The perfect pint-size play house. A rockin' guitar that helps teach you to play. A digital camera that can withstand the toughest treatment your toddler can dish out. We sifted through tons of toys to find the coolest gifts for tots to tweens.

AGES 0 TO 4

Crayola Beginnings TaDoodles First Marks BUV (Beginnings Utility Vehicle)

*Age: 18 months and up

*Why it's cool: Designed to fit a toddler's grasp, these washable markers won't dry out, even when they lose their caps. The three colors it comes with can be stored in the rolling vehicle, and there's room for three more.

*How much: $14.99

*Get it: crayolastore.com

Chicco New Rodeo Horse

*Age: 18 months and up

*Why it's cool: This rocking horse grows up with Junior. When he's ready to take the show on the road, just remove the rocking base, adjust the height and it becomes a foot-powered toy. Bonus: electronic neighing and galloping sounds. Easy to assemble.

*How much: $89.99

*Get it: rightstart.com, Toys "R" Us, amazon. com

Barbie the Island Princess collection

*Age: 3 and up

*Why it's cool: The hot-selling DVD, The Island Princess, stars Barbie as Princess Rosella. The movie spawned a cute collection of items including Princess Rosella and Prince Antonio dolls and the Magical Castle Vanity - complete with table, mirror, jewelry and accessories. Expect girls to squeal with delight.

*How much: $19.98 for the DVD, $24.99 for the Barbies, $129.99 for the vanity.

*Get it: Target, Toys "R" Us, Wal-Mart, amazon.com

Playskool Made For Me MP3 Music Player

*Age: Birth and up

*Why it's cool: Fresh from this year's annual Toys "R" Us Hot Toy List, this MP3 player will have baby rocking in the crib. Mom and Dad can customize playlists, play music from a library of classic songs, transfer tunes from CDs, download songs from the Internet or even record their own voices.

*How much: $79.99

*Get it: Toys "R" Us

Little Colorado music table

* Age: 3 and up

*Why it's cool: This locally made table top is loaded with instruments including a real leather drum, cymbal, xylopipe, maracas and mallets.

*How much: $179.95, $12 shipping. Assembly required.

*Get it: littlecolorado.com

Playskool Rose Petal Cottage

*Age: 3 and up

*Why it's cool: Give your little one her own play space, with this adorable collection. The fabric-covered cottage comes with a stove. Add-ons include a sink, washing machine, muffins baking set, nursery set and lounge chair.

Note: Give yourself plenty of time to put this together. We oohed and aahed over it but nearly worked up a sweat assembling the horse.

*How much: $79.99 for the cottageo accessories run $14.99 to $39.99.

*Get it: Target, Wal-Mart, Toys "R" Us, hasbro.com.

My Little Pony Sing and Dance Pinkie Pie

*Age: 3 and up

* Why it's cool: You can sing along with this extra-large My Little Pony (her mouth moves, her eyes blink and her head turns) and her dance moves (watch her skirt and rear end swoosh) will make you smile.

*How much: $49.99

*Get it: Wal-Mart, Toys "R" Us, gifts.com

AGES 5 TO 7

VTech Kidizoom Camera

*Age: 3 and up (we think 5 and up is more suitable)

*Why it's cool: If your kids are anything like ours, they love to snatch your grown-up (and expensive) camera. This version lets little ones have their own sturdy digital camera to snap pictures, shoot video and even edit them with wacky effects. Hook it up to the TV or computer for photo and video playback. And since it's for kids, of course, games are included, as well.

*How much: $59.99

*Get it: Amazon.com, Toys "R" Us, Sears.com

Jakks Pacific EyeClops Bionic Eye

*Age: 6 and up

*Why it's cool: On practically everyone's top toy list this year, this easy-to-use handheld device allows users to magnify everyday things to 200 times their regular size. Just plug it into your TV, and the image pops right up on the screen. Dad's stubble never looked so scary!

*How much: $49.99

*Get it: amazon.com, Toys "R" Us, drugstore.com

Zizzle Spotz Maker

*Age: 6 and up

*Why it's cool: Kids wanting to show off their creativity and style simply choose a pre-printed image, favorite photo or magazine pictureo pick their favorite color bordero punch out a circular designo and with a twist of a knob, they get a Spotz to trade, wear or add to other Spotz accessories, like key chains or picture frames.

*How much: $24.89

*Get it: Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, Toys "R" Us

Hasbro Nerf N-Strike

*Age: 6 and up

*Why it's cool: It's skeet-shooting with a twist. This backyard game lets you launch a foam disc in the air, then blast it with Nerf darts. A wireless remote allows you to control when the discs launch.

*How much: $49.99

*Get it: Toys "R" Us, Wal-Mart, hasbro.com, amazon.com

AGES 8 TO 12

Fly Fusion Pentop Computer

*Age: 10 and up

*Why it's cool: This high-speed homework system allows students to upload notes and drafts they write on special Fly paper to a PC and convert them to Microsoft Word or e-mail documents. Also, download other homework applications (including Math Pro, Algebra, Writing, French and Spanish Translator and games) and use it to store and play an album worth of MP3s.

*How much: $79.99o $14.99 to $29.99 for applications.

*Get it: flyworld.com

Tiger Electronics and Gibson Guitar Power Tour Electric Guitar

*Age: 10 and up

*Why it's cool: Learn rock classics like Wild Thing,Smoke on the Water and Breaking the Law on this Gibson-style guitar. Choose from a dozen preloaded songs or plug in your own MP3 player to jam along with your favorites. Once you pick a song, simply follow along with the lights to see how to play it. You can also change the guitar's sound to metal, punk, rock or indie.

*How much: $69.99; a Power Tour Amp (rock even louder!) is $49.99.

*Get it: Target, Toys "R" Us, amazon.com, hasbro.com

Custom-made bobblehead doll

*Why it's cool: What kid wouldn't love his or her very own mirror-image bobblehead doll? Build-A-Bear is so last year: With this gift, your child can pick a pose/body style, then you just upload a couple photos, and in four to six weeks, your little one will be the envy of the block.

*How much: $89 and up

*Get it: SpittinImagesonline.com

Make sure they're safe

Toy safety is on many parents' minds this season, with several popular products, including Dora the Explorer figurines, Barbie accessories and, more recently, Aquadots all being recalled this year. Here are a few Web sites that list toy recalls:

*cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html

*service.mattel.com/us/recall.asp

*hasbro.com/default.cfm?page=cs_recall

*babycenter.com/product-recall-finder

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