AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
CHILDRENS CHOICE
BEST BETS

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***BEST BET 1999***

A honey of a game! This fine first board game featured friendly looking plastic bear "pawns" as well as cardboard honey pot tokens which our young testers found most appealing. The dice featured colours, not numbers, and certain rolls made matching coloured bears turn toward each other and earn a honey pot. Our testers learned such notions as colour matching, rolling dice, earning rewards and taking turns while enjoying this game for two to four players. Each game took about 20 minutes to play.

***BEST BET 1999***

This quality 16-piece wood and plastic building set provided our young testers with an excellent introduction to construction play. Simple pictorial instructions made it easy for kids to use the toy pliers provided and build a helicopter with propeller and pilot. Proud of their creations, children then engaged in extensive imaginative play with their newly constructed toys. High flying fun!

***BEST BET 1999***

Auto euphoria! Our young testers were kept happily occupied while travelling courtesy of this soft, colourful, padded activity bar, which easily attached to car seats and strollers. Children enjoyed playing with the teething rattle comprised of three keys on a ring, as well as the squeaky toy puppy with a crinkly ear. Other toys to be attached by Velcro could be purchased separately. The bar also featured two additional rings so you can attach your own toys. The bar itself folded down quickly for seating and unseating children. This toy consistently kept kids amused--even on long trips.

***BEST BET 1999***

Winning strategy! This simple, yet excellent, chess set came with a sturdy board with magnetic seal folds, tidy pouches to hold game pieces, as well as a colourfully illustrated instruction book. Clear and useful instructions on the roles and moves of each piece were included, as well as a quiz and neat chess trivia. While most families lightened up on the "you touch the piece, you move it" rule, overall children found this edition of the "game of kings" challenging and fun, and enjoyed playing against parents or each other.

***BEST BET 1999***

This AM/FM clock radio looks and sounds just like Mom and Dad's. Our testers loved listening to their favorite radio stations, pushing the "tell the time" button and waking up to music or alarm. Parents were impressed with the durability of the casing, the bright colours to distinguish hands of the clock and the quality of all the functions. Requires 4 "AA" batteries (not included).

***BEST BET 1999***

Mmm... what's that smell? This adorable doll had the look and smell of a real baby--a lovely scent of vanilla. With soft plastic head and limbs and a bean bag body, this 30 cm doll was just the right size for little kids to cuddle, and our testers didn't want to let go. The beautifully detailed head turns and the body can be posed, but this doll's greatest asset is her ability to make little ones want to cherish and nurture her. NOTE: This doll can be machine washed.

***BEST BET 1999***

Oh, you beautiful doll! This small (8 cm high, 100 grams weight), adorable doll had a soft bean-bag body just perfect for cuddling. Our testers were captivated by the fine detailing of her plastic face, arms and legs, and her very true-to-life proportions. No gadgets or batteries required; all you need is love! NOTE: Emma's hat tends to slip off, so parents of younger children may want to remove altogether.

***BEST BET 1999***

Foam, foam... what a range! Our testers had a fantastic time with this craft set, which included an excellent spiral bound 40-page idea booklet, and an attached vinyl zippered pouch filled with foam pieces. Children loved looking through the booklet and choosing which project they wanted to do, whether it was a creating a picture, making fridge magnets, fashioning jewellery, designing greeting cards, playing games or more. There were hundreds of neat ideas to choose from, and kids enjoyed exploring the fun foam possibilities.

***BEST BET 1999***

All that glitters was indeed gold--gold leaf, that is--when our testers completed this craft and produced a stunning 255 mm x 300 mm (10" x 12") frame. Each kit came with a solid wooden frame, gold leaf sheets, non-toxic adhesive, structural compound, mosaic squares, brush, design ideas and detailed instructions. Children had a grand time creatively decorating the frame with the squares and structural compound, but required parental assistance to apply the delicate gold leaf. All of our testers were extremely proud of the majestic look of their completed frames, and wanted to do the craft again.

***BEST BET 1999***

Our testers absolutely adored playing futuristic laser tag with this toy raygun and armour set. Each set came with two chest plates and two guns, and the goal of the game was to "zap" your opponent with a "laser" beam of light, making the beeping chest plate light up. Testers soon discovered that a third player could be added using a TV remote control, but outdoor play proved best as players needed room to frolic while pretending to be space age warriors. Kids played this game for hours with sheer delight. NOTES: Ten "AA" batteries required. Light should not be directed toward eyes (note on instructions).

***BEST BET 1999***

No cords attached! This 293-piece building set with cordless radio control feature was a huge hit with our testers. Five different models could be constructed, and this kit also featured wide wheels, spiffy decals, and a driver figure. The models worked well once built, and kids had a blast making them perform racing stunts using the supplied cardboard ramps. NOTE: One 9-volt and 4 "AA" batteries required (not included).

