Local Retailers Weigh-In on Top Toys for the Holiday Season

Remember those years that brought out lines of shoppers trying to purchase a Cabbage Patch Kid, or parents who were frantically trying to snag a Tickle Me Elmo for under the tree? Is, perhaps, watching Sinbad charge through the Mall of America trying to score a Turbo Man for his son in the movie Jingle Alll the Way on your holiday viewing list?

While there doesn't seem to that one must-have, blockbuster toy this year, top toy sellers have a few they think might be in kids' letters to Santa. Happi Olson, marketing director at Creative Kidstuff expects a few hot sellers this year; among them are:

• Ed Toy MagnaMobiles
• Tegu Tints
• Sockette Glove Puppets
• Photo Loco Crazy Mixed Up Drawing Game
• Boogie Board LCD Writing Tablet

There are Creative Kidstuff stores in nearby Edina and Linden Hills, and Maple Grove, St. Paul and Wayzata.

Over at Toys R Us, some of the items they will be stocking up on include:

• LEGO Ninjago Lightning Dragon Battle
• Leap Pad Explorer Learning Tablet
• Silly Hair Dolls
• Playskool Poppin Park Elefun Busy Ball Popper
• Power Wheels Dune Racer

Toys R Us stores can be found just a stones throw away from Richfield in Bloomington as well as St. Paul, Hopkins, Maple Grove and Burnsville.

The Hot Toys of Christmas website offers an extensive list of toys expected to be best sellers this year, five of which are:

• Let's Rock Elmo
• Angry Birds Plush
• Xia Xia Pets Hermit Crabs
• Transformers Dark of the Moon Toys
• Perplexus Maze Games

If you are sending gifts to out of town tots, the United States Postal Service recommends these shipping dates to guarantee on-time, under-the-tree arrival:

• Parcel Post: Dec. 15
• First Class Mail: Dec. 20
• Priority Mail: Dec. 21
• Express Mail: Dec. 22

And, don't forget to pick up an extra something for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program!

Stay tuned for a series of holiday gift guides from Richfield Patch, featuring local businesses' picks for all the people on your gift list.