Take a closer look at this year’s latest toy trends for all ages

By Metro Creative Services

OK, you’ve made your list, you’ve checked it twice, and whether you’ve been naughty or nice, Santa Claus, it’s time to head out to find the season’s coolest toys that will capture the hearts of the little ones you love. But there are toys aplenty out there. Where do you begin? How do you keep track of what’s “cool”?

Well, Santa, to help you out, the toy experts at Mattel have compiled some of their favorite toys for girls, boys, entertainment-licensed properties, and games that will be popping-up on kids’ Christmas lists from coast-to-coast this holiday season.

Activity toys

The super deluxe ello Jungala: ello™ creation system® inspires girls to design and create anything that sparks their imagination — and provides them with the tools to create whatever they imagine. With more than 300 jungle-themed ello™ creation elements, it allows girls to create their own personal jungle — and the creatures that live in it, too.

Dolls

The My Scene™ girls are hip on fashion, trends and of course, boys in the new My Scene™ Night On The Town™ and Chillin’ Out® Dolls. Barbie® and River™ look fantastic all dressed up in evening wear for sophisticated fun after dark, while Madison™ and Sutton™ are styled and ready for dancing. Don’t miss it!

This year, the Little Mommy™ doll brings excitement for the large doll category by combining beautiful craftsmanship with value in a brand. Sized just right for mini moms as young as 1 ½ years old, these dolls allow even the youngest girls to engage in nurturing play, catering to their natural desire to emulate the way adults care for them.

“Flava,” according to “Hip Hoptionary: The Dictionary of Hip Hop Terminology” by Alonzo Westbrook, means “personal flavor or style.” The members of the Flavas crew — Tika®, Happy D®, Kiyoni Brown®, P Bo®, Liam® and Très® are all different heights, ranging from 10 to 11 inches, they each feature 10 points of articulation to allow for a greater variety of poses than any other fashion doll.

Entertainment

Barbie® will enchant and delight little girls everywhere as she steps into the limelight with the fall premiere of Barbie™ of Swan Lake, a stunning computer-animated movie that combines storytelling with ballet performed by dancers from New York City Ballet to Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable music.

Games

“Break the Safe” is a game of teamwork for families and friends, where the adversary is the relentless ticking of the clock — not each other. Players are part of an elite team of agents who have exactly 30 minutes to defeat the dangers of the Evil Guy Complex (EGC) and find the four keys necessary to stop the countdown and unlock the safe. Win or lose, your family is always on your side.

Dora the Explorer(TM) Electronic Talking Bingo game teaches important skills like matching, colors, animals and even Spanish. Dora herself is the Bingo caller and preschoolers will have hours of fun with their favorite pre-school character, cool lights and fun music from the hit Nickelodeon® show.

Wheels

This season, kids can battle the giant T. Rex in a playset that calls to mind an ancient excavation site in the new Hot Wheels® T-Wrecks™ Playset. A kid-controlled booster lets players launch their Hot Wheels® cars up a mountain, avoiding dangerous falling boulders, toward the growling T. Rex. There’s also a motorized booster to help kids in their battle against the dinosaur.

With the Matchbox Magna Wheels Fire Stomper™ fire truck, kids can race to the rescue and stomp out the fire to save the day. The truck features six huge tires that let the vehicle drive over tough terrain to any emergency. Once at the scene, this large fire truck can be transformed into more than 50 different fire-fighting vehicles. A special magnetic connection in the truck allows for easy connections. It also includes a 2-foot ladder and moveable light bar that has real lights and sounds.

For more information on Mattel toys, visit www.mattel.com.