‘Wicked’ Care Bears, FurReal Maggie top holiday toy predictions; price increases likely as tariffs loom

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Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. loom / lum / (v.) – to appear or happen soon, especially in a way that makes people feel worried
    Example:

    Travel delays loom during the busy holiday season.


  2. slight / slaɪt / (adj.) – small in amount, degree, or size
    Example:

    Tourists will see slight decreases in hotel room prices as the travel season slows down.


  3. topping / ˈtɑp ɪŋ / (n.) – a food that is added on top of another food to give extra flavor or to make it look nicer
    Example:

    My favorite pizza toppings are cheese, mushrooms, onions, ham, and bell peppers.


  4. capitalize on (something) / ˈkæp ə t̬əl aɪz ɑn / (phrasal v.) – to use a situation or event to get an advantage
    Example:

    The rising social media star is capitalizing on the fact that many people know and follow him to start a business.


  5. bestie / ˈbɛs ti / (n.) – a person’s best friend
    Example:

    She and her besties have known each other since they were kids and have always been there for each other.


Article

Read the text below.

As the holiday season approaches, toy trends are emerging, but prices may be on the rise as tariffs loom, with some items already seeing slight increases.


At the annual Sweet Suite event in New York, Toy Insider Editor-in-Chief Ali Mierzejewski shared insights on potential price hikes, the hottest toys of the season, and key trends to watch this year.


“Some big things we’re seeing this year is food toys, whether it’s play food that seems magical or food that you can actually make with your toys. That’s a really big trend. We’re calling it ‘Yes, Chef.’ It’s kind of like that ‘(The) Bear,’ you know, has become really popularized in pop culture. So anything focused on food and cooking, pretending to, being able to make something after you’ve already played with the toy, is perfect.”


Some of those toys include the new and improved Easy-Bake Oven, as well as a 3D food writer that uses a sugar substitute. “There are new great ones where the candy and the chef pens where you can create with sugar. So you can make candy or dessert toppings. That’s a really great way to learn and play,” Mierzejewski said.


Max Bogue, from WobbleWorks, explains how it works. “We can make a gingerbread house that will stick together quite well, and then we can decorate it right away, and it’s completely edible,” Bogue said.


As for the hot toys of the season, there’s Maggie by FurReal. “Maggie’s a highland cow that you can pet, interact with, and when you feed her her bottle, she’ll follow you everywhere you go,” Mierzejewski said.


And capitalizing on the release of “Wicked: For Good” is a set of Care Bears representing Elphaba and Glinda. “You get the two besties, so two Care Bears dressed up as Glinda and Elphaba in one pack. So you can either keep them both, collect them, display them by yourself, or you can share one with your best friend.”


While there are a lot of great toys available this season, Mierzejewski says consumers should budget for potential increases as tariffs loom.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • One of the top toy trends this year is food toys, like toy ovens and candy-making toys. Do you think toys like these are more fun or more useful than regular toys? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • If you were a kid, would you rather have a toy you can eat or a toy you can keep and play with? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • With toy prices going up, do you think people will still buy toys as gifts, or will they look for other types of presents? Why? Discuss.
  • When choosing a gift, what do you think matters most—the price, the quality, or the meaning behind it? Why? Discuss.