With a bed pad loaded with play features, the Mack Truck playset from Mattel is inspired by the hit Pixar movie, "Cars." Recommended for children ages four and up, this action-packed home on wheels, allows kids to bring their imagination to life.

Fast, Exciting Play
Fans of the film, and all its fun, friendly characters, will remember Mack as the friend of Lightning McQueen -- the hot shot racing rookie -- whose image is on the side of the trailer. Not only is the adorable red semi truck transportation for McQueen, Mack is also a "bachelor pad" for the racecar with seven different play features, including a weight machine, car lift for repairs, game station, and more. A great place to cool down after a day of racing, the blue pad is a hang-out area, or -- with the push of the yellow/gray button -- a rocking "dance" lounger for McQueen. The vehicle also has a TV set, an opening fridge for a drink of oil or water, and a car wash with a sink, toothbrush and mirror.

Each character in the Mattel Pixar Cars set is beautifully detailed and blister packaged replica, designed in 1:55 scale die-cast. Measuring 14 inches long and 5 inches tall, the Mack Truck playset is also built with durable hard plastic that stands up to the play of young children. The Lightning McQueen figure is sold separately.

The Mack truck playset allows kids to bring their imagination to life.

Mack is also a bachelor pad for the racecars, including a weight machine, and car lift for repairs.

Toy:  Mack Truck playset opens into Lightning McQueen's action-packed home on wheels, Yellow/gray button makes figures "dance", 1:55 scale die-cast design; durable hard plastic, Play features include weight machine, car lift, game station, and car wash, Recommended for ages 4 and up
Company: Mattel 
List Price: $19.99
Amazon Price: $15.29

Will the fairy tale dream come true? Players experience what life as a Princess is all about as they travel around the colorful gameboard to collect their invitation, coach, horses, footman and coachman! Once they have found their gown, they're ready to ride over to the Prince's palace and attend the ball. Features an electronic Magic Slipper with lights and sounds, plus a full-color gameboard with dynamic graphics. Requires 3 "AA" batteries, not included. For 2 to 4 players.

Toy:  Cinderella's electronic Enchanted Slipper game will make your fairy tale come true!, Press the Magic Glass Slipper to see if your Fairy Godmother can help you out!, Travel the board collecting everything you need to attend the ball!, Collect your invitation, coach, horses, footman, coachman and gown, Slipper features electronic lights and sounds. Includes 4 Cinderella game pieces 1 die, + 20 cards
Company: Hasbro Games 
List Price: $19.99
Amazon Price: $8.98

There's a lot of wheeling and dealing going on at the Disney/Pixar-themed movie lot. How much would you pay for Edna Mode's mansion? How about the Parr's family home? Or maybe Gill's Pirate skull is more to your liking. Travel the board as your favorite Disney/Pixar-themed token, including Buzz Lightyear, Boo and Sulley, Nemo, Mr. Incredible, Lightning McQueen and Remy. Your favorite Disney/Pixar properties are now on the auction block, so make your way around the board as you buy, sell and trade your way to the top of the lot.

Includes a gameboard, title deed cards, money and banker's tray, six Littlest Pet Shop pet pawns, 16 catnip cards, 16 doggie treat cards, 12 dogs homes, 32 pet carriers, two dice and instructions. Tokens include Buzz Lightyear, Boo and Sulley, Nemo, Mr. Incredible, Lightning McQueen and Remy. For 2 to 6 players.

Toy:  Game play is based on the content from the Pixar library, Includes Cars and Ratatouille properties, Family Monopoly game, The kids will love these movie graphics!, Perfect for family game night!
Company: Hasbro  (2007-07-16)
List Price: $34.99
Amazon Price: $11.98

Let your little princess dress up as Cinderella, Belle, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty with the Disney Princess: 23-Piece Dress-Up Trunk. Sized just right for your child, these fantasy-themed clothes include: Belle shirt, Cinderella shirt, Sleeping Beauty shirt, Snow White shirt, Belle and Snow White skirt, Sleeping Beauty skirt, Belle headband, Cinderella/Snow White reversible headband, Sleeping Beauty tiara, Cinderella choker and sleeve puffs. Mix and match, engage in hours of pretend play and create your very own fairy tales with this treasure-filled trunk. Set also comes with three bracelets, three rings and a pair of earrings. Shoes sold separately.

