Toy experts expect kids to sing-along this holiday

By Justin Grant

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Toy experts are expecting children to be singing along with their gifts this holiday with an "American Idol" karaoke system and singing Hannah Montana doll featuring on a list of the season's 12 must-have toys.

Toy Wishes Magazine's "Hot Dozen" toy list, which highlights items expected to be the most popular for the holiday shopping season, said the list this year had a high-tech feel -- but also a noisy one.

As well as the karaoke system and replica of Disney's tween singing sensation, the list featured the video game "Guitar Hero 3" where players can become their favorite singer.

"Today's kids have cell phones, computers and iPods at earlier ages and it often takes more to entertain them ," said Jim Silver, the editor of Toy Wishes Magazine which unveiled its list at a preseason show in New York this week.

"The hot toys run the gamut from advanced Internet-powered toys to some of the most basic."

The holidays are the crucial time of year for toy makers and sellers with nearly 50 percent of all toy sales rung up in the fourth quarter alone, according to market research firm NPD Group.

But unlike last year's "Hot Dozen" list which featured Hasbro's $299.99 Butterscotch Pony and Lego's $249.99 Mindstorms NXT robotics toolset, 2007's list doesn't boast a single item listing for more than $100.

The priciest toys to make the cut were the Smart Cycle by Mattel Inc's Fisher Price, Hasbro's Ultimate Bumblebee and Guitar Hero 3, which all sell for $99.99.