INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY
Contact: Leigh A. Poirier, Executive Director
613-228-3155
THE CANADIAN
TOY TESTING COUNCIL
ANNOUNCES THE TOP TOYS--AND BOOKS--OF THE YEAR
OTTAWA - November 4, 2002 - It’s here! This is the information parents need to choose good toys with lasting play value, as well as great books for children. The Canadian Toy Testing Council (CTTC), the leading authority on toys in Canada, has announced the top toys--and books--for this year, just in time for the holiday season.
"Children ask for the ‘hot’ toys they see on television, but will they have lasting play value? Parents need to know. We’ve done the testing and evaluation on hundreds of new toys so that families can make informed choices," said Leigh Poirier, CTTC Executive Director. "I’m happy to report that while this year’s top toys do include those of an educational nature, a number of ‘trendy’ toys--just plain fun--have proven themselves up to the challenge as well."
The Canadian Toy Testing Council is a non-profit organization, operating since 1952, that tests toys and provides the results to Canadian families. The Council tests and rates toys for durability, safety, design, function, ease of assembly, battery consumption and overall play value.
"We are the oldest independent toy evaluation organization in Canada, with the most intensive testing program. From the beginning, the Canadian Toy Testing Council has done the leg-work for the consumer. The hundreds of toys we test each year are evaluated and played with by Canadian children in actual home environments," said Ms. Poirier.
Over 1,000 kids, ages three months to sixteen years, test toys for the Council on an ongoing basis.
"The CTTC is also pleased to announce the ‘hot dozen’--12 Great Books for children," Ms. Poirier said. This is the second year that the Council has asked its member families to read Canadian books and have children choose their favorites.
Children from the Council announced the CTTC/ENERGIZER TOY OF THE YEAR as well as the CHILDREN’S CHOICE AWARD winning toys, and presented the BEST BET AWARD winning toys at its annual press conference, held in the Drawing Room of the Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa. The complete 2003 toy testing results have again been made available to Canadian consumers via the Internet on the Canadian Toy Testing Council’s web site (www.toy-testing.org).
Parents seeking the award-winning toys should check the Canadian Toy Testing Council’s website for its listing of CTTC’s Retail Partners. These are toy stores that are committed to carrying quality toys.
The following toys are listed in alphabetical order; price range may vary
from retail outlet to retail outlet. The Canadian Toy Testing Council’s award-winning
toys are:
CTTC/ENERGIZER BATTERY-OPERATED TOY OF THE YEAR 2003
Tonka Bobble Boys ATV, Model #90509, Hasbro Canada Inc, Ages 4+, $75-80
2003 CHILDREN’S CHOICE AWARD WINNERS (honouring toys on the market that have been proven to be fun, innovative, and the absolute best in their area of play):
Baby Annabell with Sweet Dreams Set, Model #785764/785744, Zapf Creation (U.S.) Inc., Ages 3+, $65-70/$35
Beyblade Top, Model #76930/82539,Hasbro Canada, Inc., Ages 8+, $10-30
Cranium Cadoo, ISBN #1-893028-04-6, Cranium Inc., Ages 7+, $25-30
Crayola Window Writers, Brite and Pastel, Model #63652/97000/98000), Binney and Smith, Ages 3+, $5-10
Fisher-Price Little People Fun Sounds Train, Model #77999, Mattel Inc., Ages 1-3, $35-40
Groovy Girls Lush Loft, Model #101340, and Groovy Girl line accessories, Manhattan Toy, Ages 3+, $15-150
