the success of Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker, you can forget whatever's on the runway this season. Candy is the new black. Ages 8+, $29.99, Jakks Pacific

Nanovor Nanoscope
Kids love playing collectible card games like Pokémon on the playground, and they love playing computer games with friends online. This handheld device finally bridges the digital divide. Nanovor lets kids collect, trade and battle their collections of monsters online, and two to four Nanoscopes can magnetically attach, letting kids have face-to-face Nanovor battles that use and affect their online stats. Ages 7+, $49.99, Smith & Tinker

Princess and the Frog "Just One Kiss" Tiana
Step aside, Cinderella - there's a new princess in town! Tiana, from this winter's highly anticipated, jazz-infused Disney flick The Princess and The Frog, is available as a beautiful talking doll, dressed in a blue ball gown that lights up with fireflies. Raise frog Prince Naveeen to her face and phrases from the movie will play as she turns her head to avoid his kiss, until she doesn't. Ages 3+, $24.99, Mattel

Printies Design Studio
Think only pros can design plush animals? Printies empower kids with the ability to design their own stuffed toys using a PC, inkjet printer and the specially-designed Printies fabric sheets. Just print, tear along the perforated lines and then stuff them. Kids can even download designs for the Pet, Ocean and Jungle-themed kits from MyPrinties.com, or share their own. Ages 6+, $19.99, Techno Source

Scene It? Twilight Deluxe Edition
With the New Moon sequal about to hit theaters, Twilight mania has never been hotter (or should that be vampirishly chilly?) Embrace the craze with the latest Scene It? DVD game, which features hundreds of clips, trivia questions and on-screen puzzles from the original Twilight film. Players aren't required to divide up into Team Edward and Team Jacob - not that we're aware of anyway. Ages 13+, $29.99, Screenlife Games

Star Wars Battle of Endor
Most Lego sets let you build a vehicle or a building; this one lets you build an entire action sequence! This 890-piece set comes with 12 mini-figures (including Leia, Han, Chewie and Rebels, Imperials and Ewoks), the shield bunker, an AT-ST walker, two speeder bikes and an Ewok glider and catapult, basically everything you need to reenact the last 40 minutes of Return of the Jedi. Ages 9+, $99.99, Lego

Star Wars Clone Turbo Tank
What exactly makes this tank turbo? This massive trooper transport from the hit Star Wars: The Clone Wars cartoon can hold up to twenty action figures (though it only comes with one), features electronic lights and loads of sounds and audio phrases taken directly from the series, a removable command center, and a hidden speeder bike that launches from inside the tank. So, yeah - we're talking turbo! Ages 4+, $99.99, Hasbro

Zhu Zhu Pets
These cuddly robotic hamsters offer all the fun of a furry friend, minus the mess and short lifespan of the real thing. Kids can collect four different pets (with names like Num Nums and Chunk), each with its own vocab of squeaks. Let the robo-hamsters scurry freely through your house, or you can pick up Zhu Zhu habitats, carriers and play sets. Ages 3+, $7.99, Cepia LLC

Zippity Learning System
If you've ever seen a preschooler watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Little Einsteins, you know they'll dance or sing or do just about anything the characters tell them to. Zippity, a TV-based, educational gaming system, harnesses that Disney star power to get kids running, dancing, jumping and marching - all while learning math and language skills! Ages 3+, $79.99, LeapFrog

We haven't compiled this list, so we are not saying either way which of these will be worth your hard earned cash and shopping effort. Before we give any toy a nod of approval or vote for hot toy, we have to test them with the Toy Guru Wrecking Crew and take a look for ourselves.

also see -> Black Friday Ads | Christmas Sales

About the Author: Mary Rose is a Mommy, a writer and an early childhood educator who believes in learning through play and the value of good toys.