***CHILDREN'S CHOICE AWARD & BEST BET AWARD 1999**

*A real knockout! This 120-piece building toy in jazzy colours was a huge hit with our testers, who were thrilled with the "punching action" performed by these futuristic models after construction. They loved watching the rubber stopper end of an extension arm on one model reach out and punch the other while it tried to race away (movement was supplied by a elastic cord). Even after repeated "socks", the models (which looked like either vehicles or monsters) stayed remarkably intact, allowing for endless battles and hours of play.

***BEST BET 1999***

Our budding gardeners could not get enough of this fun and functional wheelbarrow made of bright red plastic. The large tub transported everything from sand to snacks, and its sturdy construction enabled our younger testers to easily push and pull the toy around the yard. A great addition to the garden... and the toy box!

***BEST BET 1999***

Garden party! This bright three-piece tool set made of sturdy plastic included a shovel, a rake and a hoe. Their 600 mm (24") length made them the perfect size for our young landscapers to maneuver. Whether our testers were having fun tilling the soil or building skyscrapers in the sandbox, these yard tools met the challenge.

***BEST BET 1999***

Versatility plus! Our testers all adored this attractive, four-in-one mobile made of durable plastic. This toy is sure to provide years of fun, growing as baby grows. With six long-playing and soothing lullabies, four moving character toys as well as three twinkling lights to stimulate even the youngest baby's visual and auditory senses, the toy proved extremely versatile. The control panel was easily removed from the mobile, allowing it to be used as a separate crib or floor toy; the mobile's soft character toys could also be detached and used for teething or separate play. A perfect gift for a newborn or to give as a shower gift. NOTE: Two "AA" batteries required (included); auto shut-off preserved battery life.

***BEST BET 1999***

Sounds of the great outdoors! Our testers loved playing with this small plastic lantern, which lit up but also emitted the gentle sounds of crickets, frogs, birds, squirrels and owls--all at the push of a button. The lantern bulb was controlled by an on/off switch, and the lantern shut off automatically after 15 minutes of nature sounds. A fun toy by day, this lantern quickly became a favourite bedtime activity for our testers, who fell asleep to the sounds or used it as a night light. NOTE: Two "AA" batteries and light bulb required (included).

***BEST BET 1999***

This game offers a new and exciting twist to the traditional crossword experience. The set contains 180 plastic letter tiles, minute timer, score sheets and instructions for two forms of play, as well as suggested educational activities for phonics development. Players draw letter tiles and build their own personal crossword as fast as they can. Upon drawing additional tiles, players change or rearrange their crossword. All of our testers found this game to be exciting and challenging. It encouraged children to use and develop their vocabulary. NOTE: A large playing surface is required.

***CHILDREN'S CHOICE AWARD & BEST BET AWARD 1999***

Dial 911 for fun! Our testers were drawn into an exciting make-believe world of police action with this innovative playset comprised of four different toy sets combined under one "roof". That roof was a versatile, two-storey building that could be modified to accommodate a jail, helipad and police station interior; however, its open-ended design allowed for other play possibilities including hospital, fire station, etc. To build, little red joints were clipped into slots prior to snapping wall sections together. That took about 2 hours, but the result was a sturdy toy that held up well to children's imaginative play. Kids loved the theme and its many detailed accessories--a big hit.

***BEST BET 1999***

Colourful, fun and easy to do! Our testers were delighted with the results of this craft, which allowed them to string beads and pom poms to make funky jewellery. This kit included over 100 brightly coloured beads, 70 multicoloured pom poms, five animal-shaped beads, three yards of lacing and three break-away clasps. The pom poms proved to be a huge hit, and children liked the fact that everything could be used more than once. Younger kids sometimes needed adult help to tie knots or thread beads, but the instructions were easy to follow and our testers all loved their creations.

***CHILDREN'S CHOICE AWARD & BEST BET AWARD 1999***

Go go go! This two-sided remote controlled car with a super sleek design thrilled our testers with such stunts as scorchin' wheelies, screamin' 360s, vertical burnouts, backflips, side spins, two-sided flip-overs and two-wheel turns. The deluxe twin stick, which required a 9-volt battery, allowed kids to command the vehicle from a 20 m (65') distance. A huge honkin' hit with our testers, indoors or out. NOTE: This car required a TMH FlexPak Battery Pack (not included) which had to be initially charged 5 1/2 hours for the first two times used.

***BEST BET 1999***

This dashing dachshund proved to be an especially attractive rocking toy, featuring a solid painted wooden body, wooden seat and rockers, yellow movable ears and springy tail. Our testers adored riding this toy, and spent many happy hours making it rock. This finely crafted, stable toy is the kind that can be treasured now and in years to come. NOTE: Assembly took approximately half an hour; screwdriver required. WARNING: Adult supervision on all rocking toys is required.