Handmade Cards, ISBN #1-57054-9508, Klutz, Ages 12+, $35-40
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Hogwarts Castle, Model #4709, Lego Systems, Inc., Ages 8-12, $90-95
NHL Ice F/X, Model #ICE FX-2001, Mad Hatter’s Toy & Game Factory, Ages 8+, $259-265
Theatre Stories, Model #3615, Lego Systems, Inc, Ages 3+, $35-40
2003 BEST BET AWARD WINNERS (honouring toys on the market that surpass all of the Council’s demanding testing criteria):
Arthur’s Kindergarten, ISBN #0-7630-6337-1, The Learning Company, Ages 4-6, $30-40
Catch-a-Bubble, Model #78988 20151, Spin Master Toys, Ages 4+, under $5
Cranium, Canadian Edition, ISBN #189302811-9, Cranium, Inc. Ages 14+, $50-55
Crayola Twistable Crayons, Model #63652/45120, Binney & Smith, Ages 3+, under $5
E-Kara Real Karaoke! Model #11504, Hasbro Canada Inc., Ages 8+, $30-35
Fisher-Price Little People Discovery Airport Software, Model #20626 71711, Knowledge Adventure, Ages 2-4, $25-30
Fisher-Price Sparkling Symphony Rock & Play Piano, Model #73547, Mattel, Inc., Ages 1-2, $40-45
Fisher-Price Spinning Tunes Activity Table, Model #73540, Mattel, Inc., Ages 9 mos-2 yrs, $45-50
Geosafari Talking Microscope, Model #EI-8800, Educational Insights, Ages 5-7, $35-40
Kindergarten Math Wraps, ISBN #1-59174-038-X, Klutz, Ages 5-6, $10-15
Luxor, Model #262410, Ravensburger, Ages 9+, $30-35
Maggie Raggies, Model #751226, Zapf Creation (U.S.) Inc., Ages 2-5, $40-45
Mary Kate and Ashley Starring in Winning London, Model #56308, Mattel, Inc., Ages 3+, $40-45
Smart Mouth, Model #19275 05530, Binary Arts, Ages 6+, $20-25
Traffic City, Model #3619, Lego Systems, Inc., Ages 3+, $65-70
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? ISBN #0-7630-6144-1, Ages 8-12, $20-25
Zoombinis Logical Journey Software, ISBN #0-7630-6370-3, The Learning Company, Ages 8+, $30-35
CTTC GREAT BOOKS: 12 GREAT CANADIAN BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
Give the gift of reading!
Birdie for Now, by Jean Little, Orca Book Publishers, 2002, ISBN #1-55143-203-X, ages 7-10
Brady Brady and the Twirlin’ Torpedo, by Mary Shaw with art by Chuck Temple, Stoddart Kids, 2002, ISBN #0-7737-6271-X, ages 4-8
Busy Little Mouse, by Eugenie Fernandes with art by Kim Fernandes, Kids Can Press, 2002, ISBN #1-55074-776-2, ages 2-5
Dust, by Arthur Slade, HarperCollins, 2001, ISBN #0-00-648593-6, ages 12-14
Going on a Journey to the Sea, by Jane Barclay with art by Doris Barrette, Lobster Press, 2002, ISBN #1-894222-34-2, ages 4-6
Le petit musicien, by Gilles Tibo with art by Marie Lafrance, Dominique et compagnie, 2000, ISBN #2-89512-167-2, ages 6+
Saute, saute, c’est la fête, by Claudette Bourgeois-Richard with art by Denise Bourgeois, Collection améthyste, Bouton d’or acadie, 2001, ISBN #2-922203-34-4, ages 6 & under
Stella: Fairy of the Forest, by Marie-Louise Gay, Groundwood Books, 2002, ISBN #0-88899-448-6, ages 2-5
The Best Figure Skater in the Whole Wide World, by Linda Bailey with art by Alan and Lea Daniel, Kids Can Press, 2001, ISBN #1-55074-879-3, ages 5-8
The Goodfellow Chronicles: The Sacred Seal, by J.C. Mills, Key Porter Books, 2001, ISBN #1-55263-328-4, ages 8-11
TJ and the Cats, by Hazel Hutchins, Orca Book Publishers, 2002, ISBN #1-55143-205-6, ages 7-10
Une journée à la mer, by Denise Paquette with art by Denise Bourgeois, Collection Léa et Laurent, Bouton d’or acadie, 2002, ISBN #2-922203-44-1, ages 6 & under
Toy experts will be available for interviews by telephone to discuss this year’s honorees, how they were judged, and what kids will want this year.