The Hottest Christmas Toys of 2007

If you're like most parents, you've probably lost track of what the cool kids are playing with, now that the days of Power Rangers and Tickle Me Elmo are past. Fortunately, we're on the job -- and we've compiled a list of today's hottest toys for your education and elucidation.

While other pundits may disagree with our selections, we think we've made some great choices. So let's dive right in, shall we?

SUGAR AND SPICE

This year, the gentler gender's toy box is stuffed with dolls (of course), but they're hardly the do-nothing dollies of yesteryear. You'll also find stuffed animals and, interestingly enough, a gizmo to show your youngster how she'd look with a makeover. No, really.

1. Hannah Montana Singing Doll

Anyone who watches the Disney Channel probably saw this one coming. Miley Cyrus is as big a star nowadays as her achy-breaky Dad was 15 years ago, at least among kids under the age of ten.

The Hannah Montana Singing Doll comes dressed just like the "real" thing, and belts out one of two tunes as long as you hold the microphone up to her mouth. Meanwhile, your little fan gets her own backstage pass, so she can groom the glittery pop star's fabulous hair while she sings.

At $18, this Hannah Montana's a steal -- especially compared to the cost of Miley's real-life concert tickets. She's appropriate for girls age six and up.

2. Webkinz

Stuffed animals may be yesterday's news, but with Webkinz, Ganz adds a new twist to an old tail. Each critter comes with a secret code allowing your kid access to the online Webkinz world, where they get a digital pet to call their own.

This is a toy aimed at all kids, but it seems to us that it's more apropos for the young ladies. After all, it doesn't break things or blow stuff up, which is something of a proto-male requirement.

You can capture a Webkinz for as little as $13. They're recommended for all ages.

3. Barbie Girls

Barbie's always had a talent for reinventing herself -- kind of like a mini-Madonna -- and with this incarnation, she can add another notch to her makeup case.

The Barbie Girls MP3 Player is more than a computer accessory -- it's a doll, too, complete with attachable faces, clothing, and hairstyles.

It uses MP3 technology to let your little sweetie hook up to the Internet and create her own virtual Barbie world, complete with pets, accessories, music, and just what every little girl needs, "Club Beauty." She can also store up to 512 MB of music on it, and that's nothing to sneeze at.

The whole thing will set you back about $50, which if you think about it is a darn good price for an MP3 player. Tweens will find this toy especially appealing.

4. Amazing Allysen Doll

Now, we thought all dolls were interactive, but apparently Amazing Allysen is something more. With a name like that we were sad to learn that she didn't do magic tricks, but what she does do is remarkable enough.

Among other things, Allysen can recognize voices and chat with your little girl -- even to the point of asking questions and remembering the answers. She can also play games, show emotion, change expression (!) and talk on her itsy-bitty cell phone.

Oh, and she's got lush hair for your little girl to style, just like a real doll.

This "Interactive Playmate" goes for $80 or so. If your daughter's between the ages of 5 and 9, she'll love it.

5. Digi Makeover

Here's an electronic alternative to playing dress-up. Radica's Digi Makeover is so cool it just might make all you Moms out there jealous.

Just snap a picture of your little girl with the digital camera that's included, and she can have a blast dressing up her image with more than 50 different hairstyles and all kinds of makeup and accessories.

Digi Makeover retails for $48, and is appropriate for any girl over the age of 8 -- so you've got an out if you want to use it yourself, Mom.

PUPPY DOG TAILS

Now that the young ladies have had their say, let's take a look at the male side of the equation. Needless to say, the top boy's toys are a tad more adventuresome that what we've discussed already, and most have a mechanic bent.

1. Bumblebee Transformer

Robots in disguise! That's one of the things we've always liked about the Autobots. Transformer toys in general are popular this year, but Bumblebee the star of this summer's Transformers movie, is at the top of the list.

Prices vary for Bumblebee Transformers, since you can get more than one model. The deluxe 2008 Camaro version featured here goes for about $50, and is recommended for ages 5 and up.

2. Fisher Price GeoTrax

Fisher Price is famous for their fascinating toys, and GeoTrax is a fine example of their genius. This is an ideal "starter train" for your future engineer. It's not new, but it's been redesigned with innovative play features that will keep your kiddo busy for hours at a time.

The GeoTrax set featured here is bargain-priced at $40, but you can get sets starting at about $25. They're recommended for kids aged 30 months to five years.

3. Jakks EyeClops Bionic Eye

You can count on spit being one of the first things your boy looks at with the EyeClops Bionic Eye but that's okay -- think of it as science in action.

This googly handheld microscope plugs right into your TV, and magnifies by up to 200x anything your son can reach. So expect a few exposes of your toenails and nose-hairs in the days after St. Nick visits.

With the EyeClops, you can set your little boy on the road to a scientific career for less than $50. It's recommended for little guys aged 6-12.

4. Magnetix I-Coaster

Here's a kewl new gadget in the tradition of great engineering toys like Erector sets and LEGOs. The
Magnetix I-Coaster lets your junior engineer construct an exhilarating magnetic roller coaster that really works.

Loops, drops, and jumps -- they're all here. This is a great way to harness the power of magnetism for fun, and sneak in a little science on the side.

The I-Coaster can be yours for as little as $70, but you'll have to hunt to get it at that price. It's recommended for youngsters age 6 and up.

5. LEGO® Mindstorm

Speaking of LEGO, they just keep making their products more and more interesting, don't they? Case in point: LEGO® Mindstorm an educational toy recently released upon an unsuspecting public.

The Mindstorm goes beyond the basic stick-and-click building block to let your child design and build his own humanoid, vehicle, or animal robot. It's as much cybernetic as mechanical.

At $250, The LEGO® Mindstorm is pricey, but it's one of those toys that's worth the expense. It's ideal for kids 10-18 years old.

AND IN CONCLUSION

We hope you've enjoyed our quick review of what we believe are the ten hottest Christmas toys for 2007. It wasn't easy to compile this list, and we're sure that not everyone will agree with our selections.

But that's to be expected: there are so many great toys out there that it's hard to pare the selection down to just ten. These were the ones that really made us want to be kids again, so we could play with them with impunity.

One caveat: while we've put these toys into distinct boy/girl categories, some are perfectly applicable to both genders. So don't hesitate to cross categories for a toy you think your child will enjoy. After all, who wouldn't want to build their own working robot or roller coaster?