Possibly the hottest toy of the season, Zhu Zhu pets imitate real-life hamsters without the messy cage. Set to nurturing mode, they coo and purr; In adventure mode, these hamsters explore their habitat with intelligent audio and mechanical responses to stimuli.
Accessories (sold separatly) include hamster wheels, a car and garage, and a hamster fun house. Recommended for ages 3-11.
Holiday gift guide: Hot toys for kids
There’s good news and bad news about toys this holiday season.
The good: “There isn’t an item we could talk about that isn’t on sale,” says Laurie Schacht, co-publisher of TheToyInsider.com, which vets toys for parents and suggests winners. “I’ve never seen the markdowns start so early or be so aggressive.”
The bad: “Products will run out,” Schacht predicts. Inventory is slimmer than usual because retailers are wary of being stuck with merchandise.
Here is a roundup of some of the season’s most popular or most interesting toys.
>>See a holiday gift guide for active kids
>>See a complete list of holiday gift guides