Toy:  Princess Dress up Trunk, Dress up like your favorite princess character, Pretend Play, Look like a princess
Company: CIS  (2006-09-18)
List Price: $22.99
Amazon Price: $19.00

It's fun to collect these 1:55-scale, die-cast action-sized vehicles!

Toy:  Disney Pixar Mater, 1:55 Scale die cast vehicle, Mattel
Company: Mattel 
List Price: 
Amazon Price: $4.50

Toy:  Join Cinderella and Ariel in an enchanted learning adventure!, Trace Cinderella's footsteps as she dances along letters., Jump on shapes, letters and numbers to help make Cinderella's dress., Match answers on giant clams with Ariel. Teaches numbers, counting, phonics skills and early math., Kids connect online for extra activities and rewards. Parents can connect online to the LeapFrog® Learning Path to see what their child is learning.
Company: LeapFrog 
List Price: $24.99
Amazon Price: $16.95

Lightning McQueen and the King are back racing again! This time you get to be the one at the starting gate. Flip it up or down to hear cool racing sounds and phrases from the cars before they hug those curves on their way to the finish, in side-by-side racing action. Lightning and King store in the base. Other die-cast cars, sold separately, also fit on the Spiral Speedway. Features an easy-carry handle. Requires two "AA" batteries, not included. Measures 8.5"L x 15"W x 15.5"H.

Toy:  Lightning McQueen and the King are back racing again!, This time you get to be the one at the starting gate!, Flip it up or down to hear cool racing sounds and phrases from the cars before they hug those curves on their way to the finish, in side-by-side racing action!, Lightning and King store in the base, Other die-cast cars also fit on the Spiral Speedway - Easy-carry handle - Requires 2 "AA" 1, 5V batteries
Company: Fisher Price  (2007-07-01)
List Price: $24.99
Amazon Price: $21.99

Here is one handheld gaming system that both parents and kids will be able to agree upon. The Leapster Learning Game System takes the brain-building principles that Leapfrog laid out in its earlier electronic learning devices (which have an interactive book format) and applies them to a video-game format. Leapster draws kids in with familiar video game templates—all of which have a secret weapon: a built-in learning component. LeapFrog hopes that kids will become so engaged in the gaming aspects and familiar television and movie characters offered by this toy that they won't even notice that they're learning and reinforcing valuable reading, math, and language skills.

Aimed at 4- to 10-year-olds, the 6-by-4-inch Leapster is sized for little hands and comfortably shaped with safe, rounded edges. The 2-1/4-inch touch screen is ample for most of the gaming activities; although a little cluttered when used for the art and drawing modules. Buttons are suitably placed on either side of the unit for thumb-operated control. The right side features "A" and "B" buttons for selecting settings and answers while the left has a multi-directional gamepad for game play. A pen is also attached for drawing, selecting tools and settings, and dragging and placing objects. The 3-inch backlit display makes games visible in the dark (although parents will prefer that the Leapster is shut off at bedtime) and the animated graphics, while not completely state-of-the-art are well done and suitable for this age range.

The Leapster Learning Game System takes the brain-building principles that Leapfrog laid out in its earlier electronic learning devices (which have an interactive book format) and applies them to a video-game format.

As with the manufacturer's LeapPad products, the Leapster does require the purchase of additional cartridges to expand its capabilities. Kids can choose titles with their favorite characters to play educational games with. The star-studded list of celebrity narrators includes TV personalities, such as SpongeBob Squarepants, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Dora the Explorer; and movie stars, such as Nemo, Cinderella, Ariel (The Little Mermaid), and Batman. Leapfrog's own cartoon star, Tad, is narrates a few as well. While stocking up on the extra software titles can get expensive, it also gives parents some control and input on which characters they'd like their kids to learn from. And, characters for these titles are appropriately matched to the maturity of the targeted grade level (pre-K through 4th grade).

