The Best Toys of 2006 – School-aged

Butterscotch

Manufacturer: Hasbro
Ages: 4 and up
Suggested Retail Price: $300

What it is
Most little girls long for a real pony at some point during their childhood. Now, their dreams can become almost reality with Hasbro's Butterscotch, the life-sized miniature pony. The horse is about the size of a real Shetland pony and has realistic face and features.

Butterscotch is the latest addition to Hasbro's popular FurReal Friends brand, which creates incredibly realistic and life-like animatronic animals. Butterscotch features advanced electronics, puppetry and design, which really bring her to life. Kids up to about 100 lbs. can sit on Butterscotch and pretend they're riding.

Why it's fun
Butterscotch will amaze kids and adults with her level of "awareness" and realism. She can move her head up and down, and back and forth, and her eyes open and close. Sensors enable Butterscotch to respond and interact with the child. For example, when her mane is brushed, she will make contented whinnies and when her ears are tickled, she will turn her head and try to find you. When she gets hungry, she'll happily "eat" her very own carrot and, when she's had enough, she'll shake her head to let you know she's full.

This is as close to owning a real pony as it gets and kids love the fact that unlike a real pony, Butterscotch is allowed in the house.

Who's going to love it
Butterscotch will solidify mom and dad's status as heroes when they are finally able to say yes to their child's pleadings for the quintessential real live playmate. Just because a pony seems to be a girl-favorite, doesn't mean that boys won't also think this one is pretty cool, especially when playing cowboys.

What to be aware of
Some assembly is required. In fact, the horse ships without its head, so for the lucky kids who get this, it's probably a good idea to take it out of the box and assemble it before presenting it to the child.

The price point might be considered high, but the level of realism and the features as well as the relationship that kids will inevitably create with Butterscotch mean that this will very likely be a beloved toy, and its long-term play value is indisputable.