Kushies Play Garden — $60

No toy that crossed our desks this year got more action than this silly, charming, fantastically designed play garden. The magnetic pieces — flowers, bug-eyed insects, a plant and a watering can — are loaded with sounds, colors and textures that fascinate babies. They also stack on top of one another, and stick to the "dirt" in the window box (which doubles as a zip-up storage case for taking the whole show on the road). Adults can't put it down, to say nothing of two-year-olds.

Ages 2 and up.

Get it at Amazon.

Brian Froud Goblins — $45

Like a more advanced version of Uglydolls, these plush goblins are a perfect combination of cuddly, adorable and grotesque. Any kid who's seen The Labyrinth will recognize Brian Froud's mischievous creations, brought to life this December by FAO Schwartz. If you don't want Bimble, Squeeb or Pickle lying around the house, indulge your kid's imagination with a copy of the Goblins book.

Ages 4 and up.

Get it at FAO Schwartz.

The Animal Den by Haba — $16

German toy company Haba has a consistent record of safety, as they manufacture their toys themselves under the strict guidelines of the European directive. So you can breathe a sigh of relief as your baby grabs one animal then another in this attention-sustaining plush toy. Two of the animals in the den are fixed with the standard "'squeaker" and "paper rustle," sounds that little ones find delightful.

Ages 6 months and up.

Get it at Amazon.

MoMA Store Doll House — $165

Never get stuck at the back of the house again with MoMA's wooden doll house with furniture that can be observed and played with from all angles, including the skylight roofing. The doll house has three levels that can be manipulated, and the staircases are movable , allowing you to create your own dream home. But the details don't stop there: the furniture is functional, as the armoires open up to hold all the tiny sweaters you can knit. Family sold separately.

Ages 3 and up.

Get it at MoMA.

Sushi Wooden Playset by Melissa & Doug — $19.95

There's plenty of toy sushi on the market for your little Japanophile, but only Melissa & Doug's bento box allows your child to play sushi chef, slicing the velcro-joined maki rolls with a toy cleaver. This clever set also features wooden sashimi, wasabi, ginger, a dish of "soy sauce," chopsticks and a menu. All Melissa & Doug toys pass through multiple stages of testing to assure that they are lead-paint free.

Ages 3 and up.

Get it at Oliebollen.

DUPLO Bulk Set by Lego — $41

One evening while one of us was cooking dinner, our fifteen-month-old son opened the kitchen cabinet door and pulled out all the jars and cans. By the time we looked down a minute later, he'd stacked them six high. No one showed him how. It was just like a developmental switch had been flipped: suddenly, he needed to stack. To save our sugar jar and can integrity, we invested in Duplo blocks, the simple green boxes of which can be oddly expensive ($62 for this one, for example). The simple mass of bricks we've selected is $41, which pay off in hours of enjoyment and in not-dented groceries. Despite their shiny plasticity, Lego blocks are blessedly lead-free: they're made by a Danish company out of a specially developed plastic that's continually tested to meet safety standards.

Ages 18 months to 5 years.

Get it at Amazon.

Arctic Expedition Playset by ImagiPLAY, from Modern Tots — $30

Instead of watching Happy Feet or March of the Penguins for the hundredth time, spark your child's interest in the opposite pole with this ImagiPLAY Arctic Expedition playset. The bundled-up family can ride atop the walrus, polar bears and seal, or be pulled along in a wooden sled by the sled dog.  Or they can hide in the included cotton igloo, which velcros closed for handy storage. The heirloom-quality wooden pieces are carved into simple curved shapes, perfect for small hands.  (They're also made from sustainable rubber trees by Sri Lankan workers who are paid a fair wage, with a portion of the profits going to tsunami relief.)

Ages 4 and up.

Get it at Modern Tots.