Spotty The Dog (Pamela Drake) Our 2-year-old tester is completely in love with his "Spotty the Dog."  He's big, he's tough and our tester just loved walking him all over!  His mom loved the fact that he was so well made and that could be passed down as an heirloom toy.  

Teaching Cash Register (Learning Resources) This cash register was tested by my daughter.  Since playtime always includes setting up shop and selling her toys, I had to let her test this.  It's a great toy for not only educational purposes, but pretend play.  The cash register teahes coin identification, addition and subtraction.  The coin reader identifies the included play pieces which feel real.  There is a checkout scanner with sound, a working scale and more! It's a toy that gets used daily in my house.  Ages 3 -12, $44.95.  Click here for a retailer near you.

Ryan's Room Majestic Castle (Small World Toys)  This awesome set was tested by two boys, aged 3 &5.  They loved the working drawbridge the staircases and towers.  Their mom loved it's heirloom quality and the fact it is made out of wood. It comes with  4 knights and horse so if you have a couple of kids playing with it, we suggest you get some extra people and horses! Age 3 +, $99.99

Matchbox® Hero City™ Ice Mountain™ Playset: (Mattel) This toy got a HUGE thumbs up in our tester's house because it was avidly played with by a 5-year-old boy, his 10-year-old cousin, and his 7-year-old sister: and EVERYONE had a great time playing it. Their mother liked it's versatility.  She commented," not only can you play with the cars rushing down the tracks, but they can interact with the crane that lifts the cars onto an ice platform (which the kids can then make 'cave in'."   In addition, it also engendered other fantasy play. The 7-year old girl brought her Polly Pockets over and some smaller stuffed animals and positioned them around the track as well; and the five-year old boy brought over he-man action figures and Godzilla which participated. In addition, it was easy enough for a 10-year-old to set up (without instructions).  Needless to say she really  recommended this product. Ages 3 - up, $39.99

Polly Pockets Magnetic House Our tester cannot say enough great things about this house. Polly pockets are a huge hit with her seven-year old daughter and her friends... They absolutely love the tiny aspects of the pieces and setting up the house. The magnetic feature really seems to capture the girls' imaginations and lets them get even more creative with "placing" things exactly where they want to. Also, they took this on an 8-hour car ride (it folds up and has a carrying
handle--another parental godsend), her daughter was engaged for several hours and no pieces were lost because they stuck to the house!. Would highly recommend this toy for anyone with preschool or grade-school girls.

Muffy "I Do" Vanderbear (North American Bear Company)  In 2004 Muffy will be celebrating her 20th anniversary and she has become quite the collectible!  This soft bear is  fully-jointed and comes in a beautiful wedding gown is made of white taffeta a chiffon overlay.  She comes with pearl-centered flowers and coordinating veil.  Muffy also has a huge variety of clothes that makes future gift giving easy.  Our grandmother tester loved giving this to her granddaughter to review.  They both loved it and thought it would be fun to select outfits together in the future.  $50 ages 6+ years

Chomp Chops (by Manhattan Toy Company, ages 3 and up, $19.99)

Puppets are great pretend play toys for children of all ages.  These cute little puppets are furry with over stuffed orange snouts "Chomp" has a big wide mouth huge red nose.  Our little testers had hours of  fun entertaining themselves!

The Groovy Style Sittin' Pretty Salon  is a fun new play accessory for the Groovy Girls.  The salon features a chair, overhead dryer, plus sink and mirror.  Just another fun way for pretend play to imitate life!  This year Groovy Girls also get some pets including their Smitten Kittens.   Click here to find everything for your  Groovy Girl or Boy!

Pouch Pets (Alive & Kicking Enterprises) Here's a fun way for your grandchild to feel grownup without having that too grownup look!  Pouch Pets are cute little bags in the shape of various animals.  They are soft and colorful and can hold a variety of things from a hairbrush and lip balm  to a travel game or two.  At $14.95 plus S&H,  they are cute little gifts that will make your granddaughter smile!

Princesses, Cheerleaders and more!  When this arrived to review I had it ready to go to a tester when my daughter spotted it.  "Please can I try it on before you give it away." she begged.  From the look in her eyes I could tell this was one dress up that was never leaving the house.  It hasn't left the house.  She wears it every day after school.  When her friends come over and they play dress up she insists that they be Belle or Sleeping Beauty because she HAS to be Cinderella.  This dress up is $

Great little gifts abound from $4.99 - $29.99 including the Princess Talking Wand and Magic Gloves! These Princess  dress-ups and accessories are available at most major retailers.

If your grandchild isn't into Princesses perhaps a Cheerleader might fit the bill.  Small Miracles makes a great cheerleader costume complete with Pom-Pom's!  Our tester just loved cheering around the house -- much to her mother's dismay!  This Let's Pretend Cheerleader costume costs just $29.99 and was a huge hit with our 6-year-old tester!

Boys Like Dress Up Too!

Police Officer Costume (Aeromax Toys)  The policeman, tested by a 5-year-old up the street has been worn non-stop since I gave it to him almost two weeks ago.  He decided that Halloween is everyday for him.  So now he gets to pretend to be a cop!  His mother was thrilled he got to test this costume, first, because hands down it was the nicest costume she had ever seen and secondly because it got him out of his cowboy boots and sheriffs hat that he had been wearing since last year! Click here to go to the Aeromax Toys website or call 1-877-776-22914 for a retailer near you!