Evaluations:

USA Toy Library Association
The USA Toy Library Association is a good evaluative resource.  The association  provides brochures and newsletters that contain surveys and other useful  information about selecting toys.

Canadian Toy Testing Council
The Canadian Toy Testing Council is a not-for-profit, registered charitable organization  that is dedicated to evaluating toys and educational software programs for their design, function, durability and most importantly, play value.

GPO-Government Printing Office
The government often provides resources that are good sources  for evaluating and selecting toys.  These resources are in the form of:  consumer guides, product safety guides, and maufacturing guides.  These sources are updated regularly and therefore it is necessary to verify that you are using the most recent guidelines.

Some examples of  the types of information offered by the GPO are:

• Consumer Product Safety Commission. Which toy for which child: a consumer's guide for selecting suitable toys: ages birth. GPO, 1993. U.S.

• Manufacturers' abbreviated guide for age-labeling toys: matching toy characteristics to children's ages. [Oct.     1993 ed.]. [1993]

• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Protect your child. [computer file]. [1992] (online).

• Child Safety Protection Act. 1994. United States. . GPO stock no.: 869-024-00057-1. [[0575]].  Rank: 301

• Guidelines for Relating Children's Ages to Toy Characteristics.

 
• US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207.  HE 3.2:T 756/2/1998.

• Topeka, Kan.: Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment, Offices of Public Information and Epidemiological Services. Toys, children, and sanitation: hygiene and sanitation in the child care setting. 1998

Oppenheim, Joanne. The best toys, books, videos & software for kids, 1998: 1,000+ kid-tested classic and new products for ages 0-10.  CA: Prima Pub., 1997.

Oppenheim, Joanne.   Oppenheim toy portfolio: the best toys, books, videos, music & software for kids 1999 ed. New York, NY: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio (publisher), 1998. 
 

 Mahoney, Susan.  Consumer guide to toys. Flinders Park, S. Aust: Era Publication, 1999.
 

What toy, the only consumer guide to toys & play?. London: CT Publications, 1990.
 

Leonard, Minetta Sammis. What shall we buy for the children, a shopper's guide to best toys. Madison, Wis., Best Toys Educational Service (publisher): 1998.

• Periodicals also have articles on the best, cheapest, and safest toy; or toys targeted under a certain dollar amount.  Examples of periodicals in which these articles can be found are:  Parenting, American Baby, Woman's Day, Newsweek, and Family Circle.  These should also be checked yearly due to frequent updates. 

"25 toys under $25,"Family Circle v110 n17 (Dec 16, 1997): 50-1.

Kristen Bruno, "Great toys under $10. (Buyers Guide)" Parenting, v10 n10 (Dec-Jan 1996): 38.

Donald Middleton, “When buying toys, aim for safe & stimulating.” (Special Advertising Section: Parenting & Child) Newsweek, v130 n13 (Sep 29, 1997): 14. 

Feiner,Andrea, "Its Toy Time!” American Baby. v58, n 7 (July 1996) : 44.