Contact: Leigh A. Poirier, Executive Director, 613-228-3155, cttc@cyberus.ca

“THE BEST OF BALANCED PLAY”:

THE CANADIAN TOY TESTING COUNCIL

ANNOUNCES THE TOP TOYS OF THE YEAR

OTTAWA – November 10, 2004 – Here’s the list that every parent wants when making those important toy and book purchases this year. The Canadian Toy Testing Council (CTTC), the leading authority on toys in Canada, has announced the top children’s toys – and books – for this year.

“This year’s CHILDREN’S CHOICE, BEST BET, CTTC/ENERGIZER BATTERY-OPERATED TOY OF THE YEAR and GREAT BOOK award winners reflect the best toys (and books) in a number of play areas – the ‘best of balanced play’ – from creative construction, to exciting electronics, through to the inspired and the unique,” says Leigh A. Poirier, CTTC Executive Director.

“For the first time, the Canadian Toy Testing Council has found two toys worthy enough to be named CTTC/ENERGIZER TOY OF THE YEAR,” Ms. Poirier says. “One is a programmable dancing robot and the other is a fast-thinking, hand-held, electronic problem-solving game. Both are totally innovative and reflect the best in battery-operated play.” All of the award winners were announced at its annual press conference, held in the Drawing Room of the Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa.

The complete 2005 TOY REPORT has again been made available to Canadian consumers via the Internet on the Canadian Toy Testing Council’s website (www.toy-testing.org).

The Canadian Toy Testing Council is a non-profit organization with over 50 years of learning through play. The Council tests toys and provides the results to Canadian families, rating the 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,” says 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 this year’s Great Books for Children,” Ms. Poirier says. “This is the fourth year that the Council has asked its member families to read Canadian books and have children choose their favourites.”

Parents seeking the award-winning toys should check the Canadian Toy Testing Council’s website for its listing of CTTC’s Retail Partners – Stores Near You. These are toy stores that are committed to carrying quality toys. In addition, CTTC’s award-winning toys will be auctioned on eBay at www.ebay.ca under the name “besttoytestingcharity,” from November 22-29.

The following award-winning toys are presented by age; prices may vary from retail outlet to retail outlet, or at web stores. The Canadian Toy Testing Council’s award-winning toys are:

2005 CTTC/Energizer Battery-Operated Toy of the Year

The toys are listed according to age. All award winners are of equal excellence.

6-9 years              ROBOSAPIEN (ROBOT), #ws8081us02, $100-120      WOW WEE

8 +                        20Q (ELECTRONIC GAME), #7410, $20-25                 RADICA

2005 Children’s Choice Award

The toys are listed according to age. All award winners are of equal excellence.

  6-24 mos.             LAUGH & LEARN LEARNING BIRDBATH, #C6513, $30-35            FISHER-PRICE CANADA INC.

3 +                        WEE 3 FRIENDS, #G5560, $25-30                                                           MATTEL CANADA INC.

3-6 years              ROVIN’ ROLLERS, KID K’NEX, #85120 45047, $25-30                      K’NEX  INDUSTRIES, INC.

4 +                        ZOO, #3240, $150-155                                                                               PLAYMOBIL

6+                         SCENE IT? DISNEY EDITION, #G3122, $40-45                                  MATTEL CANADA INC.

8 +                        SCENE IT? JR.,  #C3365, $40-45                                                             MATTEL CANADA INC.

7+                         PREHISTORIC CREATURES DESIGNER SET, #4507, $40-45          LEGO CANADA INC.

7+                         CASTLE OF MORCIA, KNIGHT’S KINGDOM, #8781, $130-135    LEGO CANADA INC.

7+                         PAINT YOUR OWN GARDEN BUGZ, #1391, $30-35                           CREATIVITY FOR KIDS/

                                                                                                                                                   FABER-CASTELL

8+                         QUANTUM PAD – GRADE 3 MATH, ISBN #1-932256-06-7,

                              $20-25                                                                                                          LEAP FROG

8-9 years              QUANTUM PAD – SMART GUIDE TO GRADE 3,

                              ISBN #1932256-04-0, $20-25                                                                    LEAP FROG

8-9 years              QUANTUM PAD -  SMART GUIDE TO GRADE 4,

                              ISBN #1932256-05-9, $20-25                                                                    LEAP FROG

9+                         QUANTUM PAD – GRADE 4 MATH, ISBN #1-932256-07-05.

