Baby einstein dvd gift set

Totally toyland - Get your wish list ready for Old St. Nick

Crafty elves in Santa's workshop are working overtime turning out fun playthings for children of all ages - the young and the young at heart. From items designed to help babies develop to collectibles and electronics for young teens, Jolly Old St. Nick (and his helpers at the toy companies) will have something in that sleigh for everyone on your holiday shopping lists.

For the youngest gift recipients, the Baby Einstein Co. has ways for parents and caregivers to interact with their little ones. The company's series of videos, DVDs, books, music compact discs, Discovery Cards and software for babies, including such popular titles as Baby Mozart Music Festival, Baby Bach Musical Adventure and Baby Beethoven Symphony of Fun (suggested retail prices range from around $7 to $20), is enjoying a couple of new additions to its own family. Baby Einstein's 12th DVD/VHS title, "Baby Galileo Discovering the Sky" and its associated music/audio CD, open a whole new galaxy to youngsters from newborns to 4 years of age.

To stimulate the other senses, the Baby Einstein Co. also has released 15 interactive toys, including a play gym, mobile, a bouncer seat and rattles and teethers, all geared to please babies and toddlers from birth to age 2. Like the rest of the Baby Einstein line, these new products will feature the company's iconic characters, classical music, art, language, science and nature themes, and use of real-world objects.

Speaking of icons, another major name in the preschool and younger child set, Fisher-Price, is unwrapping lots of new ideas for the holiday gift-giving season. The Power- Touch Learning System (suggested retail price $49.99) introduces children ages 3 to 5 to the wonderful world of reading and, with the use of additional age- appropriate books, helps youngsters ages 5 to 8 further develop their skills and ages 6 and up work on their school skills (books retail for $14.99).

Looking for something extra special for a "colorful" youngster age 4 or older? The Pixter Color ($79.99) is a budding artist's dream come true. The backlit screen lets children create masterpieces on this child-friendly digital drawing toy. Additional software packs, featuring such favorites as Barbie and Rescue Heroes, are available for $19.99 each.

This holiday season, Fisher-Price is adding new items to its Rescue Heroes line (Mission Select Mountain Action Command Center, $69.99; Mission Select Fire Truck and Police Cruiser, $24.99 to $34.99), the Little People collection (Ramps Around Garage and Sweet Sounds Home, each $29.99), and much more.

The Fisher-Price Friends line has made a few more, including Hokey Pokey Elmo ($29.99) and Limbo Elmo ($24.99), Magical Friends! Singing Dora ($29.99) and Get Up & Bounce Tigger ($29.99). To offer a rare combination of fun and affordability, there's even a special collection of toys featuring these and other popular characters all priced under $20.

Another familiar name, Sears, has a few ideas of its own about what youngsters would like to receive this holiday season. Daddy's (or Mommy's) little helpers can get a head start on starring in their own "Home Improvement" show with My First Craftsman tools, from the Little Tikes. My First Craftsman Workbench (ages 2 to 6, suggested retail price $79.99), My First Craftsman Pinewood Racer (ages 8 and up, $9.99 each) and My First Craftsman Chainsaw and Goggles (ages 5 to 10, retailing for $19.99). Add in the Barbie Sewing Machine (ages 8 and up, priced at $49) and even a Disney Classic Portable DVD Player (a Sears exclusive, $249.99), and it's obvious Sears has a lot "in store" for kids this year.

What's playtime without Matchbox? The king of hot rods you can collect by the dozen is teaming up with the King of Rock 'n' Roll (or at least his memory) to offer the Matchbox Collectibles Elvis Small Tractor Trailers No. 1 Hits ($10 each). Each 1956 Mack tractor- trailer replica displays colorful graphics from Elvis' smash hits during the '50s: "Jailhouse Rock," "All Shook Up," "Hound Dog," and "Heartbreak Hotel." These are obviously geared for kids of all ages - from folks who saw Elvis in concert to those who know him from references in the movie "Lilo and Stitch."

For collectors of other heroes, there's the Matchbox Collectibles Justice League Collection, which includes two three-pack sets of "super" sets of wheels: Batman, the Flash and Martian Manhunter; and Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern. Each set retails for $10.

Toy Biz also sees a bright holiday season for some favorites from the past. Retro is still really big, and those who loved the Care Bears the first time around can introduce these terrific teddies to their own children via the Care Bears Care-A-Lot Castle play set ($39.99) or even Care Bear Cousins from Play Along, a collection of colorful new friends for your stuffed Care Bears. Each colorful beanie toy (from Cozy Heart Penguin to Playful Heart Monkey) retails for $5.99.

Another cast of familiar and zany characters can be found in Mattel's new line of Looney Tunes toys. Some items in the collection will charm any Bugs or Daffy fan, such as one of the new plush toys inspired by the new movie "Looney Tunes: Back in Action," including the Toon Starz assortment, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety and Taz (for ages 4 and up, $5.99).

Slightly older "kids" on your list may enjoy a couple of plush toys with a distinctively "looney" touch: Bashin' Bugs Bunny, a stuffed Bugs that, when squeezed, lowers a mallet in his hand, to the accompaniment of smashing sound effects and five funny sayings; and Rude 'Tude Taz, a plush version of the delirious devil that, when his right hand is placed under his armpit, toots out a version of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." Other funny things come out of his mouth, too. Both toys are for ages 4 and up, and are priced at $19.99.

Have something a little more "charming" in mind? Disney Princess is offering a new line of pretty products featuring the likenesses of Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel, Belle, Sleeping Beauty and others. For little girls with "royal" tastes, there's a whole collection of products, from charm bracelets ($3 to $5), watches ($20 to $25) dress- up sets ($5 to $20 per item), to a 16-inch princess bicycle ($69.99), and even a 13-inch color TV ($119.99) and DVD player ($99.99).

Slightly older girls might enjoy some new items from Radica Girl Tech, such as Dare Ya!, an "ultimate Truth or Dare" game (approximately $20), a Tap-Lock Secret Case to keep their private items safe and their parents curious ($22.99), and Password Journal, a techno-protected, ultra-modern version of a diary ($22.99).

If you're feeling "game" this holiday season, USAopoly and Friendly Games have some new board games ready to keep everyone from getting bored. "The Top 10 Game" tantalizes trivia fans ages 13 and up ($29.95), while "Peanuts Chess" makes the somewhat stuffy game fun for any and every blockhead (ages 7 and up, $39.95). Pooch lovers can play "Monopoly: The Dog" till their tails wag (ages 8 and up, $35.95), and Frodo fans can get a jump on "The Lord of the Rings Checkers" (ages 6 and up, $14.95). And for a game experience that makes you go "D'Oh!," don't miss "The Simpsons Group Photo," a card game for ages 10 and up that immerses players in everything - and everyone - Springfield ($14.95).