The final installment of the Shrek saga is set for release, Shrek Forever After is the title of the film. Shrek is pixar’s biggest selling CGI film, and the toy sales for the film are expected to go through the roof. Since it is the last movie, toy retailers are going to be ordering in vast amount of stock, to help keep up with the demand for the merchandise.

The main sold Shrek merchandise include: Shrek himself, the Donkey, Puss In Boots, the Princess and Pinocchio. The film is already released in 3D, and is expected to break records at the box office.

The biggest collection of rare toy cars in the UK is set to go on auction this week and valuators are suggesting that it’ll hit the dizzy heights of £100,000.

The seller is Mr Horace Dunkley who is 65-years-old. His collection features over 2,200 Matchbox pieces and there is said to be something of a fervour surrounding the auction from other collectors.

Mr Dunkley has been all over the world collecting his toy cars and he never really considered it an investment so much as a hobby. He now concedes it is the right time to sell the collection, cheekily adding:

We’re looking forward to squandering the kids’ inheritance after the sale, they are going to allow my wife and I to grow old disgracefully.

A model car has fetched the largest ever auction fee for a matchbox toy. The auction took place this week and among the collection was Lesney dumper truck that the Matchbox car company made over half a century ago.

The rare piece was originally intended as a maquette for large toys, but never went into full scale production as Matchbox found success with its smaller range. The owner of the toy, Mr Takuo Yoshise, came from Japan for the event.

A mystery bidder won the auction for the truck with an astonishing bid of £10,200, so Mr Yoshise, who is 75 years old, will go home with full pockets.

Lego enthusiasts in the UK have been delivered a piece of good news as the new Legoland Discovery Centre at the Trafford Centre in Manchester has opened its doors to the public.

The Discovery Centre features a 4D cinema, a ride called Kingdom Quest and Miniland – a special display of the North West’s landmarks made from Lego. The Trafford Centre is said to be delighted that Lego chose its site at Barton Square for the new venture.

There is of course a large Lego shop where parents can find all sorts of Lego goodies for their children. Lego has strived to keep with the times and the new Discovery Centre will help it appeal to yet another generation.

One of the most influential toys in the world is still going strong to this day. In the face of a booming computer industry and more and more interactive toys and forms of entertainment, it is great to see that kids still love playing with Lego.

Lego is the ideal toy in terms of fun and development. It is amazing to see the absorption with which a child will approach a Lego construction, playing and learning all at once.

Whilst Lego has worked incredibly hard to compete in the current multimedia industry, even branching out into computer games, it has stayed true to its original mission – to provide a toy that will educate as much as it will entertain.

Little girls have been playing with Barbie dolls since the late fifties and the iconic toy has always come with lots of different glamorous personas. She has had a staggering 124 different careers, but her latest, the 125th, is probably the least alluring she’s ever had.

The newest Barbie is a computer engineer. How the mighty have fallen.

What’s most incredible about this Barbie’s profession is that it was actually decided via an online poll conducted by the toy manufacturer Mattel. Apparently a career in IT is what the public really wanted for her.

Mattel have made an effort to paint a picture of a wonderful feminine presence in the technical community, but it is hard not to take that with a pinch of salt. After all, the other careers on offer included architect, surgeon and newswoman.

Ever wanted a toy that can guess what you are thinking? You need to try the 20Q!

All you have to do is think of a house hold item and 20Q will ask you questions until it guesses what it is your thinking. The artificial intelligence is really accurate and normally gets it right everytime.

20Q will keep you busy for hours whilst you try and outsmart it. The device is only small so your kids will be able to keep it in their pockets to impress their friends.

You can find the 20Q in most toy shops and it retails at a reasonable price of under £10.

What do you buy a baby or toddler to play with? Although they wont take much in at that age, it’s always good to get them something that will stimulate their brain and get them thinking of numbers, words, shapes and colours.

Books are always good, although require the mother of father to spend time reading it to them. Even a simple book that shows colours and shapes will be good for your baby.

Other toys such as stacking blocks, magnetic letters, keyboards and activity tables are great and will keep your baby entertained for hours….or until they fall asleep.

As summer is fast approaching it is a good idea to let the kids have some fresh air and get them away from the TV screens. What a better way to do this than buy them a bike.

Bike’s are a great investment and the kids will love going on bike rides when the sun is shining, it is also a great way for them to keep fit and active.

You can buy bikes for reasonable prices from shops like Toys R Us and Decathlon and at the moment there are huge sales so you will be able to purchase them at a bargain price.

Oh My Gosh! I have just had a blast from the past, remember Cabbage Patch Dolls?!?! Well, they are now back on the shelves. It was the early 80’s when cabbage patch dolls became really popular, they were loved then and it seems that they are still loved today.

The dolls that are on sale now haven’t really advanced too much, they come with adoption papers which can make kids feel like the doll is a baby all of their own.

Each doll is unique, with different hair and faces and all have that baby power smell which makes them different from all the other dolls on the shelf.

Cabbage Patch Dolls will definitely go down well with children, just like they did all those years ago!