The Today Show was in for a real treat this past weekend when our Toy Insider Mom stopped by to share the most buzzed about toys at the North American Toy Fair 2016, where all weekend long toy experts showed off their hottest picks. Be sure to check out Laurie Schacht‘s favorites because they’re guaranteed to be on the top of every child’s wish list this year.

SelfieMic (Moose ToysSelfieMic

  • Microphone meets selfie stick to take you beyond Karaoke!
  • Using the free included partner app, StarMaker, sing along to your favorite songs from a catalogue of over 3 million fully licensed songs with updates daily, including Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, One Direction and more.
  • Voice and video effects make you sound and look like a star.
  • Ages: recommendation: 8+
  • MSRP: $24.99
  • Available: Fall 2016

Yummy Nummies Smore Maker Yummy Nummies Smore Maker Playset (Blip Toys) 

  • Yummy Nummies are candy, snack and meal making sets that come with everything kids need to create no-bake, realistic-tasting mini foods! Magically fun and delicious, Yummy Nummies intrigue little taste buds with a creative activity that requires no oven or stove.
  • The Smore Maker Playset allows kids to make their own graham crackers, marshmallow and chocolate for scrumptious mini smores! This no-heat playset comes with fun smore-making utensils, and actually lights up and flickers!
  • Ages: 6+
  • MSRP $19.99
  • Available Fall

FurReal Friends Torch My Blazin’ Dragon (HasbroFurReal Friends Torch My Blazin Dragon

  • The FurReal Friends Torch My Blazin’ Dragon Pet is an amazing creature with spunky personality and engaging features that take pet play to the next level!
  • Share fiery adventures with this adorable plush baby dragon as you watch him breathe flame colored must.
  • Bring the color-changing marshmallow treat close to the mist and watch it “toast,” then feed it to Torch and listen as he makes happy munching sounds!
  • Torch features more than 50 sound and motion combinations.
  • The sensors around his nose allow Torch to respond to touch in fun ways. After playing, pull him up close to cuddle thanks to his poseable arms.
  • Available Fall
  • Ages: 4+
  • MSRP: $79.99

Zoomer ChimpZoomer Chimp (Spin Master)

  • Zoomer Chimp, the newest in the line of fully interactive toys from the Zoomer brand.
  • This cheeky chimp is full of tricks!
  • He can follow and react to your movements, respond to your voice commands with a variety of tricks and sounds, run on four legs and stand up, balancing on two legs.
  • But that’s now all – Zoomer Chimp’s fully animated face truly brings him to life, introducing you to his personality through his facial expressions, and his color-changing eyes to show you exactly how he’s feelings.
  • Always on the move, this tumbling, flipping, galloping Chimp is a bananas good time.
  • Zoomer Chimp, with Voice Command, True Vision Technology, True Balance Technology, and True Expression Technology- he’s your prime-mate!
  • Ages: 5+
  • MSRP: $119.99

Geckobot (Thames & KosmosGeckobot Thames and Kosmos

  • This wall-climbing robot has a motorized air suction system that enables it to walk vertically up and down perfectly smooth surfaces, like glass, plastic, whiteboards, and glossy laminates.
  • At the same time, the gear system drives an air pump that suck air inward at the two feet touching the wall while blowing air outward at the other two feet. In this way, two of the feet are always holding the model to the wall, while the other two feet are pushing off and stepping forward.
  • When the geckobot’s tongue hits an object in front of it, it triggers he motor to go in reverse, thus causing the model to walk back down the wall. While the model walks, its head and tail move from side to side, resulting in an amusing and lifelike lizard model.
  • Kids can also build six other models and conduct experiments.
  • Ages: 8+
  • MSRP: $49.99

3D Magic Imagipen 3D Magic ImagiPen (Tech 4 Kids

  • If you can dream it, you can make it with the 3D Magic ImagiPen™!
  • Using UV gel curing technology, the 3D Magic ImagiPen™ allows a child to design in mid-air!
  • You can create up and build out, resulting in amazing 3D creations.
  • There is no heat, and no mess, just endless hours of creative fun!
  • Ages: 8+
  • MSRP: $19.99

Uncle Bubble Megaloop (D Now Inc.Uncle Bubble

  • Megaloop is a bubble wand styled after professional wands used in stage acts and customized to make extraordinary bubbleplay accessible to kids as young as six years of age.
  • The Megaloop bubble wand gives the user the opportunity to learn a variety of bubbleplay skills, from easy to advanced, including one absolutely show-stopping skill: capturing someone in a giant bubble!
  • Megaloop utilizes Uncle Bubble brand Ultra Bubble solution, a solution designed for extremely large bubbles and record-breaking bubbleplay.
  • Ages: 6+

Bag O Dirt Bag O Dirt (Play Visions

  • Turn the muddy outdoor fun kids love, into the tidy indoor play parents need! Bag O Dirt is the artificial play dirt that feels like real dirt, without the real mess.
  • Kids can enjoy a personal garden, dig up treasure, or pick at (fake!) bugs.
  • Let the inner explorer loose as they set off on an outdoor adventure, inside!
  • Set comes with 2lbs of play dirt sand and assorted garden tools.
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $14.99

Belle Musical Tea Party Cart (Jakks PacificBelle Musical Tea Party Cart

  • Girls can make teatime extra special by inviting their guests to join Mrs. Potts and Chip for a royal tea party!
  • As girls push the tea cart, they watch as it magically spins and plays the iconic song, “Be Our Guest” from the movie, Beauty and the Beast!
  • Includes tea cart, tea pot with lid, two tea cups, two spoons and invitation
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $59.99

Wanderlust PlaysetWanderlust Playset (Once Kids

  • Once Kids’ new Wanderlust line of blocks will spark the travel bug in every child.
  • The Wanderlust blocks feature a variety of handmade wooden playsets modeled after tourist sights around the world including, New York, Paris, London, and more!
  • MSRP: $30.00

About the author

Stephanie Grassullo

Stephanie Grassullo

Stephanie Grassullo is an associate editor at Adventure Publishing Group. In addition to handling toy and licensing news and updates for The Toy Book and The Licensing Book, Stephanie also writes toy reviews and commentaries for the Toy Insider. When she’s not binge-watching old episodes of Gossip Girl, Stephanie is always game for Boggle tournaments—she’s the titleholder Boggle champion in her family, and proud of it! Stephanie firmly believes that there is no awkward moment that can’t be remedied with the help of Bop It. To get to know her better, follow her on Twitter @steph_grass.

archivearrow-chevron-downarrow-chevron-left-greyarrow-chevron-leftarrow-chevron-rightarrow-fatarrow-left-blackarrow-left-whitearrow-right-blackarrow-rightarrow-roundedbookscalendarcaret-downclose-whiteclosedocumenteditorial-archiveeyefacebook-squarefacebookfilesgifthamburgerheadinghearthomeinstagram-squareinstagramlatestlinkedin-squarelinkedinmailmedia-inquiresmessagenewsopen-boxpagination-leftpagination-rightpauseplayprintproduct-archiverecent-productssearchsharesort-filterspotifysunteamtiktoktime_purpletimetrendingtvtwitter-squaretwitteryoutube