Hot toys? Maybe not
Nothing is really on fire this year, but experts say there is plenty in stores that kids will want for the holidays.

[Times photo illustration: Lisa DeJong]

Too late to call them off -- robotic dogs are one of the season's most popular toys. And the mechanical pups are now available at a range of prices. Story.

My name is ...
I am not my brother or my sister. I am ME. When I was younger, I remember my mom doing a roll call trying to figure out which kid she was trying to find. I didn't mind it then; as a matter of fact, I thought it was pretty funny. She's doing that less lately. As the youngest, I do find that she adds the mistrust my siblings created onto my plate. There are some carryovers at school, too. The teachers who had my siblings compare me to them and remind me of "who I am," whatever that means.

Big stars, small scale
The day of the celebrity doll has arrived; stars of music and films are rubbing vinyl elbows with plain old Barbies.

'102 Dalmatians' is a doggone super sequel
Movie: 102 Dalmatians