Here is a fabulous hodgepodge of fun time-killers for traveling kids. Throw them in the back seat and off you go!

World Traveler: Magnetic Dress-up Dolls (Mudpuppy; $14.00) Kids 5 and up (Because of small parts, this toy is not recommended for children under 3-years-old.)

Finally, a long-desired break from Barbie!  In place of the stereotypical American blond and blue-eyed plaything that both mothers and children alike have grown tired of, Mudpuppy has created a magnetic doll that is not only multi-cultural but also educational.  This 2D friend can transport your daughter around the globe, making stopping in Mexico, India, Japan, Germany, Hawaii, and Kenya.  Mudpuppy’s magnetic dress-up doll kit comes in a cute hinged tin (for neat and easy storage), complete with 4 background scenes, 3 pages of traditional outfits, accessories, and phrase magnets (the phrase magnets replace “It’s me, Barbie!” with various international ways to say hello).  Now girls can say “Konitchiwa” to culture! by Caitlin O'Connell

Play Scene: Map of the U.S.A. (Mudpuppy; $11.00) Kids 3 and up

When I was first given this product to sample, I was very excited to try it out and test my knowledge of United States geography.  The last time I had quizzed myself on the locations of all 50 states, I had been in my 4th grade Social Studies classroom; safe to say, I was a bit rusty.  Aesthetically pleasing, Mudpuppy’s Play Scene: Map of the U.S.A. unfolds to reveal a pastel-coded map of the states, missing one thing: the states.  Your job is to match the 50 states and in some cases, accompanying lakes, to their correct color spot.  Although I had hoped that this toy would really put my memory to the test, I was disappointed to discover that the outlines of the states on the board and the sticker of the state are the same color, so it becomes more a game of matching and  learning.  Though a good tool for helping children to visually learn the location of all 50 states, I would not recommend it as a study tool.  by Caitlin O'Connell


My Travel Journal: A World of Activities (Mudpuppy; $10.00)

My only complaint about this novel pint-sized travel journal packed with 128 interactive pages for pint-sized travelers is that I did not have the opportunity to travel with something like this when I was younger!  A unique blend of a diary, trip planner, and games focused on learning about the world, all presented in an array of vibrant colors, this is the perfect gift to keep your child entertained and informed as you embark on your next family vacation.  The journal begins “Before I Go,” with a group of pages reserved for friends’ addresses (essential for postcards!), a packing list, a suggested reading list, some spaces for children to do some research on where they are traveling and the history behind where they are going.  Interspersed among the journal’s various sections are assorted puzzles perfect for entertainment on long plane or car rides.  Also, there are spaces for reflection along the way and even an address book in case your little traveler makes some friends along the way.  Plus, the journal’s flexible binding is ideal for on-the-go use.  This is definitely something that kids will not only enjoy, but keep forever as a token of their travels.  by Caitlin O'Connell

52 Fun Things to Do in the Car (Giftworks, Chronicle Books, $6.95) Kids 7 and up

A collection of 52 cards, each with one fun activity to do while on the road with the little ones. With 52 entertaining activities, you are sure to get to your destination in no time. Full explanations are given. Most of the cards require 2 or more players. Will Your Kids Like It?  Some of these games are too far-fetched.  No fun if your kid(s) can't read.  by Jesse Spielman

Lamaze Infant Development System Toys (Learning Curve; $4.99 and up) Kids 3 months - 4 years

Birth-training specialists at Lamaze and the superior toymakers at Learning Curve have teamed to create the Lamaze Infant Development System. Our favorite on-the-go products include the Buzz The Bug (at left); Play Quilt ($24.99), an ideal changing and play mat with B&W geometric patterns on one side and colorful quilted shapes on the reverse; and the noisy, squishy Stroll & Go Hippo ($19.99) which combines three funny shapes with a safety mirror and rattle to allow curious cuties to make squeaks, jingles and crinkly sounds from the stroller or the back seat. Little Knotties ($4.99 each) are adorable knotted-fabric animals to chew on, cuddle with, or slip on baby. by Jennifer Lapidus

My Funtime Activity Book  (Playskool; $14.99) Kids 3 to 5

Our slightly older travelers will find this 9"x12" interactive book from Playskool full of so many activities that every page becomes a learn and play center. Button, snap, zip, tell time and more, your preschooler will want to return to it again and again. A sticker chart, two markers, and a wipe-clean writing board on which to practice letters add to the early-learning fun. by Jesse Spielman

Klutz, (800/558-8944) that indefatigably imaginative California think tank of kids' fun educational books has come up with a neat twist on the dreaded videogame: Klutz Etch-A-Sketch ($16.95; ages 6 and up). Their variation on the classic twist-the-knobs-to-draw game is the addition of clear vinyl overlays, whose images can be traced to create etch-a-mazes, etch-a-minigolf, etch-a-battlefield and other incarnations previously confined to the handheld videogame medium. by Kyle McCarthy

KidKase- Backseat Activity System for Long Road  (KidKase; $79.99) Kids 3 to 8

This well-designed treasure trove includes supplies for lots of activities during car and plane travel. Very convenient because the backpack carrying case converts into a lapdesk, so your child has supplies and a work surface easily at hand. Lots of markers, stencils, crayons, stencils, paper and scissors are included along with some games and other activities, and there's plenty of extra storage room for your kids to add some of their own favorite supplies and snacks. by Fran Falkin

Travel Fun: A Wipe-Off Book (McClanahan Book Co., $4.99) Ages 2-5

This wipe-off workbook, a member of the "High Q" series, will keep little travelers busy and entertained for hours -- all they need are crayons or magic markers, and their imagination. From an opening "Let's Pack" exercise through pages of mazes, connect the dots, coloring and counting games that visit such destinations as a sandbox, campsite and "Silly Street," Travel Fun is challenging, but still engaging enough to delight kids. A coding system helps you define the type of game: find, trace, draw, color or count. Best of all, this book's "wipe-off" capabilities means that a few swipes of a wet paper towel are all that are needed to prepare it for the next travel adventure (or the next day).  by Jennifer Lapidus