When I was a kid, I wanted a dog. . . like, really badly. My mother saw this and decided to pretend she was allergic to dogs until I was 18. She also bought me a plush dog every birthday, which I guess was supposed to make me feel better but was really just, like, [...]

Kids and kids-at-heart love to play with building toys. Check out Magnext, LEGO, Fantasy Blocks, Tinkertoys and Eames House of Cards.

I love globes. I think they make great gifts for anyone. Sometimes I like to look for countries I’ve hardly heard of… countries like Turkmenistan and Gabon and Canada.

But the Kids Glow Star Globe doesn’t stop at giving you the world. Turn off the lights, and you’ve got the moon and the stars and the planets as well, as the globe converts to a personal planetarium.

The Pasture Pals set from Melissa and Doug includes 12 adorable, fuzzy nuzzly horses, each with their own little cubby. An identification key offers fun facts about each breed of horse. A perfect gift for a more stable environment.

Jones Soda in holiday flavors: Candy Cane, Pear Tree, and Mele Kalikimaka. (In keeping with the Hawaiian Christmas greeting for which it was named, the soda has a pineapple/coconut taste.)

Not available this year: Turkey and Gravy. No, seriously, that used to be one of their flavors. Of SODA.

See how I managed to rhyme “toys” with “boys?” You ain’t seen nothing yet. Wait till you see what I do with “dads” and “grads.” But first check out these great gift ideas, such as the Wild Planet Spy Wire Game and the Tabletop Foosball Table.

Mario Kart for Wii follows the tradition of addictive racing fun fans have come to expect from the zippy little plumber Mario and his gang. But the game only comes with one racing wheel–not a controller in itself, but a wheel you can slip a regular Wii controller into for more authentic game play. (Because, you know, nothing says authentic like cars that slip on magic bananas and shoot guided turtle shells at their opponents.)

A spare wheel is a great gift for someone who’s already got the game–and I love this soft wheel by Nerf.