Game play is simple--pick a line, drop a checker in on each turn, and hope that your opponents don't foil your strategy before you get four checkers in a row! The game has also added "blockers," which can be used to block your opponents on both sides of the grid in one turn. However, make sure to save your blockers for when you really need them--you only get two and they are valuable!

When you're finished playing Connect 4 x 4, a convenient locking top slide keeps the pieces on the grid so you never have to worry about lost checkers.

Challenging Remake of a Timeless Favorite
If you grew up playing Connect 4, you'll quickly realize that Connect 4 x 4 is like having both an old favorite and a new game all in one. You can still play the game with two players, but now also have the option of playing with four. The double-sided grid adds a welcome challenge and complexity for long-time Connect 4 players. A word of warning for younger players: the added complexity may be a bit challenging to understand at first, but once they do, they'll definitely be hooked.

What's in the Box
Double-sided grid, 68 checkers (17 of each color), and eight blockers (two of each color).

N-Strike Raider CS-35 Blaster Ages:6 and up

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Educational factor: Novelty factor: The Good: Enormous dart capacity, and 2 modes of rapid fire. The Challenging: Can be time-consuming to reload. In a Nutshell: A truly formidable blaster with a huge ammo capacity.

The N-Strike Raider CS-35 is sure to make short work of your Nerf-blaster foes. View larger.

Maximum Firepower and Versatility
The CS-35 features a durable plastic frame, intended for intense play. It is based a classic Tommy gun design, complete with a drum magazine. This magazine can be used as an accessory with any other compatible N-Strike blasters. The CS-35 comes with an adjustable stock, which you adjust to fit the length of your arm. It also has a tactical rail, which you can equip with a variety of N-Strike accessories.

With a 35-dart capacity, the CS-35 has a truly massive payload of foam. Because of this, you might expect it to be a bit cumbersome, but it is actually surprisingly mobile. The blaster is lightweight enough to sprint with, and you'll be able to blind-fire around a corner with ease. You also shouldn't have to worry about running out of darts. The CS-35 comes with 100 darts, including 65 clip-system darts. The darts are gentle and soft, so younger kids will be able to get in on the action.

There is one downside to the huge dart capacity: each dart has to be reloaded individually, so preparing the blaster for play can take several minutes. Still, the fun you will have is well worth these moments of tedium.

Blast Your Enemies Away
The CS-35 fires reliably in battle, and is free of the jamming that often plagues Nerf guns. It uses a pneumatic pump to propel the darts, allowing you to be in control of the rate of fire. The pump allows for two blasting modes -- multiple darts at a time, or single shots. The multiple-dart mode is particularly fearsome, since it will empty all 35 darts in a matter of seconds.

Making a simple flying UFO took only a few minutes. View larger.

Create your own complex inventions using parts such as the fan motor, alarm speaker, and over 60 other pieces. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good:Makes learning about electronics fun. The Bad:Physics principles can be difficult to understand. In a Nutshell:Interactive, hands-on way of playing with electronics that is fun and educational. At a Glance Ages:8 and older Requires:4 AA batteries

Real Electronic Parts
Electronic Snap Circuits includes real circuit components just like the circuit boards inside radios, televisions, computers, and other electronic devices. This set makes it easy for anyone to create simple electronic circuits and devices. To operate, you simply snap the electronic elements onto a plastic grid, and then connect them together with wire pieces that snap easily into place.

The SC-300 lets you build electronic devices such as a whistle chip, speaker, alarm circuit, LED, lamp socket, fan motor, and a speaker. Additional pieces can be purchased separately, or in different models, and they can all be used together to create larger and more elaborate projects.

Making Electronics Fun and Easy
The included instruction manual offers 305 projects ranging from a simple light switch to a noise-activated burglar alarm. We found the color-coded instruction manual clear and easy to understand, and we had no problems creating any of the projects we tried. The projects are organized by levels of difficulty, and each project teaches an objective such as "To show how electricity can only pass in one direction through an LED."

We definitely experienced a sense of satisfaction as we completed each project, and we definitely learned about electronics concepts. The manufacturer recommends the set for ages 8-108; younger engineers should be able to easily follow the diagrams for each project, but will probably require their parents to help explain how everything works. So a word of warning to parents: Brush up on your high school physics! Although the instruction offers some good information, we found that we still needed to brush up on the physics we learned years ago so we could understand concepts such as the difference between a circuit in parallel and in series.

