Toys 'R' Us Announces Its Top Picks for the Hottest New Toys of the Holiday Season Toys 'R' Us Joy List Reveals the Best of the Season from the World's Toy Store WAYNE, N.J., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Toys "R" Us today announced the toys it predicts will be on the top of children's wish lists this holiday season. The Toys "R" Us Joy List features more than 30 new toys organized by age from infants to big kids. From that list, 13 toys were selected as the overall best of the season. All toys featured are new to market in 2004 and available at all Toys "R" Us stores nationwide and on http://www.toysrus.com/. "The Toys "R" Us Joy list will help our customers get started in finding the perfect toy for every child on their holiday shopping list," said John Barbour, President, Toys "R" Us, U.S. "This holiday season, Toys "R" Us will have the best selection of these new toys, as well as a wide assortment of perennial favorites and many terrific values for our customers." "We know that there are toys - and then, there is the perfect toy. This is the toy that puts a look of pure joy on a child's face," continued Barbour. "Our experienced and toy-trained sales staff stand ready to help our customers find that perfect toy this holiday season." The 13 new toys that Toys "R" Us has named the best of the season are: THE TOP 13 FROM THE TOYS "R" US JOY LIST: THE BEST OF THE BEST Baby Counting Pal(TM) from LeapFrog Barbie(TM) as the Princess & the Pauper 2-Pack from Mattel Bratz(TM) Tokyo A Go Go(TM) Dolls from MGA Entertainment Corvette(R) C5-R(TM) Power Vehicle from Safety 1st E-L-M-O(TM) from Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn(TM) Learning Home(TM) from Fisher-Price Operation(R): Shrek from Hasbro Games Plug it in & Play TV Games(TM)--featuring Ms. Pacman from Jakks Pacific Sting-Ray OCC Bicycle from Schwinn Trivial Pursuit(R) SNL DVD Edition (Saturday Night Live) from Hasbro Games Ultimate Big Air(TM) Ball Tower from K'NEX V.Smile(TM) TV Learning System from V-Tech VideoNow(TM) Color Personal Video Player from Hasbro Listed below is the overall Toys "R" Us Joy List, which represents an expanded list of top new toys suitable for specific ages from newborn to big kids. Product features and benefits are also included. THE TOYS "R" US JOY LIST: THE BEST OF THE SEASON FROM THE WORLD'S TOY STORE AGES BIRTH - 12 MONTHS BABY COUNTING PAL(TM) from LeapFrog For babies on-the-go, this soft learning pal is truly a multi-sensory learning experience with tons of activities for baby to touch, hear and see! With 4 modes of play, this pal musically introduces counting and colors, while offering a variety of different classical tunes. The Baby Counting Pal also offers an assortment of tactile activities that include: a bird squeaker, butterfly rattle, crinkly bees, flower rings and a ladybug bell for the very young explorers. Product includes attachment straps for parents to attach this toy just about anywhere, and a carry handle for on-the-go fun! The Baby Counting Pal is the perfect pal for learning on the go! Requires 3 AAA batteries (included). Ages three months and up. BABY EINSTEIN DISCOVER & PLAY(TM) ACTIVITY GYM from KIDS II This brightly colored soft play mat features fun Baby Einstein(TM) characters and words to introduce baby to animals and the world around them. There's also a removable motion-activated plush star that features lights and classical melodies by Bach and Beethoven to capture baby's attention. There's a prop-up pillow for tummy time and eight fun toys for baby's development including: three plush characters with crinkle and rattle, colorful ring rattle, soft baby-safe mirror, fabric and vinyl pocket for baby's photo, soft vinyl book featuring animal characters and real-life imagery, and 10 fun links for baby to take toys everywhere. Requires 3 AAA batteries (included). Ages birth and up. BABY PLAYZONE(TM) KICK & WHIRL CARNIVAL(TM) from Fisher-Price It's a carnival of encouragement, with a musical Ferris wheel that rewards baby for kicking, reaching, sitting, grasping and playing! Overhead gym easily converts to a sit-up and play center as baby grows. Both are packed full of fun, with a ball drop activity station, dancing lights, five