What toys will be in high demand this holiday season? Toy Insider Editor-in-Chief Ali Mierzejewski stopped by ABC Harrisburg’s “Daybreak” to show off some of the hottest toys of the year. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for the complete rundown of the best toys of the holiday season, be sure to check our complete Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide.


RISE OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES TURTLE TANK (PLAYMATES)

  • As seen in Nickelodeon’s new animated series, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Donatello builds a villain-bustin’ Turtle Tank to transport the Turtles through New York City and the realms below with all the fire power needed to kick some shell!
  • The Turtle Tank is two toys in one. It transforms from vehicle mode into a Mobile Ops unit with a towering secret lab!
  • In vehicle mode, the front cab opens and two Turtles can sit inside, driving the brothers into action.
  • Then, Donatello’s removable lab rises up and serves as the mobile command headquarters as the Turtles spy and plan to defeat the baddies below.
  • The Turtle Tank is compatible with the Shell Hog vehicles (can be connected to each side of the tank) and even fires them off when the Turtles need to get to the battle fast.                                               
  • It is also compatible with Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles basic action figures (sold separately).
  • Ages: 4+
  • MSRP: $34.99
  • Available: Target, Walmart, Amazon

SMOOSHY MUSHY BABIES (REDWOODVENTURES)

  • Special Delivery: It’s Smooshy Mushy Babies!
  • A magic baby bottle holds the Smooshy babies you’ve been waiting to adopt.
  • Pop the top to find out which baby the stork brought.
  • Each baby also comes with a cute squishy plushies Bestie.
  • There are six to collect in the first wave!
  • Ages: 5+    
  • MSRP: $14.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Walmart

PEPPER MINT IN THE GREAT TREEHOUSE ENGINEERING ADVENTURE (THAMES & KOSMOS)

  • Immerse yourself in a playful, imaginative world of stories with the new Pepper Mint STEM kit line from Thames & Kosmos!
  • The Pepper Mint line offers experiments and activities that follow the adventures of Pepper Mint, a curious, skillful, and creative young engineer.
  • The activities are presented in storybook manuals with illustrations and step-by-step instructions. As you read the stories of Pepper Mint’s adventures, you build the projects and conduct the experiments that appear.
  • After assembly, the large wooden model of the treehouse doubles as a play set where kids can continue to act out stories about Pepper Mint with the scale figure included.
  • Ages: 8+
  • MSRP: $39.95
  • Available: Amazon

VOICE ORIGINALS: WHEN IN ROME (SENSIBLE OBJECT)

  • Voice Originals: When in Rome is a travel trivia board game that connects to Alexa for a voice-enhanced gaming experience.
  • To play, set up the board and open the When In Rome Alexa Skill on your smart speaker or app, divide into two teams, and the game begins.
  • Alexa teaches you how to play, keeps score, and immerses you in the world of the game.
  • With When In Rome, Alexa will fly you around the world to the 20 different cities on the map, where you’ll be introduced to real recorded locals who ask questions about the city’s music, culture, food, customs, landmarks, and more.
  • Alexa also keeps score and remembers what questions you’ve been asked and is always ready to throw a new one at you!
  • Requires Amazon Alexa device, sold separately.
  • Ages:  13+
  • MSRP: $29.99
  • Available: Amazon

LASER X FUSION (NSI International)

  • Fusion is a modular system that lets you customize your gear to fit your game.
  • The Fusion Set comes with two fusion blasters and accessories that can be used by one person OR shared by two players.
  • It comes with a front vest receiver and a micro receiver that can be worn as an armband or back vest. Separate them for 2 players, or one player can wear both. While the micro receiver is smaller, both receivers are equally as effective.
  • Kids do not have to hit the receiver precisely to score a hit. The area right around the receiver registers the hit, too.
  • When both vests are worn together, the micro receiver activates a “Blast Blocker” that offers three seconds of “invincibility,” where you can’t get hit. You can use this feature every 10 seconds. To activate, just press your front receiver.  
  • Fusion comes with everything you need for short- and long-range play.
  • All additional Laser X accessories are sold separately.
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $79.99 for the complete set
  • Available: Target, Meijer, walmart.com and getlaserx.com

About the author

Bill Reese

Bill Reese

Bill Reese is Business Operations Manager at Adventure Media & Events, where he's worked since 2014. A former editor at Playbill and graduate of SUNY–Purchase, he spends most weekends rooting for the New York Red Bulls pro soccer team and making subway systems out of Brio trains with his little boy Jonah.

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