What’s hot in the toy aisle this holiday season? Toy Insider’s Chief Toy Officer Laurie Schacht stopped by CP24 in Toronto to show off some the year’s most in-demand toys and gifts. 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.


REINDEER (FOLKMANIS)

  • Renown for pulling Santa’s sleigh, the Folkmanis Reindeer puppet is magical in any season.
  • Outfitted for rugged tundra in northern regions, this cold climate creature will soon warm your heart.
  • With a movable mouth, this puppet is a perfect partner to share and tell Christmas stories.
  • Wonderful as a gift or perfect as a decorative feature during the holidays.
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $31.99
  • CDN: $44.00
  • Available: www.folkmanis.com  at Amazon.ca and through-out Canada at Scholar’s Choice stores

HATCHIBABIES (SPIN MASTER)

  • Use your love and care to help your HatchiBaby Ponette hatch and they’ll come to life! Will you hatch a boy or a girl? Check the secret message to find out!
  • With big color-changing eyes, beaks that move and real rocking motions, Ponette HatchiBabies are the sweetest new characters from Hatchtopia!
  • Once hatched, there are even more surprises to discover: Reach into the egg to peel-and-reveal four hidden accessories: a rattle, hairbrush, bottle and cuddle buddy! You’ll even find a high chair and birth certificate!
  • Care for your HatchiBaby using these accessories and they’ll respond in adorable ways! Shhh, it’s a secret: Different species may come with different accessories!
  • Feed, burp, tickle and snuggle your HatchiBaby and they’ll respond—just like a real baby!
  • Teach your baby to talk and play EGGciting games such as “find my toes” and bouncy baby.” The more you play, the more response you’ll unlock! Will you learn your baby’s secret trick?
  • 2 AA batteries are included
  • Ages: 5+
  • MSRP: $59.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Walmart
  • Canada: CAD $74.99 at Walmart, Toys “R” Us, Amazon.ca

LITTLE LIVE PETS ‘MY KISSING PUPPY’ ROLLIE (MOOSE TOYS)

  • Rolo is the newest, more playful interactive puppy in the Little Live Pets line that gives kids a puppy kiss and licks their face to show them how much she loves them!
  • This interactive puppy licks like a real puppy, wags her tail like a new puppy, and sleeps like a real puppy.
  • Kids will love playing and taking her everywhere they go!
  • Ages: 5+
  • MSRP: $54.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Walmart
  • Canada: CAD $79.97 at TRU

3DOODLER START HEXBUG MAKE YOUR OWN HEXBUG PEN SET & ACTIVITY KIT (3DOODLER)

  • Kids can make their own eccentric-looking HEXBUG creatures that behave like real bugs.
  • Doodle your bug’s body and legs using the insect-themed DoodleMold to create a pet insectoid, then let it crawl around to explore its environment, conquer obstacles, or race your friends.
  • Part of the 3Doodler Start STEM Series, this set fosters STEM learning by allowing kids to design and experiment with different robotic structures.
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $59.99 (Pen Set); $24.99 (Activity Kit without pen)
  • Canada: CAD $79.99, Indigo at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Michael’s

HAIRDORABLES (JUST PLAY)

  • These hot new surprise dolls combine fun, fashion, and lots and lots of gorgeous colorful hair!
  • Noah and her girl squad have “Big Hair Don’t Care” attitudes and love to share their passions with the world via the Hairdorables channel on YouTube.
  • Each doll is based on one of the 12 iconic girls from the Hairdorables videos, and these BFFs live up to the “Hairdorables” name with a variety of unique luxe hairstyles in vibrant colors!
  • Just pull, peel, and reveal 11 surprise accessories and fashions that unwrap the unique personality, style, and talent of the Hairdorables girl hidden inside!
  • There are a total of 36 Hairdorables dolls to collect in Series 1, including two rare and one ULTRA-rare, for mix-and-match outfits and endless styling possibilities.
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $12.99
  • Available: Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Walmart
  • Canada: CAD $17.99 at Amazon CA, Walmart CA, TRU

LEGO BATMAN APP-CONNECTED BATMOBILE (LEGO)

  • Speed to Gotham City crime scenes with the motorized Lego DC Super Heroes App-Controlled Batmobile.
  • This cool vehicle features two motors powered by a Bluetooth-controlled battery hub, an opening minifigure cockpit, four-wheel drive, and two dual-stud shooters.
  • Simply download the app to control the vehicle from your smartphone or tablet.
  • This set also includes a new-for-August-2018 Batman minifigure.
  • Ages: 8+
  • MSRP: $99.99
  • Available: shop.lego.com
  • Canada: CAD $119.99 at Walmart CA, Amazon.ca

SKY VIPER JOURNEY PRO VIDEO DRONE WITH GPS (SKYROCKET)

  • It features Surface Scan Technology, auto launch and land, one-touch stunts, extended flight time and the ability to stream and record HD video.
  • Ages: 12+
  • MSRP: $89.99
  • Available: Walmart and Target
  • Canada: $99.97 at Walmart CA, Amazon CA

FEISTY PETS FEATURE FIGURE ASSORTMENT 10-INCH PLUSH (JAZWARES)

  • 10-inch collectible animal figures with sassy names—Glenda Glitterpoop, Sammy Suckerpunch, Sir Growls-A-Lot, Princess Pottymouth, and Vicky Vicious.
  • Each Feisty Pet has their list of likes and dislikes, so consider yourself warned!
  • They go from cute to scary with a push of the head.
  • Eyes rotate & arms swivel up together when head is pushed down.
  • She’s soft and cute, but she’ll turn on you if you squeeze her! Captured at a global peace rally while inciting a riot. Glenda is extremely dangerous, always one step ahead of us. You get the feeling she knows what humans are thinking.
  • Each Feisty Pet has their list of likes and dislikes, so consider yourself warned!
  • Glenda Glitterpoop likes zombies, mushrooms, and electrical sockets, but dislikes balloon animals, world peace, and lollipops.
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP: $8.99
  • Available: Target, Walmart, Game Stop
  • Canada: CAD $39.99 at Walmart CA, Amazon CA, TRU

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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