minutes of lively music, spinners, ball ramps and more! Five colorful balls are included. Like all Baby Playzone toys, the Kick & Whirl Carnival encourages and rewards baby's physical accomplishments with exciting activities that make baby want to try ... and try again! Requires 3 C batteries (included). Ages one month and up. LEARNING BAND(TM) WALKER from LeapFrog Baby's steps set the learning in motion! Push the walker and watch the red drum spin and the colorful organ pipes move up and down all in time to a marching band ABC song. Switch to music mode and hear a fun walk-along song that encourages baby's first steps. This walker can also be converted into a sit-at learning center. Two ways to play: Learn Mode-spin the drum for an ABC song (when the drum stops, the song stops), turn the trumpet roller for an introduction to shapes and colors, or push the organ for a counting 1-5 song. Music Mode-each activity offers real instrumental tunes and upbeat melodies with every spin, press and turn! Parent-set volume control and sturdy, wide base. Requires 3 AA batteries (included). Ages 9 months and up. AGES 13 MONTHS - 2 YEARS DANCE ALONG BOOBAH(TM) from Hasbro Children will delight in the opportunity to get up and dance with a Boobah of their very own. Each of the five cuddly Dance Along Boobah. features six silly songs and eleven unique dances true to their endearing, whimsical personalities. With moving heads, arms and bellies, Dance Along Boobahs realistically move their heads, arms and bellies and will keep children engaged from the top of their heads to the tips of their toes! Requires 3 C batteries (not included). Ages 24 months and up. ELMO'S SING & TEACH(TM) TABLE from Fisher-Price Elmo's Sing & Teach Table features lots of fun learning activities that use music to teach baby the basics. Each activity features Elmo & his friends: Big Bird, Zoe, Cookie Monster and Ernie singing a lesson for baby. Each activity makes Elmo rock his head back and forth to the music. Elmo's Sing & Teach Table features buttons that teach shapes/colors; a roller drum that teaches the alphabet; 3 light-up piano keys that teach animal names and sounds; a removable cell phone that teaches numbers; a Cookie Monster cup that teaches open/close; and Ernie who teaches baby about the parts of the face. Requires 4 AA batteries (included). Ages 9 months to 3 years. LAUGH & LEARN(TM) LEARNING HOME(TM) from Fisher-Price It's a place that's full of fun, and provides great ways for baby to learn-from A-B-C's and 1-2-3's to fascinating everyday experiences, with musical inspiration, sing-along songs, and plenty of discoveries. Both sides of the home are loaded with activities, music, speech, and sounds. Teaches: letters, numbers, counting, shapes, opposites, colors, greetings and more! Two interactive play modes-learning time includes: learning the alphabet with the sing-along radio; dropping balls in rainspout for counting fun; sorting shapes and learning colors-music time includes: sing along with 21 delightful songs, such as the Welcome Home song, Itsy-Bitsy Spider, Doggy in the Window, Hickory Dickory Dock and more. 25+ fun sounds and encouraging phrases with activities. 3 C batteries required (not included). Ages 6 months to 3 years. PEEK-A-BLOCKS(TM) INCREDIBLOCK(TM) from Fisher-Price It's a great BIG block of fascinating discoveries, with music, motion, lights, and five sides of busy play. The block comes with eight unique blocks and acts as an activity center for baby to explore all the colorful objects, moving parts, dazzling visuals and fun sounds encased within each one. The IncrediBlock top is where the action is-and the learning. Baby places any of the eight special Peek-a-Blocks in the center to bring it to life. For example, when baby places the cow block on top, baby will hear the word "cow," a "moo" sound and the song "Old MacDonald". When baby pushes down on that block, the center area lights up and block whirls around! Each of the five sides of the giant block is full of unique activities including beads, balls and flipping pages, plus music and lights. Up to 30 Peek-a-Blocks can be stored inside. Parents can watch fine motor skills steadily improve, along with eye-hand coordination, as