Ages 8 and up

Best dolls 

Bratz Funk 'n' Glow Sasha (by MGA Entertainment, ages 5 to 9, $29.99)

Bratz Boyz Dylan (by MGA Entertainment, ages 5 to 9, $14.99)

Our 8-year-old tester just loved these dolls, she loved the fact Sasha had cool clothes, a "J-Lo" styled hat, and a light up jacket.  "She's all that" according to our tester "much cooler than the other 'fashion dolls' that are out there."  Also reviewed was a Bratz Boyz Dylan and her comment was that he was "hot!" Dylan has the cool New York look with the one-strap back pack, "leather" pants and red shoes.   Of course all the dolls have changes of clothes and accessories which makes them so much fun.  The reason we put it in the 8 and up category is that the pieces are small and the clothes are a bit risqué.  For an older doll aficionado these will definitely please!

Screamin Serpent Roller Coaster  (K'Nex, ages 10 and up, $79.99) 

This 1,200-piece building kit makes a working roller coaster that's more than 6 feet long and 3 feet high. If your floor space is limited, you can follow directions for a smaller version, but our 9-year-old toy tester made the full-size model because he "liked having an excuse to take up so much space." Our tester is an accomplished builder, but he still needed some adult assistance, particularly when it came to getting just the right tilt on the winding track. Building it is half the fun. Once it's together, a battery-powered motor draws the train up a working chain lift, and then releases it for a dizzying ride around high curves and through a loop-the-loop. A sound box provides realistic swooshing sounds, plus shrieks from the tiny people riding in the cars.

Best game

Rush Hour 

This solitaire game is the winner of a 2001 Dr. Toy Award and a 1999 Parents' Choice recommended toy. It includes a card deck of 40 puzzles (with solutions). You set up the cars and buses in the pattern specified and then move the vehicles one at a time, trying to get the red car out of  gridlock. Other versions include Railroad Rush Hour Game,  Safari Rush Hour Game and the simpler Rush Hour Junior for ages 6 and up. (Note: Keep this away from children under 3, who might put the cars in their mouths!)

Best craft kit

Crayola Crayon Maker (Binney & Smith, ages 8 and up, $24.99)

If you or your grandchildren have been tossing out bits and pieces of old crayons, stop now. With this kit, your grandchildren can make brand new crayons! The Crayola Crayon Maker melts down your old crayons and turns them into new ones. You can even melt colors together to make new shades. It's safe and fun -- a great gift.

Best remote control vehicle 

Air Rebound R/C (27 MHz) (Mattel, ages 8 and up, $49.99)

Our tester, age 7, was a little younger than the recommended age for this toy, but he had a great time with it. He played nonstop, making the car jump curbs, chase neighborhood kids on their bikes, and more. He and his mom loved the fact that he could crash it into things without breaking them. He said it was the "ultimate remote control stunt vehicle!" This is an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner for 2003.

Best outdoor toy (tie) 

Razor Pogo Stick (Razor, ages 8 and up, $79.99)

An 11-year-old skateboarder tested this toy for us. It was the first pogo stick he's ever used, and he thought it was a lot of fun. He liked its light weight and the folding foot pegs. Although he said he's not ready to trade in his skateboard, the pogo stick was definitely "cool."

Tomahawk (Wham-O, ages 8 and up, $39.95)
This sled is 46 inches long with tough, high-performance "SpeedSlick" bottom "skin" for maximum speed. It has four reinforced handles and a water-repellent top. The super-light foam absorbs shocks. Our kid testers haven't tried it yet, but they will as soon as we have snow. By the looks of it, it'll be fast -- cool and impressive! Click here to purchase.

Best educational toy 

Quantum Pad(LeapPad, ages 8 and up, $49.99)

Our 10-year-old tester rated this electronic toy a 5 out of 5 for educational value and ease of use. He said he liked the competition, and he liked that it was expandable. His parents like the fact that he played with this over video games!

Best interactive toy (tie)

 Play TV Baseball 2 Interactive Video Game (Radica Games, ages 6 and up, $49.99)

The manufacturer rated this for children 6 and up, but our 10-year-old tester thought 6 might be a little young. You need eye/hand coordination to make it work effectively. He said it was better than playing video games because it was more realistic than pressing buttons. He liked having a lot of options on how to play and the ability to change the levels. He said it was cool and continues to play with it.

Barbie Play TV Dance Party Game (Radica Games, ages 6 and up, $49.99)

Our two testers, age 7 1/2 and 9 1/2, said this was a lot of fun. The girls enjoyed practicing new dance steps and were captivated by the songs. The downside is that only one person can try at a time. Although the product is pricey, it's a lot of fun and well thought out. 

Best Travel Toy

Bop It Extreme 2 (Hasbro, ages 8 and up, $19.99)

Although we rated this the best travel toy, parents need to know it's noisy.  It's okay for a car, but probably not for an airplane - you'll drive everyone nuts! However, you can regulate the sound. That said, it's extremely addictive, fun, and challenging. Of the many people we had test this, no one wanted to share it. Everyone was afraid their high score would be beaten. Needless to say, this is a winner. A fun game that grandchildren, parents, and grandparents will all enjoy! (Note: It's not really clear how you change the volume, but if you spin the wheel it either gets louder or softer.  Not something everyone figures out. Also, you can play this game with headphones and not worry about the noise at all!)