Top toy for Christmas to get parents in a flap

“BRING us back a parrot!” was the cry of canal bank Dublin urchins years ago as they waved to barges seen heading to imagined exotic destinations. Like Meath. Or Kildare.

Now it looks set to be the message from the class of 2007 as they ponder their Christmas wish lists.A whistling, dancing (and artificial) parrot which is said to be life-sized and capable of learning speech is forecast to be top of this year’s toy charts.

Others due to fly off the shelves include a Gibson electric guitar without any strings, transforming robots and the latest Nintendo DS Lite.

The McCaw FurReal parrot is the latest in a range of lifelike animal toys which has previously counted a fake cat and a fake dog among its hits. Standing at 30cm tall, its range of skills includes 45 words and phrases.

According to toy retailers Smyths, the top toy list is “bursting with the latest in modern technology” this year. “When children add the essential ingredient — their imagination — this year’s list will certainly produce play experiences that children will just love,” says Helen Faherty of Smyths.

Traditionalists will be glad to see Monopoly retaining its spot on the charts, this time in the all-Ireland format which had people in a frenzy earlier this year as they voted to get their county included.

Not so traditional is the Bratz Magic Hair Salon, featuring the scantily clad, dusky eyed dolls who have prompted sporadic bouts of parental angst since their first appearance.

Parents may raise their eyebrows and wonder at the potential usefulness of a guitar without strings, but by all accounts it “teaches you how to play” and allows users to plug in their MP3 player and “jam along”. Groovy.

The popularity of Michael Bay’s Transformers movie has yielded results for the toys which first appeared on the shelves a couple of decades ago. This time it’s with a character known as Optimus Prime, featuring — wait for it — Advanced Automorph (TM) Technology.

Meanwhile, the cute animals of the Sylvanian Families also make a return to the charts, this time courtesy of their Grand Hotel, a three-storey construction described as “the perfect setting for weddings, celebrations and receptions and ideal for visiting friends and family”. Except it’s a toy.

Making up the list are In the Night Garden Talking Plush, from a popular new children’s television programme starring a character called Igglepiggle; a WWE set which allows users to stage their own wrestling matches with their favourite exponents; and something called a Ben 10 Alien Lab Playset. The latter includes two alien rocks and makes the ostensibly rash promise of enabling children to “mould and sculpt aliens”.

The list of top toys has been compiled by Smyths Toys based on sales and demand so far this year in its 28 stores around the country.

Christmas wish list

The top 10 toys predicted for Christmas 2007 are:

1. The Squawkers McCaw FurReal Parrot (ages 5 and up, €99.99).

2. Nintendo DS Lite (8+, €149.99).

3. Power Tour Guitar (8+, €99.99).

4. Bratz Magic Hair Salon (3+, €59.99).

5. Transformers Movie Leader Optimus Prime (5+, €59.99).

6. Monopoly All-Ireland Edition (8+, €29.99).

7. In the Night Garden Talking Plush (18 months+, €22.99).

8. Sylvanian Families Grand Hotel (3+, €199.99).

9. WWE The Cell Playset (3+, €44.99)

10. Ben 10 Alien Lab Playset (3+, €34.99).