Nintendo DS (Nintendo) $149.99 
The Nintendo Game Boy line of products have been extremely popular with young and not-so-young gamers for years.  The mother of our 8-year-old reviewer reported, "The Nintendo DS, when first announced, was big news...being the first dedicated handheld gaming device to feature two displays with one being a touch screen. Being a kid at heart, I was as eager to get my hands on it as my daughter was."  The DS has integrated WiFi wireless communications and a microphone that can be used in game play. It can play new DS games as well as Game Boy Advance games, but not the older Game Boy Color and earlier games. Our mother/daughter reviewer continues, "If you're a Game Boy fan or are shopping for someone who is, seriously consider upgrading to the DS. It has a rechargeable battery and backlighting that's actually really good, unlike the Game Boy Advance SP. Parents will no longer worry about their children's eyes, and older folks will be able to see the screen. The improved screen and backlighting have brought out higher levels of color and detail.  The touch screen is great and will lead to more innovative games, as might the integrated microphone. The only drawback is the unit's size and the design, which will be hard for very young players (6 and below) and those with small hands. Overall I highly recommend this product -- only now I have to figure out how to get it away from my daughter so I can play sometime!"

Read with Me DVD System (Fisher Price) Ages 3-7, $39.99 
Our two testers, ages 2 and 5, both love this, according to their mother. "It has been the first thing my 5-year-old asks for when he wakes up. My 2-year-old loves it too! My son holds the controller and controls the action (which he loves), and she watches the story. Really nice animation and great titles -- all classic stories which we enjoy reading from actual books together. Words are highlighted as the story is told, which I think is great for beginning readers like my son. He liked the games too -- which are educational. It's a great activity for a 2- and 5-year-old to play together. I think this would make a really nice holiday gift for someone with multiple children." Includes 3 AA batteries. Comes with one CD-ROM book; additional books sold separately.

TV Mini Golf (Hasbro) Ages 6 +, $49.99
I took this on vacation over the Summer to test out with the kids.  We weren't sure what the weather was like and thought it would be a good rainy day activity.  Well, it was a good rainy day, sunny day, breezy day, any day activity.  The kids couldn't get enough of it.  They played it and played it.  It was one of the few games that they played for hours and didn't need reminding about sharing or taking turns.  They cheered each other on in and were completely non-competitive.  They were up and moving and having a blast, laughing and swinging.  Even my 4-year-old got the hang of it.  I have since given the set to my niece who told me all her friends have played it and requested to play it again and again when they come to her house for play dates.  It's a pricey toy, but really worth every penny. 

iDog (Hasbro) Ages 8 +, $24.99
Although this is geared for ages 8+ it's definitely something that appeals to all ages, even adults.  Our tester and her mother both really love the iDog.  The dog which plugs into any MP3 player, not just an iPod responds to the music with flashing LED lights.  His ears move, his head tilts and if you ignore him he barks.  There is no control for the volume of the music on him, but it plays loud enough for a personal work station or cubicle.  You can control the volume through your MP3 player though.  It includes a dual connecter.  MP3 not included. 

Liptunes (MGAE) Ages 8+, $79.99
If you're looking for a cool gadget for a tween girl and want to get something trendy, useful and fun consider this Bratz lipstick-shaped MP3 player.  It has 256 MB of built-in memory, headphones, a USB cable and everything you need to get started.  There is a belt clip on the tube for attaching while wearing, if you remove the cap it has a USB connector so you can just plug it in the back of your computer and start uploading music.  There's also a CD-ROM included, but we didn't need it.  I loaded it up for my daughter with stories to listen to when we went on our trip abroad and she loved it.  I listed to it to see how it compares to my Dell MP3 and the sound was amazing.  It was very easy to upload music and stories, it's easy to shuffle through and select, the volume control is easy as are the rest of the buttons and the display is very clear.  It's ultra compact and just a great little MP3 player.  It's also compatible with the Luscious Lip Phone and other Bratz lifestyle items if your granddaughter has them.

IZ (Zizzle) Ages 5+, $39.99
Zizzle is a fun little character that's poseable and playable.  If you twist and turn Iz's ears you can create new combinations of funky rhythm tracks.  Iz's belly changes the beat and his eyes bounce.  Iz plays sort of a funky-groovy mix.  He does do some rude things which of course the kids just love, like fart and burp.  I was given him at Toy Wishes, where Iz won a "Hot Dozen Award."  I brought him home, plugged him into my computer and let him run.  He's definitely a show stopper even if he is rude!  It includes music input connection cable for use with iPod, MP3 players, CD plays, or any other music device that uses standard headset cable.  

Disney Personal DVD Player (Disney) $139.99 
This 3.5" personal DVD is a lifesaver. We took this on our trip to Puerto Rico, and boy, was it amazing. The kids were able to watch their own movie during the flight, and they actually stayed in their seats. We've taken it on car rides and to grandma's house, and even used it when the kids couldn't get to sleep. The resolution is amazing, and the picture size is fine for kids or adults. It has built-in speakers, but we liked using the headphones for private listening! The built-in rechargeable battery makes it easy to watch all your favorite movies or listen to CDs. Note: Headphones not included, but any pair around the house should work. 

VideoNow XP (Hasbro)Ages 6-12, $49.99
The mother of our 9-year-old tester reports, "this "mini-laptop" style PVD Player for tweens recently accompanied us to a trip out of town and it was a life saver. It kept our daughter entertained on the road, and it is still keeping her entertained now that we are home! She especially liked the "Cheer! Show Your Spirit" PVD. We look forward to exploring new PVDs for her to watch. A great toy at a reasonable price." 3 AA batteries required, not included.

Roboraptor (WowWee) Ages 8+, $119.99
Our nine-year-old son tester was thrilled when he saw and opened the big box that the Roboraptor came in.  His parents report, the Roboraptor is a real crowd pleaser – the type of toy people crowd around to get a good look. On a recent evening with company in our home, roars and screaming were heard to be coming from our living room. One by one, guests headed over to find out what the commotion was all about. With my son at the controls, “Robo” was busy sniffing out, hunting down and then charging (while roaring most effectively) at unsuspecting guests. Everyone was having a marvelous time."

"Roboraptor is an impressive mix of “artificial intelligence” and personality. When one initially turns it on, a Demo gets the playing going – Robo roars in convincing, “Jurassic Park” style, shakes his head from side- to–side in a sinuous, realistic way, and charges his prey while his tail whips back and forth.  My son’s favorite feature is controlling Robo’s moods, thereby directing the different ways that Robo moves: aggressive/hunter, methodical/serious, and friendly/playful (my son called this his tip-toe mode). Another favorite feature is the laser target. By using the remote control to shine a green laser light on a wall, or some other vertical surface, Robo will target this light and hunt it down. Using this light, one can “lead” Robo around a room. Further, touching different sensors on Robo’s body (tail, chin, mouth) cause him to react in different exciting ways. The sound sensor allows the player to make sounds, such as clapping, to elicit different responses in Robo depending on his mood. Guard mode is extremely fun to experiment with on an unsuspecting person. In Guard mode, Robo stands in an inanimate fashion, but comes to life in a ferocious way when the victim comes near him."

"My son found Roboraptor to be a truly entertaining and satisfying toy. A range of playing levels allows Roboraptor to be enjoyed by a variety of ages and ability levels. From a parent’s view, the toy can be enjoyed by your child with minimal instruction and training. We give Roboraptor a thumbs up the gift satisfaction department."  Requires 6 AA and 3 AAA batteries (not included)