Huge enough to play with anywhere and cuddly enough to fall asleep on, these Jumbo Pillow Pets are made of the softest plush fabric. That makes them great for kids who have a hard time going to sleep while traveling. And they also make for a familiar face when visiting family out of town. And because they are machine washable, they are easy to keep him clean and safe for kids. No “Velveteen Rabbit” syndrome here. Just toss into the washer and then into the the dryer. Nice and easy.

Jumbo Pillow Pets are a full 30 square inches and come as Jumbo Lady Bug, Jumbo Puppy, Jumbo Zebra, Jumbo Teddy Bear and Jumbo Panda. And I’m thinking if your kid is really into the Dreamworks picture Kung Fu Panda, this is a great way to play out the fantasy of having the Dragon Warrior with you on vacation! Course, for me, it would have to be the Teddy Bear. Is there anything better than the overnight friend who’s been chasing off the monster under the bed since 1908?

On sale at Amazon right now with a cost of around $50 with free shipping!

Hat Tip – Best Toy Guide

The Marines have been collecting Toys for Tots since 1947. Semper Fi!

And it’s grown far beyond and extra curricular activity for off duty Marines. In 1995, the Secretary of Defense approved making the annual Toys for Tots drive an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve. Over the last 62 years, the US Marine Corps Reserve have distributed over 400 million toys to more than 188 million needy children and the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation has added to the toy collections by purchasing nearly a half billion dollars in toys to insure that no child gets left behind at Christmas.

And this year, as with any year, the campaign needs your help. You know the mission – pick up an unwrapped toy for a boy or girl and look for one of those dashing jarheads sitting next to a collection box near the entrance to the store. Or, you can Swing by http://www.toysfortots.org/ to make a cash donation to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation. While at the site, you can find more information on a toy collecting center in your area.

Semper Fi and Merry Christmas!

All Lego construction sets and games are also going for Buy 1 get one at 50% off. Nerf toys, 25% off. BOGO50 deals on all baseball equipment and trading cards. Nintendo DS games 2 for $50. $25 off Microsoft Kinect and 2 Video games. BOGO50 on Thomas the Tank Engine Toys, $20 off bikes, BOGO50 on dolls. You’d be hard pressed to NOT find a deal on the toys you’re looking for as just about everything is on sale.

So hitch a ride on the Jeffrey Soul Train and shop early for Christmas! Sale ends Sunday.

Chapters range from making playtime toys like character puppets to designing a custom decor for your corner of the galaxy. There are also Holiday crafts, Star Wars themed science experiments and even how to put a little Star Wars chic in your wardrobe.

I really like the chapter that teaches kids to make their own toys, and that Chewie Sock Puppet makes for some interesting possibilities. But don’t dismiss the Jabba body Pillow or the Han Solo in Soaponite. Or even the Hanukkah Droidel. In addition to your Imperial Herb Garden ala AT-AT, there’s also a nifty Wookie Bird House, Degobah Carnivorous Plant Habitate, and even cute Star Wars Rock Buddies (remember the pet rock?).

There’s some great crafts here that will teach kids to be creative and to make their own Star Wars toys rather than nag Mom and Dad to buy them!

Hat Tip – Nerd Approved

The new Angry Birds game

In many ways, it’s like Chinga with homicidal birds included. The object is simple. Constuct a barrier that houses the evil green pigs, then use the catapult to launch the Angry Birds to destroy it. Players can create any designs that come to their imagination and kids learn about physics, contruction techniques, and of course, mayhem with a poultry-esque flair. There’s also game cards which throw specific challenges into the mix. Now, unfortunately, the yellowbirds won’t get a boost, nor will the blue birds split in threes for extra damage, and the bomb bird can’t lay his egg of doom, but it still looks like a great game.

Photo Credit: KidsTechReview.com

Just hide mom’s china, or anything breakable in the room, before you let the feather’s fly. Available in May for $14.99.

Say what?

Hat Tip – Kids Tech Review

Celestial Buddies teaches kids about our solar system

A really great way to teach kids about the planets in our solar system (and I don’t care what anyone says, that INCLUDES Pluto), is with Celestian Buddies. These cute plushie planets are cuddly, personable, and educational to boot.l

Debuting at Toy Fair 2011 this weekend, Celestial buddies will be starting off locally with the Sun, Mars, Earth and the Moon. They are plushies to be sure, but with them, kids can learn how planets orbit one another and the differences in size (although sadly, they’re not to scale).

Celestial Buddies was created Jessie Silbert who saw a documentary series on the Solar System and didn’t see any toys that could teach the very young about the universe we live in.

