Excitement is mounting for the New Moon movie opening tonight! Part of the Twilight Saga, Twilight and New Moon gifts will be popular for pre-teens and teens this year. 

Find great deals on the Twilight, New Moon Games and Gifts.

Right now the Scene It? Twilight Deluxe Edition is a best seller at Amazon. It features clips from the Twilight movie and comes with tips for planning a Twilight Party.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon – The Movie Board Game – is an inexpensive board game for ages 10 and up.  It’s a trivia game with challenges from the Quieleutes to the Volturi. Reunite Bella and Eward to win. The original Twilight Board Game is also available but the reviews are not so good.

Mattel has produced a couple of cool Barbie Twilight dolls – Edward and Bella. You can purchase them individually or as a set.

The Twilight New Moon Calendar for 2010 is an inexpensive Christmas gift with beautiful pictures.

Amazon has an exclusive jewelry replica set with New Moon Cullen Crest. It’s a pre-order with release date of Nov. 30, 2009.

Find Twilight Gifts and great deals on toys for the holidays. Shop early, some items will be in short supply this year.

The Target Toy Catalog was in the paper last Sunday (Nov 8).  It came with quite a few coupons that can also be used online.  If you didn’t save the toy catalog, we have many of the Target Toy Coupons here with links to these popular toys. Note, these coupons expire on 11/25/2009. That is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. So shop now if you want to take advantage of these deals. Some of the top selling toys include:

Fisher Price Handy Manny’s Repair Shop – Many preschool boys love Handy Manny! The repair shop gets high reviews at Amazon!

Playskool Kota & Pals Monty Rex – A soft and snuggly dinosaur that responds to touch. He walks, roars, chomps, and plays tunes. For ages 3 and up.

LeapFrog Zippity High-Energy Learning System - Learning system from LeapFrog and Disney that combines movement with games. The Disney characters will be sure to appeal to the girls.

Fisher Price TRIO King’s Castle – Build a cool castle with easy to follow instructions for several designs.  Once built there are plenty of accessories for creative play.  Designed for ages 5 to 9.

Magic Reveal Chef’s Oven – Inexpensive play oven with pot, food, fork and spoon. Put your food in the oven and it comes out cooked. Ages 3 and up.

Mattel D-REX Interactive Dinosaur – Updated for 2009, this popular dinosaur combines robotics, sensors and reptilian like skin for a lifelike appearance and behavior. He walks, chomps and roars. You can even teach him tricks. Ages 8 and up.

There are many more Target Toy Coupons, take a look now before the sale is over!

As reported by the AP, Scared retailers create shortages of hot toys. It’s all because of the economy, retailers don’t want to get stuck with too much inventory.  Mindflex is one of those hard to find toys for the holidays. Even with inflated prices by third party sellers, Mindflex remains as a top selling toy on Amazon, number 14 at the moment.

We have located options to purchase Mindflex.  They are not perfect but if you really want it, we have options.  Amazon has inventory from 3rd party resellers.  Likewise, you can find Mindflex on ebay and there is one game site that has doubled the price. A couple of retailers are taking back orders for delivery in late November and early December.  There is a risk that this stock will not arrive. There is also a risk that you will overpay and when the stock does arrive it will be cheaper at Walmart.  It’s a gamble. If you want this mind control game, pick it up now!

 Besides Mindflex, there is also a fun Star Wars Force Trainer that uses mind control to levitate a ball. This Jedi Mind Control game is in stock at the moment. Check out Mindflex and other popular Mind Control and Brain Games now.

The DiscoveryStore, part of the Discovery Channel, has educational toys for all ages and really excels in educational toys for the pre-teen set (typically ages 8 and up).  They released their top 5 toys for the holidays, some are new some have been around a few years, all are highly rated toys. Here they are:

Discovery Joebot is new this year and exclusive to the Disocvery Store. With advanced robot technology, Joebot can walk, talk, dance, and interact and is very funny.  He’s for ages 8 and up and lists for $99.95.  Shop early with a coupon.  Find Joebot here:  Discovery Toys.

The Discovery Macro Microscope is a quality kids microscope with micro and macro settings.  It can magnify from 40 to 400 times with clear images. Lenses are interchangeable with most standard research-quality microscopes.  It comes with all the accessories shown in the picture. The Discovery Macro Microscope lists for $79.95. Pick up the Discovery Microscope for a great gift.

