Every Christmas there's one hot, new toy that's flying off the shelves and every child is clamoring for it. I've recommended several hot, new toys that are standing out already, even before Black Friday. There's the cool Mindflex game that runs on brain power. The new Littlest Pet Shop set is a must-have for some little ones I know. And toddlers love play kitchens, so Step2's new Fresh Market Kitchen is definitely on many Christmas lists.

Then there are the toy hamsters called Zhu Zhu Pets, which I really didn't love at all. The hamsters are cute but their habitat was so difficult to assemble that I eventually gave up. I worked on it for half an hour before the cryptic instructions and impossible-to-see markings did me in.

I can see why kids would want them and I can see why parents would buy them. All that buzz, TV advertising, quantity restrictions in toy stores, and a pet that doesn't poop...really compelling! Parents might not question the quality if the toy is all they hear about, all day long.

One thing all these toys have in common is that they're available in the big-box stores, but may not be on the shelves at small, specialty toy shops. I find that local toy sellers really know their merchandise and choose carefully, so they're a great source for recommendations of lasting, quality toys.

The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) is the national organization that ties all the small toy stores together. They just published a list of the hottest Christmas toys that their members believe in, and those toys might not be available in the mass-market stores. Toy manufacturers don't pay to be included in the list, unlike some hot Christmas toy lists, so parents can trust that their recommendations (like mine) are not influenced by the almighty dollar.

Photo of the Green Toys Tea Set, Recommended on the ASTRA list, is © Green Toys.