For this year's test, Consumer Reports rounded up lots of toys, including some that have every indication of being among the season's hottest. Then the real toy experts--30 kids, ages 5 to 13--tackled the assignment during a day of play, and told us which toys were their most favorite and least favorite, and why. The 21 tested toys are listed in order of preference.

What we found: The kids liked both high-tech and low-tech toys.

Winners: Lazer Tag Team Ops by Hasbro, New Super Mario Bros for Nintendo DS and DS Lite game systems, and Moon Sand Castle Set by Spin Master got the greatest amount of most-favorite votes.

Mixed results: Crayola Color Wonder Sprayer had a number of least-favorite and most-favorite votes.

No thanks: Most kids just didn't like these toys--Cranium Giggle Gear: Mega Mask Kit, Lego SpongeBob and Plankton's Adventure, Lego Mindstorms NXT, and HyperScan Game System with X-Men by Mattel.

Keep in mind that some of the toys listed as favorites may not be a hit with your child if they don't match his or her age and interests.

Safety concerns: Buy toys within the appropriate age range for your child. Those recommendations are primarily for safety reasons due to small parts or electronics. Be careful if you are buying a toy for an older child but have a younger child in the house: Children under 3 years of age could be exposed to small parts, which pose a choking hazard. Also make sure you discard all packing materials and plastic bags when first opening a toy, as they pose an asphyxiation hazard.

None of the tested toys posed an inherent danger within the age recommendations. However, one radio-controlled airplane with high-speed propellers could injure a finger.