Nostalgia loomed large at the annual bazaar, where store buyers sought the next Tickle Me Elmo from stacks of new toys due out in the months ahead. Another motorized building kit, made by K'nex, now features solar-powered ferris wheels and viking ships. Primordial's Zoob line adds a twist with balls and sockets based on genetic strands.
Flexible parts lock together to make jointed dinosaurs or frogs.
Other toy makers are going for straight nostalgia. Small World Toys boasts a wooden dollhouse with stackable modular rooms to let kids rearrange the layout. The triumph of playtime staples should surprise no one. Parents want toys kids will play with for more than a few minutes. Smash these roaches and they spew gooey gel.