Nintendo DSi
If you have the budget and your kid is doing great in school, then by all means get the new DSi. The new DSi unit retails at Php11,500 but the package, which includes 4 games and accessories, will cost you Php14,000. You may otherwise settle for the older version since it’s a lot cheaper at Php 9,000-9,500 (all in). The only feature that differentiates the new from the old version is the two interactive digital cameras that can be both incorporated into gameplay and used as a standalone camera feature. It also includes connectivity with an online store (Nintendo DSi Shop) for game downloads as well as internal and external storage of content. A new larger model with bigger screens, called the Nintendo DSi XL was released in Japan on Nov. 21 and will not be available until first quater of 2010. Toys R Us offers 6 months zero interest payment terms.

Love and Berry album
So popular with tweens these days is Love & Berry, a coin operated,card dispensing game at Timezone branches. Built around the concept of playing dress up as well as having dance competitions with your best friend, this newest videogame for kids, also a game downloadable for DSi, is fun. With each game play, a fashion magic card is dispensed by the machine. These collectible cards at then used again ang again, inserted into a slot so Love & Berry, the two fashion divas, can change outfits to match the dance atmosphere. Players must hit the buttons in synch to the rhythm of the tambourine beat to make their character dance the best.
Gather enough fashion cards and keep them in good condition in the special Love & Berry album available at Powerbooks and Comic Alley.

Geronimo Stilton series
It’s a recent addition to the many bookfairs held in schools. Originally writtten in Italian in 2000, Geronimo Stilton became one of the best-selling children’s books worldwide when it was translated to English in 2004. The books are intended for readers in the 9-12 year old age range.
In the series, the title character is a talking mouse who lives in New Mouse City on Mouse Island. A best-selling author, Geronimo Stilton works as a journalist for the fictional newspaper The Rodent’s Gazette.He has a younger sister named Thea Stilton, a cousin named Trap Stilton, and a favorite little nephew, nine-year-old Benjamin Stilton. Geronimo is a nervous, mild-mannered mouse who would like nothing better than to live a quiet life, but he keeps getting involved in far-away adventures with Thea, Trap, and Benjamin. The books are written as though they are autobiographical adventure stories.

Transformers Revenge of the Fallen series
Watch the movie, get the toy. Such marketing ploy has worked so well with the kids. Smaller versions of the Transformer toys retail for Php400 but the largest, which stands at 12 inches, is the Optimus Prime Power-Up model at Php3,000, Toys R Us.