Ninjas rule at the Australian toy fair

A Japanese ninja-inspired LEGO game has been named this year's Toy of the Year at the Australian Toy Hobby & Nursery Fair.

Six judges representing national retailers including Myer and Toyworld selected the toys from several hundred entries from around the world, based on their innovation, uniqueness, play value, appeal and potential to sell volume.

And we're talking lots of volume. The Australian toy industry is worth $1.4 billion annually and that doesn't include electronic games. Aussie parents spend $600 on toys for their kids each year, twice the amount spent 15 years ago, with an average of $18 per toy.

"The industry's in good shape" says John Redenbach, Australian Toy Association judge. "Australia is one of the few developed countries with a birth growth - it's produced a lot of little taxpayers. The toy spend has increased by $15,000 a month since the baby bonus was introduced."

But toys are for children and this year will bring them lots of choice and hopefully heaps of fun.

The overall award winner, the LEGO Ninjago Starter Set, also won the Boy's Toy of the Year Award category. It features a series of spinning tops with some card-based point scoring; but first you must build the Spinjitzu arena and pick your minifigure. Then the battle is on to become the Spinjitzu master.

"It's a product that's only limited by your child's imagination" says Redenbach. "There's no stopping LEGO, their product development is sensational.

The Zhu Zhu Puppy Range, furry creatures with their own bark parks, kennels and baths has won the Girl's Toy of the Year Award. Imported from Hong Kong and a new member of the successful Zhu Zhu Pets family, the puppies move at random, have loads of accessories and make puppy noises, particularly when you touch their nose. Cute.

Awards were given across 12 other categories comprising Pre-School, Games, Outdoor and Craft Activity Toys of the Year; Licensed Product of the Year; Boys, Girls and Pre-school Licensed Products of the Year; Hobby and Nursery Products of the Year, Educational Toy of the Year and Australian Development Award.

Although the Ninjago set is on the shelves now, most of the toys will not be available until May or later in the year An exception is Credz Collectable Coins, winning the Australian Development Award for Melbourne creator Shanon Prum. Reminiscent of the metal pogs of the 1990s, coins of different colours and sizes can be collected in albums, swapped and played with in games.

The 2011 Australian Toy Hobby & Nursery Fair runs from March 10-13 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre and is due to attract 7000 traders and suppliers.