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Fads may come and go, but when it comes to children, you can’t beat two wheels and a puppy for Christmas.

Toyworld has released its Top 20 Toys for this holiday season and, surprise, surprise, it’s packed with the latest releases.

At No 1 is the cryptically-named Bakugan Bakubowl Arena, which is a “range of action-figure warriors which tuck into spheres and pop open when they’re rolled onto a game card”.

Perennial boys’ toys Hot Wheels and Lego also make the top 10 and talking Wot Wots dolls, designed by Weta Workshop, takes out the last spot on the list.

The creepiest toy on the list is the FurReal Lulu, a mechanised cat that responds to petting.

“As you pet her, she will relax, and will roll over to look at you and let you pat her tummy.”

Bakugan Battle Pack Spin Master, £19.99

Battle Strikers starter set Mega Brands, £9.99

Ben 10 Alien Force Kevins DX Action Cruiser Bandai, £29.99

Bendaroos Mega Pack Spin Master, £19.99

GO GO Pets Hamsters Character Options, £9.99

GX Racers Tightrope Terror Flair, £22.99

Kidizoom Multimedia Digital Camera V-Tech, £49.99

LEGO Games Minotaurus LEGO, £17.99

Monopoly City Hasbro, £24.99

Princess Peppa’s Palace Character Options, £39.99

Sylvanian Families Caravan Flair, £44.99

Transformers Movie 2 Voyagers Figures Hasbro, £22.99

Source: Toy Retailers’ Association

Barbie dolls, the Slinky and Mr Potato Head are set for a major revival this year, according to the toy retailer Hamleys, which predicted parents would be buying classic toys this Christmas.

toy library used by thousands of children since it was set up more than 20 years ago could be forced to close.

Witney Toy Library is run by a committee of parents from St Mary’s Church, Church Green, Witney.

But the number of people serving on the committee has dwindled to three — all of whom are planning to step down or take less active roles from September.

If no-one comes forward, the library will close.
The toy library, which is usually open every Tuesday morning for the 40-plus members and casual users to borrow toys, has closed for the summer as the three committee members will not be able to man all the sessions.

As well as toys to borrow, there is a subsidised cafe, arts and crafts and music sessions.

When the committee meets on Tuesday, September 8,, if no-one has come forward volunteering to become a trustee or committee member, it will be dissolved.
Anyone who is interested in becoming a committee member should either email millbo@talktalk.net or go to St Mary’s Church at 10.30am on September 8

British toy maker Hornby (HRN.L) said on Tuesday it had won a licence to make a range of toys and collectables for the London 2012 Olympic Games across its Corgi, Hornby, Scalextric and Airfix brands.
The company said the 2012 products would include model London taxis and London buses, die-cast figurines, model trains, Airfix models of the Olympic Stadium and Scalextric velodrome sets.

The first products, which will carry the official London 2012 branding, will be launched later this year, the company said.

The sales of toys tied to large Hollywood blockbusters could reach an all-time high in 2009, reports the Los Angeles Times. The film leading out of the gate is Hasbro’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which analysts have predicted may reach $600 million in sales by year’s end.
If this turns out to be the case, sales of the Revenge toyline will be only second to Star Wars, which has hauled in $18 billion in global sales since the franchise launched in 1977.

Hasbro is hoping that the release of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra will only add to that haul.

A federal judge granted class-action status to a consumer lawsuit that accuses a unit of Toys “R” Us Inc. and five manufacturers of conspiring to fix prices on a variety of baby goods.
Plaintiffs say prices on more than $500 million in baby products sold by Babies ‘R’ Us between 2001 and 2006 were controlled by minimum-pricing agreements. Above, a Toys ‘R’ Us/Babies ‘R’ Us store in Elizabeth, N.J

Robert Bradford has become a celebrated ‘toy artist’, selling his creations for up to £12,000 each.

“I was staring into my children’s cast off toy boxes one day and thought they looked really beautiful,” said Robert who trained in painting and film but also worked part-time as an adult psychotherapist.

Mr Bradford’s first piece was an Alsatian dog, made four years ago entirely from his children’s toys.

“It was an experiment and I don’t like it much now,” said Mr Bradford who lives with his partner, Penny MacBeth and two children in the village of Ladock, near Truro, Cornwall.

Robert has now created dozens of large-scale sculptures that use up to 3,000 toys each. He began with plastic figures and branched out to cuddly toys and household objects like nail brushes and Brillo pads.

He receives commissions from pet owners who want a toy version of their own animals. He works from a photograph to create a likeness.

Toys are a medium by which children can expand their experiences through play, creative activities and diverse excitement. The excitement experienced by children affects their growth significantly and helps them enjoy healthy development.
At TOMY Company, Ltd. (“TOMY”) they feel highly motivated and proud about taking part in the future of children. With”Toy Renaissance” as their theme, Tomy have developed quality toys globally while aiming to bolster the overall industry. Through this approach, TOMY seeks to contribute to education, culture and sciences, and ultimately world peace.

The environment surrounding the Japanese toy industry is experiencing sweeping change, exemplified by the declining number of children, IT development and globalization. In response, TOMY has developed a series of new markets in recent years based on new business models. TOMY are continuing to explore vast new markets, such as expanding into associated businesses geared to young lifestyles, developing products for all age groups and operating in the global arena.

Regarding globalization in particular, TOMY feel that people are now well enough aware of Japanese culture and its unique characteristics that Tomy can undertake expansion into the global market. TOMY believe it is necessary, as a part of their globalization strategy to promote with confidence in the international arena the toys and content created in Japan.

TOMY will create high-quality toys and content that encourage dreams and excitement as well as communication among friends and family, and TOMY will continue to distribute them to all people, children and adults, the world over.

Charging that toys sold with meals in fast-food outlets can lead children to develop bad eating habits, a Brazilian prosecutor on Monday asked a judge to ban such sales nationally at chains including McDonald’s and Burger King.

Prosecutor Marcio Schusterschitz, a federal prosecutor in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state, said fast-food toy promotions encourage children to buy high-fat meals through “the abusive creation of emotional associations” that turn them into life-long eaters of high-fat foods.

A judge must first decide whether or not to hear the request, which targets combination meals offered by McDonald’s, Burger King and Brazilian chain Bob’s that typically include hamburgers or chicken nuggets, french fries and soft drinks.

A spokesman at his office said previous attempts to regulate fast-food toys, including having them sold separately from the meals, did reduce aggressive marketing by the chains.