Unique Learning Experience
Creating a flying UFO from "scratch" with rudimentary electronic pieces was highly satisfying to us, and we think Electronic Snap Circuits may well help young students gain and foster an appreciation for, and interest in, how electronics work and are built.

For students who are already learning about electronics in school, this set creates a hands-on experience that makes for more fun than reading about how these things work in a textbook. So don't be surprised if report cards come back with higher grades after playing with this toy.

Parent-Child Bonding Experience
The Elenco Electronic Snap Circuits would make a great parent-child bonding experience that is both educational and fun. As you work through each project with your child, don't be surprised when you, too, are learning something new and interesting. And after you've completed all the projects, you can create your own! The combinations are limitless!

2009 Holiday Barbie Ages:6+

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Educational factor: Novelty factor: The Good: The 2009 Holiday Barbie is celebrating Barbie's 50th anniversary. The Challenging: Serious collectors should keep the box unopened. In a Nutshell: The 2009 Holiday Barbie is a collectible for every Barbie lover.

Celebrate Barbie's 50th anniversary with this particularly special collectible. View larger.

Elegant and Timeless
2009 Holiday Barbie is elegant and timeless in a shimmering pale pink and gold lame gown with bejeweled tulle. Her bodice is skillfully crafted with a beautiful wraparound bow, and her chandelier earrings with matching pink gems complete the look. The Holiday Barbie comes with her own doll stand that can be hidden beneath her flowing dress.

The stand allows her to stand up alone on a table -- or shelf -- in between uses or for decoration. The delicate textures and dazzling materials of her gown make it hard not to want to touch or play with Holiday Barbie.

Perfect Gift for Barbie Lovers and Collectors
The Holiday Barbie has always been a collector's item. But the 2009 Holiday Barbie is truly special since she's also a 50th anniversary Barbie and part of the Special Occasion Collection. Barbie's beautiful gown and stunning jewels make her an unforgettable and wonderful vision for the holidays. She will be one of the prettiest dolls in your child's collection.

What's in the Box
Barbie doll, gown, earrings, shoes, and doll stand.

Glow Station Ages:6+ Requires: 3 "AAA" batteries (not included)

What We Think Fun factor: Durability: Ease of assembly: Educational factor: Novelty factor: The Good: Glow-in-the-dark fun with loads of ways to play and create. The Challenging: Stencils not as stimulating as freehand drawing. In a Nutshell: Glowing canvas with light wand lets kids make amazing luminous creations.

The Glow Station comes with plenty of stencils and texture sheets for your child to experiment with. View larger.

Using the light wand, kids can create luminous, glow-in-the-dark drawings. View larger.

Award-winning Design: Kids and Parents Agree
A 2009 Winner of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Best Toy Award, the Crayola Glow Station is a hit with kids and adults. Kids will love watching as their ideas literally come to light on the canvas. And parents will love how it works the imagination without creating a giant mess. It even helps cleans up after itself: Over time the light drawings magically disappear from the glow canvas, making room for more glow-in-the-dark works of art!

The perfect poster size for creating and displaying drawings, the glow canvas hangs well from a wall or bedroom door. The darker the location, the better it is for glowing. Made from durable blue plastic, the top and bottom of the canvas provide spaces for everything, including stencil-sheet hooks and holders for the light wand, crystal tip, and stencil shapes. And when it's time to be put away, the canvas rolls up for easy storage.

Start from Scratch or Take Some Pointers
Packed with stencils and texture sheets, the Glow Station gives kids lots of places and ideas to start. Stencil sheets and shapes of animals and space objects let kids trace with the glowing light wand.

With the light texture sheets, they can give these shapes -- and their own creations -- lifelike effects, like spider webs and exotic animal prints. Of course, it's also fun to use the light wand to make luminous freehand drawings. Or, with the crystal tip attachment, create sparkling stars.

Ready, Set, Glow!
The Crayola Glow Station stands out from ordinary glow-in-the-dark toys. Not only does it glow exceptionally well, but it encourages kids to play, use imagination, and create art in new ways. While the texture sheets give a cool dimension to stencil tracings, it's just as much fun -- and less cumbersome -- to draw freehand on the glow canvas. But with so many options, kids won't ever have to choose just one way to create with light.

What's in the Box
Glow station light canvas, light wand with crystal attachment, 2 stencil sheets, 13 stencil tracer shapes, and 2 light texture sheets.