Kid Culture features fun and educational books and toys for children.

‘Apple Park Picnic Pals’

By Apple Park, $48

Appropriate for ages 6 months and older

Toy Tips: A

Fun: A

Movement: A

Thinking: A

Personality: B+

Social Interaction: B+

“Apple Park Picnic Pals” consist of five plush, baby animals — Bunny, Cubby, Ducky, Monkey and Lambie — who live and play in Apple Park, a make-believe park in San Francisco. Each Picnic Pal holds a heart-shaped, apple-seed rattle.

The Picnic Pals are packaged in a bright-red, apple-shaped box, complete with a silk leaf and grosgrain ribbon handle.

(All packaging is made with state-of-the art, ecologically supported material, 100 percent organic cotton, natural silk, nontoxic plastics and sustainably grown corn fiber, soy and hemp are used to create the hypoallergenic products.)

Each huggable character is approximately 9 inches tall and appears engaged and inquisitive with big, friendly eyes and will sit in any position without tumbling.

Handling each character encourages fine-motor movement, hand-eye coordination and imaginative play. We suggest washing them with a natural cleaning solution.

Tip: The company makes a claim that Apple Park’s own facility is the first and only certified organic soft-toy factory in southern China.

Battle Strikers

By MEGA Brands Inc., $34.99

Appropriate for ages 6 and older

Toy Tips: B+

Fun: B

Movement: B+

Thinking: B+

Personality: C

Social Interaction: B

Battle Strikers is the next generation of battling tops.

The Battle Strikers are revved up through the Turbo Launcher and then released to battle on any surface. The innovative magnetic finger controller features MagNext technology to drive the striker to knock opponents out of the game using the force of magnetism. (Keep away from any child who still puts toys in his or her mouth.)

Gameplay promotes visual stimulation, hand-eye coordination and strategic thinking. The set includes two exclusive strikers, two turbo launchers, two controllers and an arena for battles.