***CHILDREN'S CHOICE AWARD & BEST BET AWARD 1999***

Make way for the little green dump truck that could! This 152-piece construction set featuring girders, plates and blocks that snapped together to form ramps and platforms for three different industrial sites was a huge hit with our testers.They loved making the toy's remote-controlled dump truck run up and down the ramps, as well as having it scoop up small red and blue plastic balls with its front loader and dump them into the platform's chutes. The command centre allowed for four control pads and eight vehicles (one is included). NOTE: Three "AA" rechargeable batteries required (included), not to be used in NiCad recharger.

***BEST BET 1999***

Urban dwellers, challenge your worst nightmare! This intriguing puzzle allows you to place the 16 plastic vehicles on the "gridlock," and try to sequence the movements necessary to free the red car. The puzzle solver has the luck to be able to count on full co-operation from all drivers, which is about the only stretch of the imagination required to enjoy this compact and challenging puzzle.

***BEST BET 1999***

Our testers put on their deerstalker hats and gleefully assumed the roles of detectives as they played this exciting board game. Players had to track the elusive Mr. X by using taxi, bus and underground (subway) "tickets" to move around the streets of London as laid out on the board. The detectives, working as a team, had just 24 moves in which to capture the criminal, and their only clues were Mr. X's own used "tickets". This fast-past game was quite enjoyed by groups of three or more players, and proved to be a fun family activity.

***CHILDREN'S CHOICE AWARD & BEST BET AWARD 1999***

Sleep, baby, sleep! This delightful toy made of durable plastic soothed our baby testers to sleep with lullabies, twinkling lights or nature sounds. It featured a remote control so the main unit could be started from a distance without baby seeing. The remote control hung well on a doorknob or could be stored in a compartment behind the toy. The "soother" offered three modes--single lullaby, 10 minutes of lullabies accompanied by twinkling lights, or approximately 10 minutes of calming nature sounds. The unit also featured a crib strap, on/off switch and volume control. A fabulous toy. NOTE: Four sizes of "C" batteries and two sizes of "AA" batteries required (not included).

***BEST BET 1999***

Our testers eagerly became cosmeticians when they created their own lip balms using the ingredients from this craft kit. Kids enjoyed mixing the supplied "unettes" of strawberry, banana and watermelon flavourings to the balms (melted with hot water to blend), and creating fruity tasting lip smackers. Children got most creative when they invented their own names for the balms and made labels for the jars. The instructions were thorough and included some information on basic scientific principles. NOTE: Adult assistance required for some steps.

***BEST BET 1999***

Good clean fun! This craft really gelled with our testers, who were thrilled to create their own bath gel. This kit contained enough basic gel to fill three small bottles. Children then added colour (red, blue and/or yellow dye) and scent (peach, strawberry, and/or vanilla). Kids found the instructions easy to follow and enjoyed making labels as well. Our testers produced "Heather's Heavenly Vanilla", "Jolly Gel" and "Ross' Hubble Bubbles" among other notable varieties. NOTE: Adult supervision required when mixing dyes.

***BEST BET 1999***

While our testers were really only colouring and adding scent to existing body lotion, this craft kit provided a fun and satisfying creative experience. Powdered food colouring and sachets of scent were added to the colourless, odourless lotion, using mixes of vanilla, strawberry and peach scents, as well as red, blue and yellow dies. Kids loved filling three bottles with their own concoctions and giving them such names as "Viscous Vanilla Vanity" and "Peach Passion". NOTE: Strong scents may provoke asthmatic reactions. Parental supervision recommended.

***BEST BET 1999***

Spy Fox is a sly fox, and our testers willingly accepted their missions to help this super-smooth secret agent find the whereabouts of the dastardly villain William the Kid. The spy theme of this CD-ROM was a huge hit. The images were sharp and fun, and on-screen "talk balloons" helped players. The game stayed fresh due to the fact that clues would change, resulting in a different ending to each game. Younger kids unable to completely solve a mystery could save that particular game and go back to it. Older kids thrived on the challenge. Exceptional potential for long-term play value. Playable on both Windows and Macintosh systems.

***BEST BET 1999***

Azeroth, the continent of man, lies under the dominion of the fearsome Orcish Horde. The armies of Azeroth need your skill and strategic ability to progressively retake their homeland and drive out the usurpers. Are you the mighty general they need, or are you an also-ran in this war of dominion? Work your way through 14 levels of increasing the difficulty until you finally accomplish the destruction of the Dark Portal itself - or see your own ignominious defeat. This game allows play against the computer, or against other players via modem or network connection. HINT: Many cheat codes are available to speed up game play by increasing production of supplies or by decreasing damage in battle, but the game is more satisfying to dedicated gamers when no cheats are used. Be aware that cheats, once enabled, remain in effect until the game is stopped and restarted, even if a new player starts a new level. If unsure whether a cheat is in effect, it is safest to restart the game.