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A few new toys for 2003

By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator

Dallas, TX – Who doesn't remember their favorite toy? Unless of course it's the new Z you're driving, and lucky you. Well, toys are changing and here's a look at what we can expect. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.

The 100th Annual American International Toy Fair closed yesterday in New York City. The industry is hoping this year will be better than 2002. Last week, the Toy Industry Association reported a 1% decline in sales for last year. But it wasn't just the economy that hurt the $20 billion industry. The work stoppage on the West Coast ports last fall made sure that no shipments could enter, and products for export were left sitting on the docks. Add the cost of delivery by air, and you get a loss for the year. On to the new toys

Futuristic technology is now merging with traditional toys. Mattel's Barbie is leaving her swimsuit at home and taking the plunge into interactive TV. B-Anything (Capital B dash Anything) Inspiration Station can be plugged into a computer monitor and used as a learning lab, a video drawing terminal, or a karaoke machine. According to Wired News, "an on-screen Barbie character leads children through basic spelling or math skills, reading comprehension and simple sing-alongs." Who said Barbie was just another pretty face?

The scariest is probably "GoGo My So Real Walking Pup." It's a robotic small white terrier pup that "awakens," making all kinds of cute puppy moves, when it hears its name. And then it starts moving towards the caller. Pet the pup's fur and its tail wags, making happy puppy sounds. I guess for the allergic kid, its perfect.

Maybe Emeril is your child's favorite TV personality. You might want to purchase one of the following: Harry Potter Polyjuice Potion maker, McDonald's McFlurry Maker, Mattel's Pumpkin Juice Maker (that's a Harry Potter thing), or Hasbro's Easy Bake Real Meal Oven. It's light bulb-free, and your kid can make macaroni and cheese in it. Now you know what's for dinner. For KERA Marketplace Midday, I'm Maxine Shapiro.

Marketplace Midday Reports air on KERA 90.1 Monday - Friday at 1:04 p.m. To contact Maxine Shapiro, please send emails to mshapiro@kera.org.