Dream on

Is it really a year since the last Dream Toys event? Apparently it is, and that can only meet that Christmas is approaching with all the restraint of a runaway train. The Toy Retailers Association has released its annual list of what it reckons will be the big sellers this year, so if you’re stuck for ideas, read on.

As usual, the Dream Dozen will grab the headlines (they were called the Cool Dozen last year, and the Hot Dozen the year before). These are the very top toys, pulled from all the categories. There’s a good mix of familiar names and new products here and it’s interesting to see a couple of toys from Mattel make the list – the Toy Retailers Association obviously doesn’t think the recent product recalls will dampen consumer enthusiasm.

We can’t quite understand why the Automoblox cars we rated so highly when we reviewed them didn’t make it onto the list, but we’ll be putting together our own recommended toys in a couple of weeks, so we’ll have a chance to put that right.

Here’s the Dream Dozen (in alphabetical order):

Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old - Hasbro
Baby Annabell New V4 - Zapf Creation
Barbie Girls - Mattel
Doctor Who Dalek Sec Hybrid Voice Changer Mask - Character
FlyTech Dragonfly - Character
Golden Balls - Vivid
GR8 Art Bindeez Super Deluxe Studio Centre - Character
In The Night Garden Blanket Time Igglepiggle - Hasbro
Puppy Grows and Knows Your Name - Mattel
Roary R/C Car - Vivid
Say What? - Radica
Transformers Movie Leader: Optimus Prime - Hasbro

Continue reading for the full list of results in the following categories: Pre-School Toys, Boys Toys, Girls Toys, Hip ’n’ Cool, Games and Creative…

Pre-School Toys
Peppa Pig Campervan Playset – Character
Thomas & Jeremy Airport Set – Tomy
In the Night Garden, Talking Plush Assortment – Hasbro
Bed-time Lullaby Fifi – Vivid
Bob the Builder Snap Trax Car Wash & Garage – Martin Yaffe
Dora Laptop – VTech
My Friend Rupert Bear – Martin Yaffe
V.Smile Learning System – VTech
Fisher-Price Smart Cycle – Mattel
In the Night Garden Blanket Time Igglepiggle – Hasbro
Fisher-Price Stride to Ride Lion – Mattel
Roary R/C Car – Vivid

Boys Toys
Ben 10 Alien Laboratory – Bandai
Stretch Power Ranger – Character
Spider-Man Ultimate Web Blaster – Hasbro
Ben 10 Omnitrix F/X – Bandai
Transformers Optimus Prime Voice Changer Mask – Hasbro
Cars Mega Mack Playtown – Mattel
WWE Money In The Bank Ladder Match – Vivid
Doctor Who Dalek Sec Hybrid Voice Changer Mask – Character
Doctor Who Figures– Character
Creator Monster Dino – LEGO
Transformers Ultimate Bumblebee – Hasbro
Transformers Movie Leader: Optimus Prime – Hasbro

Girls Toys
Rose Petal Cottage – Worlds Apart
Polly Pocket Race to the Mall! – Mattel
Grand Hotel from Sylvanian Families – Flair
My Take Along Dolls House – Playmobil
Littlest Pet Shop Display & Play Town Playset – Hasbro
Bratz the Movie Funky Fashion Makeover Body – Vivid
My Little Pony Ponyville Teapot Palace – Hasbro
Baby Born Magic Eyes Boy – Zapf Creation
Barbie Princess Rosella – Mattel
Puppy Grows & Knows Your Name – Mattel
My Baby – Mattel
Baby Annabell New V4 – Zapf Creation

Hip ’n’ Cool
Flytech Dragonfly – Character
Digi Makeover – Radica
PicooZ R/C Helicopter – Silverlit
Girl Tech Video Journal – Radica
Tamagotchi Connexion Jinsei Plus (V4) – Bandai
U.B.Funkeys – Radica
FurReal Squawkers McCaw – Hasbro
Nintendog Trick Trainers – Tomy
Amazing Lexie – Mattel
Eye Clops – Vivid
Pixel Chix Roomies House – Mattel
Barbie Girls – Mattel

Games
Family Fortunes – Drumond Park
Ratatouille Kitchen Quake Game – Mattel
Rubiks Revo – Drumond Park
20Q Handheld – Radica
Splashy The Whale Game – Character
Eternity II – Tomy
Game of Life Twists & Turns – Hasbro
Are You Smarter Than A 10 Year Old? – Hasbro
High School Musical Mystery Date – Hasbro
Say What? – Radica
Monopoly Here & Now UK Edition – Hasbro
Golden Balls – Vivid

Creative
GR8 Scrapheap Welder – Character
Li’l Luvables! Fluffy Factory – Spin Master
Aqua Beads – Flair
Moon Sand Castle – Spin Master
Cordz – Flair
Cinderella Aquadraw – Tomy
Golden Coin Maker – John Adams
Crayola Illumination Station – Vivid
Super Grafix – John Adams
GR8 Art Bindeez Super Deluxe Studio Centre – Character
Marvin’s Freaky Body Illusions – Marvin’s Magic
Dora the Explorer Draw and Drive – Golden Bear