Toy Insider and Toy Book Senior Editor James Zahn stopped by NBC in Chicago to show off some of the hot holiday toys that shoppers should grab before they fly off retailers’ shelves. 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.


CODING CRITTERS

These interactive pets introduce preschoolers to critical thinking, problem-solving, and other STEM skills through fun play sets, storybook coding adventures, and two interactive modes. The full-color, 20-page storybook includes coding challenges.

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HEIST

Players must work cooperatively to crack a safe full of gold in five minutes or less and steal $50 million. Each player has a different role in this fast-paced game with five challenging levels.

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SCRUFF-A-LUVS REAL RESCUE

These interactive pets arrive as a ball of matted fur, shivering and whimpering. Kids then bathe and groom the pet to reveal a puppy or kitten. Has more than 30 lifelike features, including a heartbeat.

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