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What "Hot" Toys Won't Cool Off?

American Specialty Toy Retailing Association's Top 20 List

Kids want the "hot" new toys for the holidays, but parents worry: What happens when those holiday fads fade? Now there's a list of exceptional toys that children will love to play with long after the holidays.

The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) has released its "Top 20 Toys" list for the 2006 holiday season. This one-of-a-kind list is based on input from independent toy store owners around the country, the "toy professionals" who spend every day of the year working with consumers and kids. This daily interaction gives these retailers unmatched, firsthand knowledge of toys that are truly compelling to both kids and parents.

"Every year, parents tell us how some of the latest, trendy toys and gadgets end up at the bottom of the toy box soon after the holidays," says Kathleen McHugh, executive director of ASTRA. "But a toy from one of our local neighborhood toy stores will ignite their imagination and provide a different play experience every time the child picks it up. These unique fun toys inspire their creativity, making them favorites the children turn to again and again all year round."

These toys also earn high approval ratings from parents and educators by helping children build developmental skills, reinforcing classroom lessons, teaching sharing and caring and even getting kids off the couch. And, at ASTRA-member stores, parents enjoy atmospheres that encourage creativity and play, combined with personal service and expert advice for a toy shopping experience unlike anywhere else.

Here are ASTRA's top 20 picks for toys this holiday season:

These quirky, colorful, pillowy characters have taken the United States by storm. From tots to teens, boys and girls, even the hard-to-please tweens are snatching them up. Their appeal is ageless and timeless. Soft and huggable, Uglydolls make endearing naptime companions, each with its own personality or ready to assume one that most suits a child's. In this age of image, mass production and hard edges, ASTRA retailers are delighted to see a return to soft, handmade plush, a classic that's been serving the socio-emotional needs of children for generations. Good for all ages.

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