Starting up or hitting the Home button takes players to the main menu. There is one staple pre-loaded game that children will likely come back to again and again. Rabbit River is based on the Frogger game format, but with an additional learning element. In letters mode, kids guide their bunny to hop floating logs to the other side of the river while jumping on specific letters to identify them or spell out a requested 3- or 4-letter word. In numbers mode, the bunny must land on specific numbers on the logs to skip count by twos or form a correct equation. The other pre-loaded activity is Color Corral, an interactive coloring book designed to boost creative problem-solving skills. This module is like a kid's version of Photoshop and offers a variety of scenic templates, colors, tools, and moving icons that kids can combine for an infinite number of possibilities. The included manual gives suggestions on how to reinforce these math, reading, and art concepts in the real world. .

Each game offers multiple skill levels so kids can ease into new territory at the beginner level and challenge themselves with more advanced learning problems as they understand the concept. If kids are stumped at any point during a game, they can hit the Hint button and receive a friendly push in the right direction from an animated tutor, Edison the firefly. Edison also appears automatically if kids answer a question incorrectly several times in a row and coaches the child to reach the correct answer. The Pause button lets kids stop the game for a snack break and pick back up again where they left off.

Designed for portability, the Leapster fits easily in a backpack or tote bag and is ideal for more purposeful edutainment on the go, whether it's a quick game on the bus ride to school or hours of playtime during vacation travel. This learning system runs on four AA batteries or on a rechargeable battery pack when combined with the Leapster L-Max Recharging System (sold separately). Leapster covers this handheld device under a 3-month warranty. --Cristina Vaamonde

Toy:  Portable interactive system with action-packed games focused on learning essentials for preschool to fourth grade, Comes with 2 games built in., Expandable with large library of games, Teaches phonics, spelling, math, art, music and more
Company: LeapFrog  (2006-06-12)
List Price: $59.99
Amazon Price: $47.95

Speed, not artistry, is the key to Pictionary games aimed at the younger set. Playing out like charades except by drawing on paper rather than flailing around, this party game has been popular for more than 20 years now. The Disney DVD version is geared toward kids and has been created with hundreds of characters, places, and things from the vaults of the renowned kid-friendly empire.

In this classic game of quick draw, players try to correctly guess the identity of words and phrases that are being sketched before anyone else. It takes a quick hand and good guesswork to beat out opponents who are thinking along the same lines as you. To make the fun even more engaging, there is an included DVD with this version that provides a new twist. When a game card reads "DVD," have the disc ready in a player, grab the remote, and be prepared to shout out your answer first as a studio animator draws images for you to see on your television screen.

There are hundreds of animated clues on the DVD, and the game offers two play levels. When younger children are included, level one uses classic Disney animation. Level two features more recent Disney movies as well as Pixar animation for an added challenge. Also on the DVD are live action clips and snippets of animated movies for total family enjoyment.

What's in the box

• 1 DVD
• 4 markers
• Blank paper
• Scorecard pad
• 1 challenge die
• Game cards

A TV, DVD player, and remote control are needed but not included.

Players draw items on the included wipe-off pads, and also watch a studio animator draw on the television screen. View larger.

Toy:  Classic game of quick draw with a Disney theme, Live action and animation clips from Disney movies, Fun and easy enough for the whole family, For 2 to 4 players or teams, Classic game in DVD format
Company: Mattel  (2007-08-15)
List Price: $29.99
Amazon Price: $10.95
Used Price: $10.95

Does your little girl love to dress up as her favorite Disney Princess? Complete your young princess' wardrobe with a fantastic collection of matching, magical footwear. The Disney Princess Dress Up Shoe Boutique comes with four pairs of child-sized shoes, each with a different Disney Princess theme. There's shimmering Ariel shoes, fluffy Sleeping Beauty shoes, elegant Belle shoes and a fit-for-a-ball pair of Cinderella shoes. Comes with a colorful storage box for the shoes.

Toy:  Dress up play shoes, Shoe Storage Box with carry handle, Pretend Play, Look like a princess
Company: CIS  (2006-09-18)
List Price: $16.99
Amazon Price: $12.99