The Discovery Ultimate Pottery Wheel has been around for a couple of years and is a popular arts and craft toy. It has 3 speeds and is great for all skill levels, however is recommended for ages 8 and up. It comes with clay and instructions and you may want to pick up some extra clay. The pottery wheel lists for $79.95. Take a look at the Discovery Pottery Wheel.

The Discovery Liluminated Ant Gel Habitat is a fascinating ant farm.  It is a complete, self sustaining habitat and does not require food or water. The ants are shipped directly to your home. You might want to open the box and order them before Christmas.  Just $29.95 and for ages 8 and up.

The last of the top 5 toys for the holidays is the Discovery Sky & Land Telescope.  This is a 70mm, refracting, short barrel telescope. It is designed to be easy to use for kids and adults and can be used for stargazing or observing nature.  This is a quality, hard working telescope and lists for $159.95. You will only find this telescope at the DiscoveryStore.

Find all these great toys and more at Discovery Top Toys.

TinkerBell and the Lost Treasure is a DVD release for 10/27/2009.  With some great actors doing the voices – Kristen Chenoweth, Pamela Adlon, Lucy Liu, Anjelica Huston and more, and the Disney characters, this is a fun movie for kids.  The release scheduled so close to the holidays assures that the Tinker Bell toys will be on the wish list for Christmas!

Disney Fairies Tinker Bell Talking Cafe Play Set

This is a magical playset for the preschool set. The cafe says, “My name is Tinker Bell. I’m glad you could meet me here at the cafe.”  The faucet makes water sounds, the cash register beeps, burners make cooking sounds and the oven door opens. It comes with 16 accessories including a baking sheet, teapot with cups and sauces and food items. Lots of pretend play here! The Tinker Bell Cafe is for ages 3 and up and sells for $99.95.

Tinker Bell Dolls

There are several TinkerBell dolls available. The newest is a fluttering tinker bell doll that flutters her wings when you touch her. She is an 11″ doll dressed in a classic Tinker Bell fairy costume with wings.  There is also a gift pack set with 5 Disney fairy dolls – Tinker Bell, Silvermist, Rosetta, Fawn and Iridessa. These are smaller 6″ dolls all dressed in fall themed costumes with fairy wings.  From last year we have the WowWee FlyTech Tinker Bell which is a remote controlled Tinker Bell that flies! Shes designed for indoor use and girls can fly her around their room!

Pick up the TinkerBell DVD and toys now!

Find where to get the best deals on these High Energy Preschool Fitness Toys

It started with the Smart Cycle which has been around a couple of years now. Kids could ride a bike, play games and learn their numbers all at the same time.  The Smart Cycle has been extremely popular and won numerous awards. However, some Moms did report that the kids got bored with it (well that happens with many toys). For 2009, the Smart Cycle has been upgraded and enhanced. There are also many new preschool fitness toys – Smart Fit, Leapfrog Zippity, Vtech Ride and Learn Giraffe Bike, and the Fisher Price 3 in 1 Smart Sports game. Which to choose? Here’s some info on the products:

2009 Smart Cycle Extreme

The Smart Cycle is a video game operated by a kid-sized stationary bicycle that also teaches math and spelling skills and other skills for kids aged 3-6. New for 2009 is the Smart Cycle Extreme, which adds another element of fun, the rumble pack. The rumble pack gently shakes the bike when your child passes over a bumpy road. This rumble technology is utilized in 6 new games for 2009: Pixar Cars, Sponge Bob, Toy Story, Hot Wheels, Bob the Builder, and Planet Heros. The Smart Cycle Extreme will also backwardly integrate with Fisher Prices previously released titles. Which means that if you already own games for the Smart Cycle, they will run on the Smart Extreme, but without the rumble technology.

Disney Leapfrog Zippity

A high energy learning system with interactive mat and joystick that gets preschoolers dancing and jumping while they interact with their favorite Disney characters.  Leapfrog has branded itself exclusively with Disney and has all Disney titles including Cars, The Princess and the Frog and Disney Princess. The Zippity console default game features characters from Mickey Mouse Club, Little Einsteins, Winnie the Pooh, and Handy Manny.

Fisher Price Smart Fit

The Smart Fit Playground is an interactive activity pad and plug and play game that encourages kids to be active. The kids will walk, run and jump while learning letters, numbers, shapes, and colors.  Reviews by Mom’s of 3 year olds, say they love it!If your younger child wants to have their own fitness toy, the Vtech Bike is for kids as young as 18 months. It encourages learning through 5 modes of active play. It has an LCD display, adjustable bouncy seat and rides like a bicycle. The seat is adjustible for different heights. We think it’s nice to have an interactive toy that doesn’t also tie up the TV!

