•INGife

RUTH B. ROUFBERG AND
MEGAN SWOYER
Special to The Jewish News

T

Great Gifts
For
Kids

Our shopping experts
reveal their secrets.

11/28

1997
0128

he metro-Detroit toy empo-
riums and gift shops are
overflowing with delightful
present ideas. A tour of
shops reveals everything from toddler
tempters to teen preferences. Parents
and toy shop staffers share the follow-
ing top recommendations.
Take Junior into the Great Train
Store at Somerset Collection in Troy
and you're lucky if you can get out.
Youngsters revel in train paraphernalia
from the pricey choo choo sets to the
.
fun wooden train whistles, all of
which delight little engineers.
Other unique gifts abound at the
Collection's Discovery Shop, The
Nature Company, The Disney
Store, WTVS Store of Knowledge
and the Warner Brothers shop .
Want to make your kids more
worldly? Check out Rand
McNally's talking globe, also at
the Somerset Collection. Kids
can learn geography as the
globe quizzes them. Sporty
types can be real "globe trot-
ters" with Rand McNally's
basketball globe.
If you're looking for some-
thing really different, head to
the Collection's Chiasso. Primary
colors rule in this fun store that fea-
tures trendy toddler gifts. Our tester
approves of the rocking horse. A gift
that has multi purposes, one way it's a
picnic bench, turn it upside down and
it rocks.
Mention FAO Schwarz and well,
need we say more? There are so many
options for the kids in your life at this
treasure trove that we don't have room
to list them. But do be sure to check
out America's sweetheart in her many
forms. Barbie comes dressed as George
Washington, Marilyn Monroe and a
haute Christian Dior model. For
1998, she's politically correct as a den-

Ruth Roufberg is a nationally
known toy consultant and writer for
The Los Angeles Times Syndicate. She is
a juror for the Parents' Choice Toy
Awards and she selects Toys of the Year
for Parenting Magazine. Megan Swoyer,
a mother of two toddlers, is an editorial
consultant for Style magazine.

tilt and an American Indian.
At Twelve Oaks in Novi, retailers
suggest virtual pets. These cyberspace
pets, which resembles a key chain,
needs food and love to grow. Neglect
them, and they become sick and die.
The Tamagotchi has versions for chil-
dren beginning at ages 8 and up, avail-
able at K B Toys in Twelve Oaks.
For Nintendo 64 aficionados, hot
games this season are "Golden Eye,"
based on Pierce Brosnan's movie and
Mario Kart, a racing game for younger
children. Computers games are also
available at KB Toys in Twelve Oaks.
Don't want to shop at major shop-
ping centers? Bask in the peace and
tranquility of pristine Plymouth and
its many shops. Kids rate the Village
Shopkeeper a fun place to browse for
Amish-made furniture and other
handmade toys. Sunny J's carries the
most creative bathrobes we've seen yet.
Our top vote goes to the comical Dr.