The Inside Line on the Hottest Holiday Toys

"When you press Chicken Dance Elmo's foot, Elmo moves his head. This is almost certainly going to be a winner, because it's just a continuation of that whole Elmo phenomenon that's been so big for kids three and under," said Seth Siegel, chairman and co-founder of the Beanstalk Group, a licensing agency.

Other Good Picks: Silly Sounds Teletubbies, Cabbage Patch Kids, Care Bears, Disney Toddler Princesses Playmates.

Close, but No Cigar: Tickle Me Elmo. This is the original Elmo that started the whole craze, but after six years, it's also the easiest to find. Retailers will certainly push Elmo, but make sure you grab the doll in the yellow chicken suit -- Siegel calls the older version "old news."

The In Thing for Cool Girls: Bratz Funky Fashion Makeover

Bratz make Barbie look like an old maid, winning the 2001 People's Choice Toy of the Year award. Over the last two years, these fashion-forward dolls have become the hard-to-find it-toy, featuring styles and trends cribbed from the latest pop stars. There are seven dolls in the series -- five girls and two boys -- but because MGA Entertainment releases them in limited-edition bunches, collecting them all will be difficult.

This holiday season, the hottest Bratz will be the Funky Fashion Makeover dolls, which are 12 inches tall and come with a wide assortment of cosmetics, glitter and hair stuff that kids can use on either the dolls or themselves. With a list price of $30, the dolls may be a bit on the pricey side, but they're at the top of the wish list, finishing second in the Yahooligans! Top 10 toys poll.

Other Good Picks: Bratz Funk 'N' Glow dolls, Fur Real Friends, Dora the Explorer, Password Journal, Singing Starz Video Karaoke.

Close, But No Cigar: Beanie Babies. Hard to believe, but just three years ago, adults were fighting their own kids for possession of these cute buckshot-stuffed animals. Today, Beanie Babies aren't even good for stocking stuffers, having gone the way of Dinky the Dodo.