Vtech Ride and Learn Giraffe Bike

If your younger child wants to have their own fitness toy, the Vtech Bike is for kids as young as 18 months. It encourages learning through 5 modes of active play. It has an LCD display, adjustable bouncy seat and rides like a bicycle. The seat is adjustible for different heights. We think it’s nice to have an interactive toy that doesn’t also tie up the TV!

Fisher Price 3-in-1 Smart Sports

For the kids who love sports! It comes with golf club, teenis racquet and baseball bat which control the action with a wireless controller.  While playing games, your child learns numbers, letters, shapes, and motor skills. If your child has Wii envy, this might be the trick for them to have their own Wii like game!

Find where to get the best deals for the holidays on these Preschool Fitness Games and more!

Earlier this year it was announced that Dora the Explorer, one of the most popular TV characters for little girls, would receive a teenager makeover. There were concerns among parents that Dora might lose her wholesome look, that both children and parents had fallen in love with. But, when Mattel released Dora links a couple weeks ago those worries were quickly put to rest, and replaced with excitement. The Dora Links Doll and online world is an innovation in play for little girls. For the first time ever, young girls in the 3-10 year old range, have a doll that changes based on a computer game play. This unlocks a new world of imagination and interactivity for young girls. This is gonna be big!

Dora lives in a small beach community called Puerto Verde, with her four best friends Naiya, Emma, Kate and Alana the “Explorer Girls”. Your child will be able to explore the city and solve mysteries with Dora, just like the TV show. The game is filled with dress up, and interior design games, that little girls love. The truly amazing part is that when you have Dora plugged into the computer, and you choose her hairstyle, eye color, or jewelry colors the doll changes to match your selection. This change happens pretty instantaneously with the click of a mouse.  This level of interactivity will delight your little ones.

The Dora doll plugs into the computer with the included fuchsia usb cord, and when off the computer she runs off of 3 included AAA batteries. When the child is off the computer, the Dora doll interacts differently based on what level of the game your child is at. She will talk about the current mystery your child is working on, and alert your child if new mysteries have been uploaded to the Mattel site. I’ve heard some parents say their children will not leave the house without their Dora Links doll.

Another fun element to Dora links is that new levels can be unlocked if you choose to buy the Dora accessories. Like many other dolls, you can buy outfits and accessories to expand your collection, but when you buy Dora Links accessories, you are not only expanding traditional play but you are also expanding online play. For example you can unlock the school mysteries by buying the Mattel Puerto Verde School, and you also get a desk, chair, books, and pencil cup to go with your Dora doll when your child is playing offline.

Dora’s best friends the “Explorer Girls” each have a separate doll that can be purchased to even further expand the game. Mattel did a great job of creating the multicultural elements of the TV Series, by making Dora’s friends all different nationalities. When your child gets a new doll she can unlock that dolls room and decorate it. At about $20 a doll, it’s easy on the wallet to add new dimensions to your child’s Dora world.

Some speculators have started to mass purchase the dolls in advance, betting that there will be shortages when the holiday season arrives, and they will be able to resell them on eBay. Dora Links is already starting to top the lists for the most coveted toys of the 2009 holiday season, so it might be a good idea to make your purchases on the links collection early. It’s hard to anticipate which accessories and explorer girls may or may not sell out. Click below to find the complete set of Dora Links Products:

Dora Links Dolls, Playsets, and Friends

Did you like Where the Wild Things Are? Was it a little too old for your kids?  The book is geared to very young kids and the movie is fantastic but might appeal more to older kids and adults.  So let the kids see the movie but come home and read the book.  If your kids are like mine were at a young age, the ”Where the Wild Things Are” book will be read over and over.

If you’re looking for additional toys and activities, there is a great block puzzle with scenes from the book. The kids will also have fun with the plush toys and can hold them as you read. There are small and large plush dolls and puppets too. Of course, there are video games too for DS, Wii and all the major platforms.  Find the Where the Wild Things Are toys and books

Sometimes its hard to come up with inexpensive gifts for teens but social games can fit the bill.  I asked my daughter Lucy to describe and rate her top 5 favorite games for teens. She did a great job!

To find the best deals on any of these games, check out Best Toys and Games for Teens.