Look for them later this year for between $18-30

Hat Tip – Plastic and Plush

Pleo is about to evolve ...

It is said that over the eons, dinosaurs evolved from the massive, lizard-like creatures that lumbered around Pangea to the small, aerodynamic birds we see sitting on the power lines every day. But that’s not how it is in the toy world where a dinosaur like Pleo becomes even more dino-like.

PLEO REBORN is the same adorable dino toy we saw fall victim to robot warriors, but with a few improvements under the skin.

First, Pleo can now be male (blue) or female (pink). Females make soothing noises while the males roar. In addition, each Pleo will be given a pre-programmed personality (called a seed personality) which to base learning on. And some personalities will vary, being happy or sad, cheery or mopey, like Eeore.

Pleo will know what time of the day it is and will behave differently as the day wears on. Pleo will also be able to recognize it’s users voice and respond by name. And Pleo has special touch sensors under the skin which will help the toy to respond and it’s motor skills have improved to be more natural.

It’ll get hungry, and sick, and what’s really interesting is, it will feel pain. So kids who mistreat their Pleo will learn pretty quickly that they can cause pain in another being. These features make Pleo an ideal introduction to responsibility should they desire to have a pet.

Pleo’s skin has been designed to be 5x more durable thank the previous model and will also have random skin changes from time to time and have up to 10 different eye colors. And Pleo’s new lithium battery doubles play time to over 2 hours. There are several other features, but you can clearly see that Pleo is evolving into a very smart, and cool toy.

Here’s a video of Pleo Reborn in action:

Hat Tip – Gear Fuze

I have to admit that I figured that Build a Bear would be out of business within 9 months. But it’s grown by leaps and bounds and it seems it’s always packed with kids making their own custom bears. And now, Build a Bear is going to a galaxy far, far away …

Beginning tomorrow, September 24th, Kids can now go in and make beary versions of their favorite Star Wars characters. Kids can make Jedi Monkeys and Bears, Clone Trooper bears, a beary Darth Vader, Princess Leia with her iconic cinnamon bun hair style, Han Solo, C3PO, and more. Cost of the bears is around $35-40, plus additional costumes are around $15 each.

These are the bears you’re looking for.

Hat Tip – Nerd Approved

These Funko Justice league plushies are a great way to introduce kids to your favorite Super Heroes

It’s no secret that if a parent loves a certain toy or comic book, that it will foster an interest by his prodigy. And a serious comic book fan is bound to influence their kids to love them to (although I think boys are genetically predisposed to like comic books). So what does a pop culture parent do to introduce their children to their favorite childhood heros when, quite frankly, some of those stories are a bit too mature for young eyes? Well these cool Justice League plushies may just do the trick.

The plushies, made by toy company Funko, are of Superman, Batman, the Flash and Green Lantern (what, now Wonder Woman for the girls?).

I’ll admit it, these plushies are cute, although my 10 year old laughed them off and said they were ridiculous. Then he saw the Green Lantern on and even he was sold.

The company also makes similar plushies for Lord of the Rings and they run about $10. Due out later this summer from Plastic and Plush.

hat Tip – Nerd Approved

This Spud Lightyear is one of the new Toy Story 3 toys hitting the shelves this summer.

You knew that a Toy Story themed Ken and Barbie was a natural, and the “Made for Each Other” twin set is just what you’d expect. But there are tons of other really cool Toy Story 3 toys out there for kids who want to live the Andy dream …

The coolest include the Toy Story 3 Mr. Potato Head Spud Lightyear toy. That’s right, our favorite spud goes to infinity and beyond with a Space Ranger suit complete with clear plastic dome helmet. Cost is $10 at Walmart. Don Rickles’ one liners not included.

With a pull of his string, Woody utters classic lines from all three films.

Next is the set of Buzz and Woody Interactive Toys by Disney Store. Sold separately, and not for cheap, these new interactive action figures come with phrases and sound effects from the trio of hit Disney/Pixar motion pictures.

He's cute, he's cuddly, but he's not cheap ...

Lastly is the new Lots-O-Huggin’ Bear Toy, the pinkest plushie doll of flush who is in charge of the toys at the day care center can now be your little one’s favorite cuddly stuffed animal! Cost is a hefty $50 at FAO Schwarz.

There are tons of others including Lego Toy Story 3 sets, and more, so get your Buzz on and check them out. And at the very least, get the star ball that’s in every Pixar film. It’s now the law. (okay, it isn’t, but it should be!)

Hat Tip – About.com