                              $20-25                                                                                                          LEAP FROG

12 +                      PHOENIX (BOARD GAME), #328988002718, $30-35                           EURO GAMES/FILOSOFIA

2005 Best Bet Award

The toys are listed according to age. All award winners are of equal excellence.

  0+                         LOTTY LADYBIRD DELUXE SOFT PLAY MAT,

                               #663488700239, $100-110                                                                      MAMAS & PAPAS

2-4 years              FRIDGE PHONICS MAGNETIC LETTER SET, #80445,

                              $25-30                                                                                                         LEAP FROG

2-4 years              DUPLO TEAM CONSTRUCTION, LEGO VILLE, #4688

                              $30-35                                                                                                         LEGO CANADA INC.

3 +                        LILA (DOLL), #25052-0, $75-80                                                               COROLLE

3 +                        TRIPLE HIT BASEBALL, #B6312-0910, $30-35                                     FISHER-PRICE CANADA INC.

3 +                        SMART HOUSE SOUNDS LIKE HOME

                              (HAPPY FAMILY), #C7538, $90-95                                                         MATTEL CANADA INC.

  3 +                        BRENDAM DOCKS ELECTRONIC PLAYSET, #9671476511,

                              $60-65                                                                                                          LEARNING CURVE

3-5 years              ZOBOOMAFOO ANIMAL ALPHABET, (SOFTWARE)                      BRIGHTER CHILD/                   

                               ISBN 0-7630-7105-6, $25-30                                                                     LEARNING COMPANY

3-8 years               TUMMY ACHE, (BOARD GAME), #BG12, $20-25                               ORCHARD TOYS/PIERRE BELVEDERE

4 +                        WIG OUT! (CARD GAME),  #ISBN #1-888-439-89-0,  $5-10                 GAMEWRIGHT

6 +                        MAASK (WOODEN BOARD GAME), #00120, $20-25                           BLUE ORANGE  GAMES                               

8 +                        SIM CITY 4 DELUXE EDITION, (SOFTWARE),                                    ELECTRONIC ARTS

                             ISBN #0-7845-3611-2, $50-55       

8+                         COLUMNS (WOODEN BOARD GAME), ISBN #1-932359-12-5,

                              $35-40                                                                                                           PIN/OUT OF THE BOX

8 +                        CONGA (GAME), ISBN #1-893028-34-8, $30-35                                    CRANIUM

8 +                        DRAGON DELTA (GAME), #EDG2565, $50-55                                       EURO GAMES/FILOSOFIA

8 +                        KIT & CABOODLE (GAME), ISBN #1-888-439-06-8, $15-20                GAMEWRIGHT

8-12 years            HARRY POTTER MOTORIZED HOGWARTS EXPRESS,

                              #10132, $160-170                                                                                          LEGO CANADA INC.

8-14 years           ZIGITY (CARD GAME), ISBN #1-893028-49-6   , $15-20                         CRANIUM

2005 CTTC Great Book Awards

● Read Me a Book, written and illustrated by Barbara Reid. North Winds Press (a division of Scholastic Canada Ltd.). ISBN 0-439-95726-5, Ages 9 - 24 months

● Drumheller Dinosaur Dance, by Robert Heidbreder, illustrated by Bill Slavin and Esperança Melo.  Kids Can Press, 2004. ISBN 1-55337-393-6, Ages 3-6

● Ma, I'm a Farmer, written and illustrated by Michael Martchenko. Annick Press Ltd 2003. ISBN 1-55037-696-9, Ages 4+

● Penelope and the Humongous Burp, by Sheri Radford, illustrated by Christine Tripp. Lobster Press, 2004. ISBN 1-894222-83-0, Ages 4-6

● A Noodle Up Your Nose, by Frieda Wishinsky. Orca Book Publishers, 2004. ISBN 1-55143-294-3. Ages 6-8

● Funtime Riddles, written by Marilyn Helmer, illustrated by Jane Kurisu. Kids Can Press, 2004.  ISBN 1-55337-580-7, Ages 6-8

● That's Very Canadian, by Vivien Bowers, illustrated by Dianne Eastman. Maple Tree Press, 2004.  ISBN 1-879099-05-8, Ages 7-12

● Monkey Business, written and illustrated by Wallace Edwards. Kids Can Press. ISBN 1-55337-462-2.  Ages 8+

● The Amazing International Space Station, by Editors of YES Magazine, Kids Can Press, 2003. ISBN 1-55337-523-8, Ages 9-12

● Run, by Eric Walters. Penguin Books, 2003. ISBN 0-14-331218-9, Ages 9+

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