Toys are usually only for kids, but this group of games appeals to adults, and make great gifts for the hard to please teenager age group.

1. Blokus

 With 409 reviews on Amazon as of this writing, 403 of which are 4 and 5 star ratings, its no wonder that Blokus tops our list. Blokus has won many awards including the Mensa Select Award and the 2004 Teachers choice award, and is played in tournaments many countries around the world. Simply put, Blokus is the chess for today’s youth. It’s equally addicting to young and old alike. The rules are much simpler than chess so you can literally start enjoying the game in less than 5 minutes from opening the box. The goal is simple to get rid of all your pieces first, but the game is pure strategy with an emphasis on using your spatial intelligence. The original Blokus game is catered to playing with 3-4 players, but it can be modified to play with two players. It is this authors opinion that two player games are equally, if not more fun as group games. Pick this one up if you haven’t already.

The Settlers of Catan

2. Settlers of Catan

Take Monopoly go back a couple centuries, and add in extra variation, and ways to win, and you have Settlers of Catan. Settlers of Catan is considered one of the best board games of all time by many reviewers, due to its enjoyment by both hardcore gamers and non-gamers alike. It is a highly interactive group play game that relys on trading and building. One of the fun aspects of the game is it’s easy to derail the person winning by refusing to trade with them. It’s also amusing to see how each person is affected by their chosen strategy.  With five different types of resource cards and several different ways to score points, this is a game of endless variety, and constant action. This game is suited for the teen who enjoys playing complex games with their friends (the game can last 2 hours and it takes playing one game to understand the rules and strategies). This is the type of board game your teen will want to invite friends over and make and evening out of it.

3. Set

Staring blankly at this deck of cards at the game store scratching my head, it was hard to see why this game was so popular, until you play it. Set is a game of recognizing “sets” and calling them out. Your brain and your eyes will rapidly scan 12 cards in hopes of catching the next set before your opponents. I believe it is this adrenaline rush that makes this game so fun. After playing, you might feel like you have just drunk a double shot of espresso. The only drawbacks are that the same person might win over and over, and beginners cannot stand a chance against a seasoned set player. On the plus side, it’s a fast, portable, and addicting game (just like coffee!)

4. Carcassonne

Along with Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne is a European style game that was so popular it made its way to the states, but the similarities pretty much end there. Carcassonne is a tile game. There is no board in the beginning, but a board is slowly built throughout the game by the players laying the tiles and claiming the formations that are created. The players build cities, roads, monasteries and farms and lay their pawns on them to claim points, but must wait until the formation is complete to take back the pawn back. With a limited number, of pawns, players have to do some careful strategizing to win the game. This is a game to make an evening out of taking anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours. It is also suited nicely for 2 players, whereas Settlers of Catan is more of a group game. Warning: this game can be very addictive, and there are many expansion packs that you will be tempted to buy if you get hooked.

5. Bananagrams

Bananagrams combines portability, verbal skills, spatial skills, and speed all into one game. The object of the game is to be the first person to finish laying their tiles. After laying all the tiles in your hand, you call out bananas and each player has to draw a tile from the pot. During the game you can rearrange the tiles in front of you to accommodate the new tiles. Winner of multiple awards, and touted my many as extremely addicting, Bananagrams is a great game for teenagers to play with friends or alone (there is an equally fun solitaire way to play!).

Find theses great games and more gift ideas at Best Toys and Games for Teens.

Find the best online deals for the new Elmo Live Encore.

Elmo Live Encore is a re-make of the popular 2008 Elmo Live.  If you’ve seen Elmo, he has some incredible moves. He tells stories, makes jokes, sings songs, and plays games. Reviewers at Amazon gave him 4.5 stars last year (5 stars is the highest rating).  That’s a rather high rating.   It seems that both kids and adults tend to either love Elmo or hate it.   Elmo can be a little scary for a 1 year old and Elmo toys are most often purchased for the 2 to 4 year old set (and their parents).  Yes, Elmo Live can be great entertainment for the adults as well.

Elmo Live Encore is too new to have ratings out at Amazon but all indications are that the quality of the toy will be the same high quality of the original toy.  The new Elmo Live sings 3 songs from Sesame Street: Sunny Days, Somebody Come and Play, and Elmo’s World.  He also has new jokes, a new story and more interactive play. If you enjoyed the original Elmo Live, the new version will be a new toy.

We recommend picking up the new Elmo Live Encore early, inventory may be in short supply this year as merchants cut back because of the economy.