Ok, I said it. I am complete and utter snob when it comes to toys. I love toys that encourage active, imaginative play and recoil in horror from anything that is plastic or has batteries. Rule #1 in the Jackson house is when the batteries die, we donate the toy to Goodwill, no exceptions.
When Suzanne was still small, I discovered a wonderful catalog with the kinds of toys I love...lots of costumes, crafts, puppets, games and really sweet vintage inspired holiday decorations. Since then, Magic Cabin has become our favorite go to source for gifts both large and small, from an inexpensive child's birthday gift to a Santa's big present (shhhhhhhh, that is a major secret!).
A huge hit with both my children was a wooden grocery stand with pretend food and a cash register that rings with each sale. After enjoying it for about 5 years, we passed it on to my Godchildren, Trow and Parker. We included a few small brown paper bags for packing the groceries and now it is the hit of the neighborhood. Reservations for playtime are required.
Check out Magic Cabin's website. You can search toys by age as well as price and category so finding what you need quickly is a snap. How great is that?
http://magiccabin.com/welcome.asp