12 Hottest Toys for the Holiday Season

In early October, the trade magazine, Toy Wishes, named its "Hot Dozen" toys for the 2007 holiday season.

Some experts are predicting that a combination of high demand, earlier holiday shopping, and recent toy recalls may cause a shortage of the most wanted kids' toys before the usual shopping frenzy in early December.

Check out the list of toys predicted to be most popular, this holiday season. [Note: Due to the November 7th recall of Aqua Dots, one of the toys on the original list, we have substituted the extremely popular T.M.X. Tickle Me Elmo, below.] If any of these toys are on your kids' wish lists and your holiday gift list, you may want to consider shopping sooner rather than later:

American Idol Talent Challenge

"This Talent Challenge features a working microphone and mixer, plus a DVD with 12 songs with and without original vocals from the show, so you can practice alone or hit it solo. There's even a karaoke-style screen text mode that shows the words as you sing," according to the manufacturer. Connects to your TV and DVD player. ($49.99)
Learn more: American Idol Talent Challenge

T.M.X. Tickle Me Elmo

T.M.X. Tickle Me Elmo is consistently one of the top-rated toys on Amazon.com. With three tickle zones--his chin, tummy, and toe--Elmo displays a sequence of giggles and ever-increasing laughter plus movements that include falling down and slapping the floor. Sure to please any tot, the toy is rated as a winner for kids ages 18 months through 4 years. ($39.99)
Learn more: Fisher-Price T.M.X. Tickle Me Elmo

Barbie Girls

Barbie Girls is an MP3 player that also connects to the computer allowing girls to enter a virtual world of music, fashion, and several fun interactive activities on barbie.com. ($59.99)
Learn more: Barbie Girls

Eyeclops

Kid's can take any item and magnify it 200 times on any television screen. Eyeclops plugs into any TV and is easy to use. ($49.99)
Learn more: Eyeclops

Nerf-N-Strike Disk Shot

This all foam version of skeet shooting allows kids to launch foam disks at various angles using a wireless remote control. Then, using the "blaster" gun and foam darts, they shoot them out of the sky. ($49.99)
Learn more: Nerf-N-Strike Disk Shot

Guitar Hero 3 Legends of Rock

This video game comes with a guitar so kids can play along to hard-rock classics. ($99.99)
Learn more: Guitar Hero 3 Legends of Rock

Hannah Montana Singing Dolls

Learn more: Hannah Montana Singing Doll

Pop Star Stage

Learn more: Pop Star Stage

Disney's Hannah Montana doll sings and comes with cute accessories including an outfit, microphone, and poster ($19.99). The Pop Star Stage brings Hannah's performance to life and adds to the fun. ($59.99)

Rubick's Revolution

This modernized Rubik's cube has 6 games and brainteasers that everyone can play. It features multiple levels, multi-player games, lights, and sound effects. ($19.99)
Learn more: Rubick's Revolution

Smart Cycle

Kid's play, learn, and get exercise all at the same time with this an interactive cycling game and bike that connects to the TV. ($89.99)
Learn more: Smart Cycle

Swypeout Online Battle Racing

Online racing game comes with trading cards that can be scanned in through a card swiper (included) to participate in an online car racing community by building their own racing website and challenging other users. ($19.99)
Learn more: Swypeout Online Battle Racing

Spotz Maker

Girls can create their own decorations, or decorate keychains, photo frames, and other accessories using the Spotz maker. ($29.99)
Learn more: Spotz Maker

Arm Blasters

Learn more: Arm Blasters

Ultimate Bumblebee

Learn more: Ultimate Bumblebee

Both of these Tranformers start out as undercover vehicles and kids turn them into "battle robots." The "jet" converts into a foam dart-launching Arm Blaster robot. ($29.99). A more high-tech Transformer, The Ultimate Bumblebee, does not shoot, but converts from a Camaro into a robot that automatically aims as if it were shooting. It also features 17 spoken phrases, plays 9 songs, and makes car sound effects ($79.99).