A mini-computer in a smart pen and a lifelike pony that responds to voice and touch are among this season's hottest high-tech toys touted by Canadian toy organizations as the holiday season nears.

The Fly Pentop Computer, which was named toy of the year by the Canadian Toy Testing Council on Thursday in Ottawa, can read letters, numbers and shapes.

Sixteen-month-old Lilliana Ruiz rides the Classic Rock Bounce Pony, one of the Canadian Toy Testing Council's Children's Choice Awards for 2006.
(Canadian Press)

The device allows users to draw a calculator and press the handwritten buttons to complete a math calculation, or draw a set of piano keys and play and record a song.

Other high-tech toys recommended by the council include the Smile Jammin' Gym Class, a plug-in television program that encourages children to jump and hop on a floor mat while playing educational games.

The Learn-Around Playground, a learning centre for toddlers aged 18 to 36 months.

Mega Bloks' Magtastik Magnimals and Magtastik Primary Deluxe, a magnetic set of unconventional magnetic animals.

The council's top picks included:

• Plush puppets from Folkmanis.
• The Fuzion Asphalt Ultimate Carving scooter, a hybrid skateboard scooter.
• Ganz's Webkinz Adopt-A-Pet.
• Klutz's Paper Stained Glass.
• The Lego Exo-Force Sentai Fortress, a battle fortress and robot set.
• Cranium's Zooreka.
• The drawing game Luck Of The Draw by Gamewright.

In Toronto, the Canadian Toy Association on Wednesday unveiled its top 130 picks for the year, with a dozen children on hand, giving out their recommendations.

Melissa Dicarlo, 7, took a liking to Love N Grow Suzie, a doll that grows from an infant to a toddler. The doll develops mature speech patterns and lets you know when she's outgrowing her old baby clothes and toys.

"She has a toothbrush and you can brush her teeth," said Dicarlo. "I like maybe every kind of doll, even the Bratz and the Barbie that can grow, but the most was this doll because you can actually see her grow."

The smart dolls are part of a growing trend that's seeing toys become more sophisticated and interactive.

"We have dolls that just aren't for play any more. We have dolls that engage in two-way conversation, perform karaoke and we even have a doll that will grow right before your eyes," CTA spokesman Jeff Hurst said.

Hurst actively dismisses the notion that these clever toys take away elements of play and imagination.

"Electronics have added to toys, they've enhanced the play," he said. "If there's no fun in the toy, they're not going to play with it."

Jeffrey Versluis, 5, tested a colouring set that allows children to spin their creations on a turntable. When placed on the spinner, children can add drops of solution onto the paper to create a web-like design effect.

"It's fun playing with it," he said. "It flies."

Versluis and his brother Matthew, 4, were also among the many children to climb aboard Hasbro's Butterscotch robotic pony that shakes its head, eats and whinnies and neighs.

But for those seeking more traditional toys, both toy councils have included more conventional fare on their lists. The Toy Testing Council has added plush animal puppets, board games and clothespin dolls to their lists while the Toy Association is promoting the perennial favourite Lego sets.

Whether the toys are high-tech or traditional, Hurst recommends doing a fair bit of research on price and age appropriateness.

"Take that time to go on the internet and do a bit of research before you make that purchase decision," Hurst said.