Dropping by with a quick update of some practical and cheap gift ideas for cash-strapped parents.  A bunch of new Pokemon books are hitting store shelves (my local Barnes & Nobles all seem to have a Pokemon endcap right now!) and then you have big box stores pushing toothbrushes en masse!

Scholastic has released The World of Sinnoh guidebook which includes detailed episode synopses from Season 10 and a poster for $7.99 (I found mine at my local Borders over the weekend):  http://www.amazon.com/Sinnoh-Guidebook-Pokemon-Simcha-Whitehill/dp/0545099382/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229346981&sr=8-1

Scholastic has a new Level 3 Reader, The Secret of the Tower from the Battle Dimension season for $3.99 (I sighted this also at my local Borders over the weekend):  http://www.amazon.com/Sinnoh-Reader-Pokemon-Simcha-Whitehill/dp/0545099412/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229347205&sr=1-21

DK has a new Level 3 Reader, Explore with Ash and Dawn for $3.99 (I found mine at my local Barnes & Noble over the weekend):
http://www.amazon.com/Explore-Ash-Dawn-Readers-Level/dp/075664433X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229347378&sr=1-1

omahanime reminded me about the Pokemon Crest Spinbrush I reported over the summer:  http://www.spinbrush.com/Kids.html.  This would make a great stocking stuffer for about $6 and I have seen it available at Target, Wal-mart and Meijer.  There was a cute ad and coupons in the Sunday paper recently; hope some of you clipped those!

Target has done some minor restocking in the toy aisle with newer Battle Dimension figures and throw balls; however, the only places I have spotted the newest wave of mini plush are Toys 'R' Us (which finally got the newer plush over the last week, after the long string of sales), K-Mart and some Wal-marts.  However, if you go to target.com and click the tab for the weekly ad, you will likely find the new Pokemon Ranger game advertised for $25 on sale this week, as it was in my area (Central OH).  The only place I've seen the newer waves of deluxe electronic plush in my area has been Meijer; on top of that, few have shown up on e-Bay, so these seem to be HTF at this point.

If you have a Japanese market in your area, you can find Bandai candy-toys for a few bucks; my local market said they stock the toys mostly for the American fans!  Many Shaymin movie themed items have been restocked in my area; if you haven't looked lately, now's a good time!

I'm wondering what Jakks has in store next--remember pictures from the Toy Fair earlier in the year pictured a rival Paul figure in the playsets?  Hmm.

Happy Holiday bargain hunting!  Pika Pi Pikachu!

Addendum!!!

Lunchtime update:

DK has a new Level 2 Reader, Meet Ash for $3.99 (new since I looked Friday, at my local Barnes & Noble):  http://www.amazon.com/Level-Reader-Meet-Ash-Readers/dp/0756644321/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229369053&sr=8-1

One of my local Targets has new clearance pricing on Jakks trainer pairs, $4.19 for what is left in stock; also, selected other sets are being marked down.  Keep your eyes open for more markdowns--and pray that Target and Jakks will come through with more great merchandise in the New Year!

Loretta