blocks are grasped and stacked. Requires 3 C batteries (not included). Ages 6 months to 3 years. AGES 2-4 YEARS CORVETTE(R) C5-R(TM) POWER VEHICLE from Safety 1st Since 1953, the Corvette has been dubbed the "True American Sportscar." And now this performance icon is available for young dragsters to enjoy, exclusively at Toys "R" Us! With the same sleek design, attention to detail and advanced technology that car enthusiasts expect, the scaled-down version is perfect for little car lovers. Features include working headlights, taillights and turn signals, real FM radio, plus horn, ignition and engine sounds. Two-speed transmission with parental control (2.5 mph and 5.0 mph with reverse at 2.5 mph). Includes racing wheels with traction strip, bumper-to-bumper warranty, retractable cup holder, and realistic racecar graphics. Includes a 12-volt long-life battery. Ages 3 years and up (max 130 lbs). DORA THE EXPLORER(TM) DORA'S TALKING HOUSE from Fisher-Price Dora's uniquely styled home with a focus on family incorporates bilingual phrases in a special, non-traditional dollhouse. Dora's House unfolds to reveal an adobe-style, open play space that can be expanded to seven rooms simply by raising the roof. The house is chockfull of interactive play areas featuring electronic sounds, music, lights and bilingual phrases including a working doorbell, a refrigerator with a real light, an oven timer, a fold-down table, a radio that really plays music and a beautiful family photo that introduces Dora's family to children. The set comes complete with three poseable figures (Dora, Mom and Dad) and a couch. Requires 3 AAA batteries (included). Ages 3 and up. E-L-M-O(TM) from Fisher-Price What more can Elmo do? This year, he hits the dance floor with his very own version of the famous YMCA song. Squeeze Elmo's hand and Elmo will invite you to join him in dancing to his fun song. Elmo not only plays the E-L-M-O song, but he actually forms the E, L, M and O with his arms! Squeeze Elmo's hand again and Elmo will invite you to spell out his name with him. "Give Elmo an E!", "Give Elmo an L!", "Give Elmo an M!" "Give Elmo an O!" What's that spell?!? Elmo!! Requires 4 AA batteries (included). Ages 18 months and up. FOLD-2-GO(TM) TRICYCLES from Radio Flyer The Radio Flyer Fold 2 Go(TM) Tricycle comes fully assembled for instant riding, folds up for portablity and easy storage, and features an easy to carry handle grip. There's a safety latch that helps to keep the tricycle in place. The Fold-2-Go tricycles also feature a three-position adjustable seat, low center of gravity for maximum stability, sturdy steel construction, controlled turning radius for stability, and ringing bell. No batteries required. 18 months and up. SING & BOOGIE(TM) BLUE from Fisher-Price Straight out of Blue's Room, this new shaggy Blue will have kids singing and dancing, too, as she talks, sings and does her signature dance. Kids will love to sing and dance along with Blue! Kids press her left hand and then watch her magically come to life. Blue will move her head and arms from side to side as she talks, plays and pretends! To learn how to "boogie" with Blue, just press Blue's right hand, and she will begin to sing her new Blue's Room song and teach kids the dance. Also included is an exclusive interactive video featuring Blue's talking debut in the "Legend of the Blue Puppy" episode, plus two fun interactive segments where kids can play a fun game or learn Blue's dance! Requires 4 AA batteries (included). Ages 18 months and up. V.SMILE(TM) TV LEARNING SYSTEM from V-Tech V.Smile(TM) is a unique learning system that teaches children the preschool basics through interactive TV gaming. The console connects directly to your home TV! No additional equipment required! V.Smile TV Learning System includes the console, a joystick, and one game cartridge. The innovative joystick is adjustable for both right and left-handed users. It features four flashing buttons and one large enter button specially designed for preschoolers. A second joystick can be connected for two-player game play. Requires 3 C batteries (not included). Ages 3 - 7. AGES 5 - 7 YEARS BARBIE(TM) AS THE PRINCESS AND THE PAUPER (GIFT PACK) from Mattel This exclusive Toys "R" Us gift pack comes with two dolls and a CD that includes three songs from "Barbie. as the Princess and the Pauper." Princess Anneliese(TM) and maiden Erika. can each sing songs from the movie, and are accompanied by a furry companion from the movie, Serafina and Wolfie. No batteries required. Ages 3 and up. BELLA DANCERELLA(TM) from Spin Master Little ballerinas will be dancing all day with this home ballet studio. Perfect for practicing dance routines, this easy to assemble home studio includes a ballet bar and two-sided mat that outlines five step-by-step ballet routines. The adorable home studio also includes a VHS video with step-by- step dance instructions. Bella Dancerella(TM) is easily stored for home use. No batteries required. Ages 3 - 8. GAME BOY(R) ADVANCE VIDEOS from Majesco Sales, Inc. These "take with you anywhere" video paks give full-screen, full-color audio and video on any Game Boy(R) Advance System. Each video pak includes 45 minutes of video. More than 12 titles are currently available, including Nicktoons Collection, Volume 1. Kids just insert the video pak into a Game Boy Advance System and start watching. Familiar "DVD player" controls including: Fast Forward, Fast Rewind, Chapter Skip, Chapter Reverse and Pause, plus animated chapter menus. Kids are sure to enjoy the skip-free viewing-no matter how much Game Boy is moved around, the video will never skip. No batteries required. Rated E for everyone. Nicktoons Collection, Volume 1 includes three short episodes of popular Nicktoons TV shows including: All Grown Up!, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Fairly Odd Parents. HOT WHEELS(R) CYBORG ATTACK(TM) from Mattel An awesome challenge featuring a battle between kid vs. cyborg! With multiple features, this deluxe track has speed, power, performance and major attitude. Features include swinging arm action that "rips" the highway in two. Includes two exclusively decorated vehicles. Requires 4 D batteries (not included). Ages 5 and up. OPERATION(R): SHREK from Hasbro Games This time the patient happens to be everyone's favorite ogre, Shrek! Major medical assistance is needed to cure his ailments including: Ear Wax, Onion Breath, and Humongous Fungus. Game play remains the same as the traditional Operation(R), where the player who collects the most money from successful operations wins! For 2 to 4 players. Requires 2 AA batteries (not included). Ages 6 and up. TAMAGOTCHI CONNECTION(TM) from Bandai Infrared technology allows Tamagotchi Connection(TM) owners to "connect" with others, play games, give gifts, become friends with other Tamagotchi owners and store a "friend list" of up to 50 friends. There are single player or two player games, and the personality of a Tamagotchi is based on how well owners care for it. Kids can raise several generations in one Tamagotchi with proper care and feeding. Requires 1 CR-2032 (3V) battery (included). Ages 4 and up. VIDEONOW(TM) COLOR PERSONAL VIDEO PLAYER from Hasbro Kids who lead a colorful, on-the-go lifestyle-need colorful, on-the-go entertainment! The VideoNow(TM) Personal Video Player lets kids watch a wide variety of high-quality PVDs--loaded with the things they want to watch-now in vibrant color! This awesome player gives sharp, full-color screen and backlit display, plus a viewing area that's larger than ever! VideoNow features kids' favorite Nickelodeon shows, like The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius, All Grown Up!, The Amanda Show and The Fairly OddParents (each sold separately)! Requires 3 AA batteries (not included). Ages 6 and up. AGES 8 - 11 YEARS BRATZ(TM) TOKYO A GO GO(TM) DOLLS from MGA Entertainment Anything goes in Tokyo as the Bratz mix 'n' match the craziest and coolest looks in an up-to-the-minute fashion flash of color and style! Inspired by the far-out fashions of the Far East, kids can join the Bratz as they take to the streets in a kaleidoscope of crazy-cool color and form and show the world that it's not always what you wear, but how you wear it! With tons of stylin' accessories, plus a collectible cyber-pet and personal electronic item, this is one party Bratz fans just can't pass up! No batteries required. Ages 6 and up. MALL MADNESS(TM) from Hasbro