Independent Toy Retailers Announce the BEST TOYS FOR KIDS LIST

CHICAGO, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Specialty Toy Retailing
Association (ASTRA) announced today the 2009 BEST TOYS FOR KIDS LIST.

"We are thrilled that so many retailers across the country will be
participating in the launch of this highly anticipated list," says Kathleen
McHugh, President of ASTRA, the largest trade association of independent toy
retailers and children's products.

The ASTRA list is created by a community of people who care deeply about
quality toys. Most of the toys are made by small manufacturers and are only
available at independent toy stores. The award-winning list will be available
in participating stores and Online, with the toys clearly identified by an
ASTRA winner's seal.

"ASTRA's top picks are made by local toy store owners across the country who
understand how kids play. They've spent hours talking with parents and
encouraging kids to explore the selection in their stores," says McHugh. "The
2009 Best Toys for Kids list features toys that deliver exceptional value and
expand a child's imagination, toys that invite discovery and exploration, toys
that get kids moving, toys that build creativity, toys that fascinate babies,
and even toys that delight hard-to-shop-for pre-teens."

The Best Toys for Kids list is designed to guide gift-givers in choosing the
most unique, engaging, open-ended, fun and safe toys they may not otherwise
spot in a sea of one-size-fits-all gizmos and fads. Shoppers are urged to
consider products that are about what the child can do with the toy, rather
than what the toy does.

"Quality play facilitates learning and growth--helping kids practice social
skills, build logic and spatial skills, create new understandings, and explore
imaginative thinking," says McHugh. "We look for toys that motivate kids to
unplug and get moving, build and design, investigate and discover, toys that
fuel fantasy and creativity, that let kids make up the play themselves. Those
are the toys kids will play with over and over again. We believe that parents
on a quest for toy value this holiday season want to choose quality over
novelty, selecting classic and innovative toys that stretch their gift budget,
provide endless opportunities for creative fun, and last for years, even
generations, of playtime."

Shoppers can easily find a specialty toy store near them by visiting
www.astrabesttoysforkids.com.

Toys selected for the 2009 Best Toys for Kids list are:

INFANT PLAY
Natural Skwish by Manhattan Toy
Sophie Giraffe by Calisson Inc.

TODDLER PLAY
Wee WEDGiTS 30 piece set by Imagability
Twilight Ladybug by Cloud B

PRETEND - ROLE PLAY
Tea Set by Green Toy
Shopping Cart by Melissa & Doug

PRETEND - FANTASY
Egyptian Pyramid by Playmobil
Dragon/Knight Reversible Cape & Hood by Creative Education of Canada

CONSTRUCTIVE PLAY
Automoblox by Manhattan Toy
Magformers multicolored 30 pc. building by Rainbow Products

CREATIVE PLAY
Sticky Mosaics Twinkle Tiaras by Orb Factory
Create Your Own Pop-up Books by Creativity for Kids

SCIENTIFIC PLAY
Snap Circuits Green by Elenco
Power House Green by Thames & Kosmos

ACTIVE PLAY
Original Djubi by Moonracer/djubi
EzyRoller by EzyRoller Ltd.

GAMES
Games - 3-7 yrs: Chicky Boom by Blue Orange
Games - 8 yrs+: Bananagrams by Bananagrams, LLC

JUST FOR FUN
Collectible Erasers by BC Office

CLASSIC PLAY
Classic Play - Young: Magnatiles by Valtech! Co.
Classic Play - Older: Doinkit Darts by Marky Sparky

SOURCE American Specialty Toy Retailing Association

Liza Grando for The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA),
+1-954-249-5730, Liza@mosstucker.com