Big City Kites
1210 Lexington Ave., at 82nd St.
212-472-2623
bigcitykites.com
You’ll find a seven-foot shark kite ($25) and jet airplane kites ($23) in the form of Blue Angels and Thunderbirds. But there’s also a selection of non-kite toys, like the Kick It Stick It hover disc, a giant hockey puck that floats on a cushion of air ($24.95).

Big Fun Toys
636 Hudson St., at Horatio St.
212-414-4138
bigfuntoys.com
This store is an explosion of toys: Rows of bins overflow with water guns, pogo sticks, and scooters ($35–$100). Most popular are gag toys—hand buzzers, fart whistles, and rubber chickens ($2 and up)—and quirky, ironic stuff like a pig catapult and a Jesus action figure.

Boomerang Toys
173 West Broadway, near Day St.
212-226-7650
This small newcomer opened after the owner realized there was nowhere in Battery Park City to buy birthday gifts. Popular with artsy Tribeca moms as well as nearby finance dads, Boomerang carries a large selection of puppets and quality European imports, including Kettler trikes.

Bu and the Duck
106 Franklin St., near Church St.
212-431-9226
buandtheduck.com
This small Tribeca shop deserves an award for originality. It’s hard to say what’s cooler: vintage strollers (averaging $1,000) or handmade Raggedy Ann dolls with personalized messages embroidered on their tummies ($250). Though it may seem like collectors’ stuff, the store insists that it stocks for kids first and foremost.

	Bike Pimping
• Chelsea Bicycles 156 W. 26th St., near Seventh Ave. 646-230-7715 chelseabicycles.net Kids who want to add a little flash to their bikes can request a simple change of color, or go for something pictorial—from Spider-Man to sunflowers. After the bike is dismantled, cleaned, and stripped, graphic artists finish the job; from $250.

Classic Toys
218 Sullivan St., near Bleecker St.
212-674-4434
Come here for a mind-boggling selection of new and antique toy soldiers, windup toys, and model cars for young military buffs. Historically accurate soldier sets start at $24.95 per item, with military vehicles running $75 to $110. Folkmanis stuffed puppets are $24.50.

Cozy’s Cuts for Kids
1125 Madison Ave., near 84th St.
212-744-1716
448 Amsterdam Ave., near 81st St.
212-579-2600
cozyscutsforkids.com
After years of giving skittish tots their first haircuts, the folks here understand the calming power of mini-bubbles, bath crayons, and doll strollers (all $2.50–$15). Other palliatives include sweet handmade tutus (starting at $20) and party favors ($4 and up).

Dinosaur Hill
306 E. 9th St., near Second Ave.
212-473-5850
At this whimsical shop, you’ll find unusual handmade marionettes from the Czech Republic dangling from the ceiling ($21–$90), plus sequined wooden horses from Burma and Thailand and jack-in-the-boxes (cat-, dog-, and cow-in-the-boxes, too).

Disney Store
Call 800-328-0368
disneystore.com
You may have to drag your kids out of these dizzyingly colorful stores by their mouse ears. The purveyor of all things Disney offers the widest variety of Disney characters and themes, both classic and contemporary. The stock changes constantly, so check in often.

E.A.T. Gifts
1062 Madison Ave., near 80th St.
212-861-2544
Next door to Eli Zabar’s gourmet shop, you’ll find all sorts of fanciful party-favor treats and trinkets, and even a selection of piñatas to stuff them in. There’s an extensive collection of Olivia, Eloise, and Madeline goodies. Board games ($30), journals ($15 to $25), and dolls are popular items.

Exoticars
280 Park Avenue, Ste. E (actually on 48th St.)
212-573-9537
This store sells high-end, diecast model cars, trucks, motorcycles, and some planes and boats, in mainly exotic brands (Corvette, Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari) as well as miniature replicas of what mommy drives (think shoe-size Discovery Land Rovers). The average car is $20 to $100. Italian models are more expensive, and if it’s the red Ferrari 12-volt go-cart your 7-year- old covets, expect to spend nearly $800.

FAO Schwarz
767 Fifth Ave., near 58th St.
Manhattan’s most famous high-end toy store fell victim to bankruptcy in early 2004. But it’s expected to reopen under new ownership in late fall 2004, with the same focus on ultra-exclusive goodies for the little ones.