For the Holidays.

FUN & LEARNING FOR KIDS VIA VTECH & LEAPFROG

Construct thrilling stunts and exciting challenges--and watch marbles go (or a spin--with the Marble Rush Corkscrew Rush Set from VTech. This 112-piece color-coded building set includes a corkscrew tumbler (that plays a musical light show), see-saw track, dizzying vortex, thrilling ramps, and bases that all connect together in a snap. The easy-to-follow leveled guide includes three different builds from beginner to advanced--or create your own courses to explore STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) skills.

When construction is complete, dump the 10 marbles out of the barrel and into action. Watch them race down ramps to the corkscrew tumbler, vortex, and elevator. Compete with family and friends to keep the marbles in motion and bring them back to the beginning. Combine with other Marble Rush sets to create an extreme playset. Available at Walmart, Amazon, and Target.

Get ready for an immersive audio experience with LeapPods Max from LeapFrog. Beyond listening to music, hours of included activities take kids on audio adventures, get the mind and body moving with active challenges, introduce mindfulness activities, and more. LeapPods Max is a great break from screen time and activates a different way of learning. Play right away with no web connection, downloads, or account setup required.

Expand your imagination and spark curiosity with the included 14-page Adventure Passport guidebook that accompanies the audio adventures and pairs engaging soundscapes and animals sounds with detailed illustrations--but the play doesn't stop there. Connect to your own devices using Bluetooth wireless technology or utilize the included headphone cable to listen to your favorite music, podcasts, and more.

The over-ear design is comfortable and provides sound isolation at safe volume levels for kids. Easily explore the activities and music with simple controls that let you play, pause, and switch modes without removing the headphones. Enjoy screen-free fun for years to come with these all-in-one interactive headphones. Available at Walmart, Amazon, and Target.

SPIN MASTER JUST KEEPS ON TRUCKIN'

PAW Patrol Rubble Transforming X-Treme Truck and Monster Jam Garage Playset, both from Spin Master, are sure to drive home lots of vehicular fun for kids this holiday season.

The PAW Patrol toy truck features epic transformations--just like in the show. Disengage the trailer to be in two places at once, for twice the rescue action--or disengage the trailer and transform into command center mode, to reveal the excavator and retractable crane, among other construction items. Then lift up the truck roof to put Rubble in the driver's seat and press down on the nearby PAW Patrol badge to activate the lights, sounds, and music from the show--and don't forget to check out the sticker sheet to give the truck enhanced graphics.

For some "Monster"-ous fun, meanwhile, the Garage lets you play with and display up to 20 Monster Jam trucks and features lights and sounds to bring the live action home. Practice your tricks and stunts with attached jumps and use the five-level kid-powered ratcheting elevator to lift your Monster Jam trucks to new spots.

SPEED DEMONS START YOUR ENGINES

Do you love racing? Do you enjoy cool jumps and super-fast speeds?--then the Carrera Revell Slot Car Racing Track Set with Jump Ramp is made for you. These tracks are 14.1 feet long (that can be expanded to 32.8 feet) and reach scale speeds up to 370 mph thanks to Carrera battery technology that provides the same speed and power as electric sets. The track features a two-piece removable jump ramp. Each set contains two cars and there are five sets: the original race car and police car, Lighting McQueen and Jackson Storm, Mario and Luigi, 2 Minions, and Chase and Marshall from PAW Patrol. The tracks also are compatible with any other Carrera cars.

WOW! TALK ABOUT RETRO: BEND-EMS ARE BACK

Bend-Ems--the hugely successful and bendable '90s heritage action figure line--are back. For the die-hard collector and new fans, Series 1 features top licenses and characters to collect, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, and SpongeBob SquarePants, with more to come. The authentic new Bend-Ems figures will include classic features such as the six-inch scale, the signature engraved brand name on the back, and will be packaged in a blister card, a nod to the nostalgia of the '90s packaging.

From its original debut in 1987 with the Alfred E. Neuman license, to its heyday between 1989-2001, the classic retro Bend-Ems toy line from JusToys featured more than 400 characters, with licenses from Disney, Turner, Warner, Hanna-Barbera, Star Wars, and WWF.

Bend-Ems are malleable figures with bendable arms and legs. The soft rubberlike exterior and wire interior provide bendability, making them ultra-poseable. The durable design allows kids, millennial fans, and collectors alike to pose and maneuver Bend-Ems over and over again. Available at Five Below and on Amazon.

QUIK, YOU GOTTA MAKE YOUR PIK

Speed and vocabulary skills very much are in play in Pik Qwik, the new lightning fast word game that taps into players' inner dictionary at a rapid pace. Set against the buzzer, Pik Qwik tests vocabulary skills like never before. Two to four players can get in on the action, first by flipping over a category card and then quickly being the first to make a word from the letter tile pile in the middle. The first to create a word and hit the buzzer scores. The perfect word game in the Wordle era has four categories: Same Name, Mix Up, On Topic, and Rhyme Around. Pik Qwik comes with 144 letter titles, 96 category cards, and one buzzer. Packaged in a locking container with two compartments for easy storage. Available on Amazon.

WHEN IT'S TIME TO SCOOT, GO GLOBBER

With toddler, kids, teen, and adult versions available, Globber transforms the conventional scooter into something extraordinarily reliable, sleek, and innovative--and, of course, functional. The Ultimum Scooter, for instance, is the first-ever three-wheeler with a patented adjustable steering angle control system, allowing the rider to modify the turning radius of the front wheels to suit that individual's "driving" style. The Ultimum features an ultra wide deck, allowing kids to easily place both their feet therewith added anti-slip grips for extra safety. The scooter deck can support up to 220 lbs., so adults are welcome. Additionally, it has a curved, v-shaped six-height adjustable T-bar for kids entering the teen years, and big wheels for faster and safer rides. By pushing the side button, this scooter folds up and can be carried away using trolley mode.

MEGAMAT SPREADS OUT THE BIG-TIME FUN

CoComelon Jumbo Megamat emphasizes fun in a BIG way. Over 17.5 square feet of soft, nonslip, hypoallergenic EVA foam creates the ultimate space for your little one to play. It's lightweight, easily wipes clean, and stands up to household cleaners with no color fading-and is water resistant, so it's always ready for the next adventure. The Megamat comes with two character toys and measures 47"x 61". Available on Amazon.

GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS STILL INCREDIBLE

What's the fastest game bird in Europe? This was the question that inspired the founding of Guinness World Records back in 1955. Starting with a single book published from a room above a gym, GWR has grown to become a global multi-media brand, with offices in London, New York, Miami, Beijing, Tokyo, and Dubai--delivering fascinating content, and not just through books, but via TV shows, social media, and live events. The ultimate purpose is to inspire people--individuals, families, schools, groups, companies, communities, and even entire countries--to read about, watch, listen to, and participate in record-breaking.

The 2023 edition includes chapters about:

Space--Discover tech innovators and pioneering space tourists to the latest planetary landers and the new James Webb Space Telescope--the largest of its kind.

Life on Earth--Mega Mammals, Bizarre Beasts, Animal Heroes, and more.

Human Body--Tallest, shortest, hairiest, largest gape.

Extraordinary Exploits--Jugglers, rock climbers...