Beanie Babies began to emerge as popular collectibles in late 1995, and became a hot toy.

Also, no new hot toys have burst onto the scene as the holiday season approaches.

The hot new toy here among agents and producers is the $5,000 clicker.

"They are innovative products that definitely have the potential to be some of the hot toys of the year."

Many of the hot toys this year are electronic, intended to appeal to technologically adept boys and girls.

"We want to be the hot toy under the Christmas tree this year," he said.

An unusually wide range of hot toys is on the market this year, including some updated classics and several newcomers.

First, their manufacturers declare them to be the hot toy of the year.

Tepid consumer spending and the lack of a hot toy have not helped.

When a hot toy hits the market, frantic parents rush to buy it while it is still on the shelf.