Want to know what more than 800 retailers have told TDmonthly about their best-selling products? Here's what toy-store owners in Connecticut had to say:

"The store makes deals with its neighbors and actually posts a parking attendant outside."  — Dan Kline, manager, The Time Machine, Manchester, Conn., December 2008

"We're a specialty toy store, so I wouldn't be getting anything that's going to be heavily promoted in mass market. It's got to be something of quality that's going to fit with the rest of the items we have in the store."  —David Ekwall, The Wooden Toy , Wethersfield, Conn., July 2008

"Thomas the Train'. There are morals for the kids as well, but entertainment. Almost like fables. Kids like the colorfulness and the action characters." —Stan Giliberto, owner, Over the Rainbow, Glastonbury, Conn., January 2007

"At the end, people came looking for Elmo when it was no longer available at the malls." —Janet Gessner, owner, Deep River Toy Company, Deep River, Conn., January 2007

Ours is strictly role play."—Barbara Sinnett, owner, Mystical Toys of Mystic, Mystic, Conn., January 2007

"The princess dresses, because they're twirly and soft. The softer the better." —Lori Hershman, owner, Evan's Toy Shoppe, Hamden, Conn., January 2007

"We have a book called 'Fancy Nancy,' our store's top seller."—Karlene Rearick, owner, The Alphabet Garden, Cheshire, Conn., January 2007

"[Webkinz are] huge — not Beanie Baby huge, but it's really big."—Peter Scott, owner, Perfect Toy, Avon, Conn., November 2006

"I need to see the packaging and I'd like to see the front and the back. Especially if it's a game." —Sharon Carlson, owner, Geppetto's Toys LLC, Woodbury, Conn., November 2006

"Mostly we deal with superhero-related toys, action figures, antique toys, vintage toys, anything relating to superheroes."—Jack Delaney, owner, My Mother Threw Mine Away, Torrington, Conn., 2006

"I like the small setting [of small trade shows].You can build relationships with other dealers" —Shelley Rinaldi, owner, Good Ideas, Waterbury, Conn., December 2006

"The Cranium Family Game' or Hullaboo' have been popular family games." —Ben Choinsai, manager, Special Toys and More, Enfield, Conn., December 2006

"We've been open since Nov. 2004 — eighth month. Had Groovy Girls the whole time. Excellent seller. We're usually reordering that every couple of weeks..." —Jeanne Orlando, store manager, The Purple Bear, Guilford, Conn., December 2006

"We sell a lot of Creativity for Kids, and also Klutz kits. Klutz are popular because they come with a book and the actual craft kit, and Creativity because of a variety."—Lou Mitri, owner, Joggin' Your Noggin', Monroe, Conn., December 2006