Games The Mall Madness(TM) game is the electronic, talking shopping spree game filled with sales, clearances and fun. It enables kids to bring the fun of shopping home without the high price tag! A mall announcer leads players in the game that has them in a race to buy six items and get out of the mall first. Players are given play ATM and credit cards to purchase items within their set budgets. Perfect for the 21st century savvy shopper. For 2 to 4 players. Requires 3 AA batteries (not included). Ages 9 and up. HOVERCOPTER(TM) from Overbreak The HoverCopter(TM) is a wireless flying saucer that flies over 25-feet high! Safe to use indoors or outdoors. The HoverCopter hovers in mid air and is easy to fly. It recharges in minutes and comes with multi-colored LED lights. Invent cool tricks and games. Race two HoverCopters head-to-head and then make them do battle! Comes with charging base and hand controller. Requires 8 C batteries and 1 9V battery (not included). Ages 8 and up. RC HUMMER from Fast Lane The wildly popular Hummer H-1 vehicle gets miniaturized in a 1:6 scale full-function RC vehicle. This Toys "R" Us exclusive unit is heavy duty and contains dual 540SH Mabuchi Motors, digital proportional steering with speed control, trim adjustments for steering and forward/reverse. The front and rear wheel differential and giant off-road tires provide better traction for off-roading adventures. The included battery and charger features removable crystals for competitive racing. Requires 7.2-volt battery pack (included). Ages 8 years and up STING-RAY OCC BICYCLE from Schwinn The re-birth of cool - The Sting-Ray lives again! Features include custom stretched chopper frame with gas tank gusset, 20" x 4" super wide "V" line rear slick tire and 24" x 2" narrow front tire mounted on extruded alloy rims. Other notable features are: adjustable cruising saddle with built-in sissy bar, riveted upholstery, dual crown Sting-Ray twin barrel chrome forks with color matching paint, chrome steel chain guard and heavy duty double leg kickstand, alloy linear pull brake with alloy lever and three-piece custom Sting-Ray cranks with iron cross pedals. Comes in black, red and blue. No batteries required. Ages 8 years and up. ULTIMATE BIG AIR(TM) BALL TOWER from K'NEX Kids can build and customize the most outrageous K'NEX "Wow" ever! It's the Ultimate Big Air(TM) Ball Tower, featuring daredevil ride Big Air Boz! This set, sold exclusively at Toys "R" Us, allows kids to build three exciting obstacle courses all in one tower. The air blast action starts Boz's adventure up the 5-foot, anti-gravity tube. Boz avoids the danger for a winning ride on the rails to the pivoting arm, a big bounce off the trampoline platform and into the bottomless basket, and more! It's over 1,350 pieces of awesome building accomplishment, complete with step-by-step color-coded instructions. Includes instructions for a 3-foot Junior Tower for builders who want to get into the action in a third of the time. Requires 4 D batteries (not included). Ages 8 and up. BIG KIDS LAZER TAG(R) TEAM OPS(TM) from Hasbro Kids of all ages can step into the ultimate gaming experience with this awesome Head's Up Display (HUD) and Tagger Set! Head's Up Display gives players audio and visual confirmation of being tagged and when they've tagged someone else. Players are alerted when an enemy is in the area and when they have their target locked! Three teams of eight players can play 11 pre- programmed games. Features a LCD screen, advanced daytime IR quality, easy team-play programming, two HUD's and two taggers in each set! Requires 12 AAA batteries (not included). Ages 8 and up. PLUG IT IN & PLAY TV GAMES(TM) -- FEATURING MS. PAC-MAN from Jakks Pacific There's a complete line-up of TV Games(TM) titles, including Ms. Pac-Man, Spider-Man and more! Adults (and kids!) can experience the fun of NAMCO's most beloved 80's arcade games on their TV with Ms. Pac-Man. All of the TV Games are a controller and game system all in one! No set up is required. The controller just plugs into a television and players experience a blast from the past when they play the five different arcade games: Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Pole Position, Xevious