Toys

"If a hoary critic seems to be writing in the vein of a modern publicist," Andrew Porter wrote in the program notes to an early recording of Thomas Ades' music, it is because "young Ades, like Purcell and Britten, without repeating himself, has freshened and revitalized the mainsprings of modern music." That disc, which opens with the whimsical "Living Toys" and the wistful string quartet "Arcadiana," is 10 years old, and Ades is now 37. "Living Toys" and "Arcadiana," composed when Ades was in his early 20s and seemingly the brightest kid in Britain, made up the first part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Green Umbrella program at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Tuesday night.

Purimopueru is a knee-high Japanese doll with soft, apple-spotted cheeks and big, black button eyes. It comes in green and pink, and when you cuddle it, it talks back. It's for grandmothers. The doll, an award-winner at last week's Tokyo Toy Show, is generating new sales among the elderly for creator Namco Bandai Holdings Inc. as Japan's birthrate drops.

Alarmed by a year of recalls targeting millions of tainted toys, the House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to ban lead and other dangerous chemicals from items such as jewelry and rubber ducks that could end up in kids' mouths. The legislation also would toughen rules for testing children's products and take steps to give more muscle to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which was criticized last year for its handling of a flood of goods from China deemed hazardous to children.

Despite the high cost of gas, we drove our RV to the San Bernardino Mountains for some peace, quiet and stargazing. About 8:30 p.m., in drove an RV and a trailer (for their "toys"), and the owners immediately set up a bright light that illuminated the campground. So much for seeing stars. Then the RV started its generator, which we figured its owners were using to cook dinner so it probably wouldn't last long. But then they started another generator outside that was very loud.

Mattel's Elmo Live, with a price tag of about $70, may be among the bestsellers for the holiday shopping season, according to the trade journal Toy Insider. Another projected hit: Furreal Friends Biscuit, My Lovin Pup, from Hasbro, which sells for nearly $200. But the journal also said that price-conscious parents would look to stay within budget this season. That might not be easy.

About 330,000 units of Nerf N-Strike Recon Blasters are being recalled by Hasbro Inc. because the plunger can pull the user's skin when the toy gun is fired. The company and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have received 46 reports of injuries. The blasters were sold by Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R Us, as well as toy and discount stores around the country between November 2007 and August 2008. More information: (800) 245-0910 or www.hasbro.com/nerf or www.cpsc.gov. About 36,000 Harry Potter bookends, imported by Giftco Inc., are being recalled because the paint on the bookends contains high levels of lead, which is toxic if ingested by children.

Pianist Phyllis Chen worried when she asked Andre Watts, her mentor at Indiana University in Bloomington, if she could use toy pianos for one of her doctoral recitals. After all, without his permission, the department wouldn't even consider it. Watts, more used to the standard classical repertoire, found the request surprising. But he listened closely to her proposal.

At least 18 children younger than 15 died in toy-related accidents in 2007. Most of the deaths were caused by blocked airways, drowning or accidents involving motor vehicles, according to Consumer Product Safety Commission data. Many of the incidents were not caused by the toys but occurred while the children were playing. Fourteen of the 18 children were boys.

Mattel Inc. and eight other toy makers Thursday agreed to pay $1.8 million and accelerate reductions in the levels of toxic lead in consumer products to settle an environmental lawsuit brought by the state and the city of Los Angeles. California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, who filed the complaint against 17 toy manufacturers a year ago, said he was pleased to resolve the case.

Walgreen Co. recalled 173 teddy bears with chocolate bars sold in stores since September after the Food and Drug Administration discovered that some samples of the candy were contaminated with melamine. No illnesses have been reported, Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreen said.