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THERE’S something about
buying gifts for children that
puts me into the spirit of the
Christmas season. . |

This is probably due to the
fact that my own: son, at 13
months, is too young to pay
heed to the barrage of sales
Pitches blasting from the
television.

Po |
business
briefcase

_ But I have three nephews
and a niece and buying for
them at Christmas is a treat.
Honestly. .
At 12, nine, seven and two
months, I have a variety of
ages to buy for. And after a
few forays into the toy stores
this weekend, I realized I

have a variety of items to

choose from.

1 took the liberty of call-
‘ing a number of North Shore
toy stores and asked just one
question: What’s the most
‘popular toy this Christmas?

. Although Transformers
were a predictable answer
from a couple of outlets, it
was encouraging to hear that
more traditional toys (teddy
bears, dolls, games and puz-
zles) remain popular,

Surprisingly, not one store

listed Cabbage Patch Kids as
a most popular item.

‘Papa Bear’ from Bears -

Toy Store jin West Van-
couver didn’t even hesitate
before saying Teddy Bears
are the big item at his store
this year. Gund bears are the
name favorite, priced from
$10 to $150. A close second
at Bears is construction sets.
Papa recommends construc-
‘tion sets for all ages of
children starting at a year
and half. ‘‘People like more
creative toys, toys that a kid
-can grow with.’’ Another
popular toy is the wooden
train set and games continue
‘ to be a big seller as well.

Pat GaHaher at B.C. Play-
things in North Vancouver
says the big sellers this year
‘are Brio wooden trains and
block crayons. The trains
appeal 10 98 per cent of kids
says Gallaher. ‘‘We sell an
inordinate amount of them.
The sales are just crazy.”
The trains appeal from ages
“two ta question mark,’
Gallaher says.

The block crayons are
popular for a variety of
reasons including quality
and texture to lack of paper

on the crayons. The crayons
are about three to four times
more expensive that stan-
dard crayons but are sold
separately.

Donna Skalmerud at Hans
Christian Toy Store in North
Vancouver lists
Transformers for boys and
Princes of Power and Get in
Shape sets for girls as the big
sellers this year. The well
publicized toys are the ones
that are selling, says Donna.

Creative Kid Stuff is new
at Lynn Valley Centre and
assistant manager Dee
Calver says art supplies,
puzzles, science outfits and
dolis are popular with
buyers. Transformers and
the My Little Pony toy are
also big items on Santa’s list.

Wrinkles, the stuffed dog
that made the cover of
Macleans magazine, was
cited by “Bessie Watt at
Windmill Toys in Park
Royal as a heavy-in-demand
item. ‘Following Wrinkles,
Watt listed Robotics, and
similar toys, and the Fisher
Price tape recorders and
radios as hot items.

Toys and Wheels staff
also found Wrinkles to be a
popular item. Also popular
were Transformers, Masters
of the Universe toys, the
Scotland Yard game, My
Little Pony.

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Stock up for
the holidays

JOIN US FOR
CHRISTMAS DINNER -_

We're serving turkey dinner with all the trinmings
on December 25, all for just $9.50.

And for New year’s Eve, reservations are still
available for our big party in the Cavalier!

Call 682-5566 for information and reservations.

Holiday greetings from the staff and management
of the Hotel Georgia.

NE