and Mappy. No game console required. Requires 4 AA batteries (not included). Ages 5 and up. TRIVIAL PURSUIT(R) SNL DVD Edition (Saturday Night Live) from Hasbro Games The Trivial Pursuit(R) SNL DVD edition combines all the fun of the board game with the Emmy award-winning late-night comedy show to bring players more trivia fun! Players grab their favorite character (Eight Saturday Night Live character tokens, including Land Shark and the Spartans Cheerleader) and start answering questions about Saturday Night Live. To win a scoring wedge, players go to the DVD to answer an on-screen question. It's never ending fun for teams to relive the sketches, famous impressions and unforgettable characters from SNL while challenging their friends to see who knows the most about this comedy showcase. Includes over 2,000 questions, including 450 on DVD. For 2 to 4 players. No batteries required. DVD-player not included. Adult: Viewer Discretion Advised. HALO(R) 2 XBOX from Microsoft Halo(R) 2 is the sequel to the highly successful and critically acclaimed Halo(R): Combat Evolved. In Halo 2, the saga continues as Master Chief -- a genetically enhanced super-soldier-is the only thing standing between the relentless Covenant and the destruction of all humankind. Halo 2 features new vehicles and weapons, destructible environments, low gravity, online play and more. Halo 2 gives players better control so they can sprint at twice-normal speed, peek around corners and much more. The completely rewritten graphics engine allows previously unimaginable complexity and detail. The new multiplayer modes include Oddball, Race, Slayer, Capture the Flag, and even more exclusive modes only available over Xbox Live. No batteries required. XBOX Game System required to play and not included. Rated (M) for MATURE. Note that this product is not available until November 9. Note: Titles rated Mature (M) have content suitable for people ages 17 and up. These products may include more intense violence or language than products in the Teen category. In addition, these titles may include mature sexual themes. Toys "R" Us aims to give you the information necessary to make intelligent video game buying decisions. We are proud to participate in the game industry's standardized rating system, developed by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). The ESRB ratings are designed to give consumers information about the content of an interactive video or computer entertainment title and the ages for which the title is appropriate. The ratings are not meant to tell you what to buy or to serve as the only basis for choosing a product. In addition to using the ratings, consumers should check out content descriptions for more specific information about a game's content. You can find this information, if applicable, on the product information pages under the Note to Customers advisory. Each product is rated by three independent, trained raters. The raters represent a wide range of backgrounds, races, and ages and have no ties to the interactive entertainment industry. Raters include retired school principals, parents, professionals, and other individuals from all walks of life. Ratings can be found on the cover of each game, and this site also features a text description of each rating on product information pages. About Toys "R" Us Toys "R" Us is one of the leading specialty toy retailers in the world. Currently it sells merchandise through more than 1,400 stores, including 684 toy stores in the U.S. and 585 international toy stores, including licensed and franchise stores as well as through its Internet sites at http://www.toysrus.com/, http://www.imaginarium.com/ and http://www.sportsrus.com/. Babies "R" Us is the largest baby product specialty store chain in the world and a leader in the juvenile industry, and sells merchandise through 200 stores in the U.S. as well as on the Internet at http://www.babiesrus.com/. DATASOURCE: Toys "R" US CONTACT: Kelly Cullen, +1-646-366-8822, or , or Kathleen Waugh, +1-646-366-8823, or , both of Toys "R" Us Web site: http://www.toysrus.com/ http://www.babiesrus.com/ http://www.sportsrus.com/ http://www.imaginarium.com/

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