Top 10 Toys
We've made a list and checked
it twice — and came up with
the best toys for Chanukah.
Lynne Konstantin
I Contributing Writer
W
ith so many fantastic new
gadgets flashing their bright,
alluring lights in kids' eyes,
how's a parent (or grandparent, or aunt
or uncle) to know what are really the
best toys out there?
We have the answers. It was no easy
task, but we turned to the experts —
Metro Detroit's top independently
owned toy store owners — for their
advice. Though the list really could go
on and on, we narrowed it down to
the brand-new and enduringly classic
unique, awesome and cream-of-the-crop
Top 10 Toys.
1. Boosting dexterity, hand-eye coordi-
nation, imagination and role playing, the
6.
Walk-A-Long Puppy ($24.99), crafted
from maple and a non-toxic finish by
Hape Toys, is also just super-cute. Kids
12 months and up will love taking their
colorful friend for walks and teaching
him new tricks, like sit, stand and roll.
Doll Hospital and Toy Soldier Shop,
Berkley (248-543-3115; reallygreattoys.
corn).
2. Prepare to blow your kids' minds
(while learning about electronics). They
can build more than 175 different proj-
ects with Snap Circuits LIGHT ($79.99)
by Elenco, then connect their iPod or
any MP3 player and watch as the strobe
light with spinning patterns plays a daz-
zling light show to the beat. All pieces
snap together easily; no tools required.
Toyology, West Bloomfield (248-562-
7524; toyologywb.com ); and Warren
Prescriptions, Farmington Hills (248-
855-1177; warrenprescriptionstoys.com );
Adventures in Toys, Birmingham (248-
646-5550).
3. (Almost) just like the ones from
way back when, Tudor Games' Electric
Football Challenge Game ($79.95)
makes kids the coach and lets them call
the plays (and learn about the game of
football in the process) on this three-
dimensional hands-on game. Fully cus-
tomizable to kids' favorite teams and
players; ages 8 and up. Adventures in
Toys, Birmingham (248-646-5550).
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5.