The ultimate toy guide 2015: WOW toys for all ages

A beautiful wooden crane is the perfect toy for budding construction workers. Set includes a working pulley, a road sign, pylons, blockades and three bricks. $60, hapetoys.com

Shape sorting gets a deep-sea makeover with this cute turtle that helps little ones learn their colours. They’ll also practise their crawling skills when they follow their new pal as he toddles around to cheery songs. Little Tikes, $20, toysrus.ca

An enchanting addition to the FurReal Friends line, pretty StarLily has 100-plus sounds and motions, including opening and closing her eyes, making eating noises and fluttering her wings. She’ll also let you know how she’s feeling with her colour-changing horn. $150, hasbro.com

Your kid is sure to find a new BFF in the latest fully loaded Elmo, whose resumé includes more than 150 responses and activities like freeze dance and pat-a-cake. Playskool, $80, hasbro.com

This fuzzy forest friend is great for at home or on the go. Babies will love the bright colours, crinkly sounds and attached teething ring. Skip Hop, $19, well.ca

Sweet Stella is ready for bed. She’s got her cozy PJs on and a little lamb to snuggle, and her soft lavender scent is released when you hug her close, sending little ones into sweet dreams of their own. Manhattan Toy, $45, indigo.ca

Chock full of things to explore, little ones can flip book pages to hear a nursery rhyme, dial the phone, press buttons and spin wheels. Removable legs make it a great toy that grows with your kid. $45, vtechkids.ca

The Force is strong with this lightsaber that comes with lights and sounds and can be transformed into 100-plus combinations for added protection against the Dark Side. $60, hasbro.com

Hexbug Nanos now have their own strategic 3D board game, which challenges kiddos to set up traps to catch their creepy-crawly friends. Ravensburger, $35, mastermindtoys.com

Pop Star Livi is on the road, and she has everything she needs for an awesome tour with her wicked bus. She can sprawl out and read fan mail, sing karaoke with her pals Mia and Stephanie, DJ a party or just relax in the hot tub. $70, shop.lego.com

This battery-operated little yellow submarine navigates below the surface of the tub and draws water up through a spray nozzle. Pour water over it and watch the wheel spin, propeller rotate and sprinkler activate. Yookidoo, $35, mastermindtoys.com

Playmobil figures will love movin’ on up to this luxurious pad. The working doorbell lets them know when guests have arrived, and the coffee maker will perk you up for a day of fun. Squirrel away valuables in the safe behind the painting. The set includes two figures, trees, kitchen and dining room accessories, a laptop and jewellery. Living room furniture sold separately. $130, playmobil.ca

Calling all pastry chefs! Scoop and roll out dough, place it in a cupcake mould and top your creations with colourful frosting. Don’t forget to embellish them with sprinkles before they go for a ride on the Ferris wheel. $27, hasbro.com

Futuristic BeatBo has all the cool moves. With three modes that grow with your baby, this rockin’ bot teaches colours, letters and counting in a fun way. $50, fisher-price.com

Spruce up your windows with these fun clings. Kids can mix the colours they want into the included moulds, and in minutes they’ll have flexible formations that will adhere to most smooth surfaces. Crayola, $26, toysrus.ca

Features 36 parking spaces and a helicopter, but be careful when zooming cars down the spiral ramp—there’s a hungry shark at the bottom! Mattel, $150, toysrus.ca

Explore the depths of the ocean with this 717-piece set that features seven minifigs, a collapsible shipwreck, sharks and even sunken treasure. $150, shop.lego.com

The three-wheeled scooter comes in five new metallic colours and teaches young riders to drive with an intuitive “lean-to-steer” mechanism. $180, kickboard.ca

Five hundred and eighty itty-bitty pieces take patience to build with, but are awesome for developing problem-solving and fine motor skills. The completed model with a working drawbridge is small enough to showcase on a shelf or dresser. Kawada, $23, amazon.ca

Encased in an impact-resistant roll cage, this little remote-controlled helicopter can fit into small spaces (and won’t chip paint or bash walls). A bright light illuminates nighttime flights. Borgfeldt, $60, mastermindtoys.com

Bring on the angry. Use the remote control to get Hulk moving around—he’ll smash with his fists, flip against walls, spin and pop wheelies. With 10 classic Hulk phrases and sounds, fans will have a roaring good time. Arbor Toys, $100, toysrus.ca

Channel Katniss Everdeen with this state-of-the-art bow, which features a rotating quiver that quickly loads the next arrow with the touch of a button. Its shooting range is up to 90 feet! $50, hasbro.com

Perfectly stretchy and mesmerizing for your babe to grasp, this colourful lovey features spinning rattles, a mirror and a special teething corner so sore gums can get a workout. Manhattan Toy, $18, mastermindtoys.com

With his swinging tail, projectile claws and sharp chompers, towering T-Rex is big (two and a half feet tall!) and scary enough to ward off any enemies. Fisher-Price, $125, fisher-price.com

This 140-piece kit aims to help budding builders create all sorts of flying apparatuses for Ava and her bird Jay. K’Nex, $20, toysrus.ca

Zippy Zoomer Kitty is the purr-fect robotic pet. She’ll meow and play with her ball, pounce, dance and do secret tricks. Nuzzle her close to hear her purr—her eyes will change colour when she’s happy, too. Spin Master, $130, indigo.ca