Crayola Color Explosion

Low-tech drawing activity toy lets kids reveal colors hidden inside special sheets of black paper as they draw

The best toys are powered by a child's imagination. In 2005, Color Explosion, a drawing activity from Crayola, was among several toys that offer kids an exciting play experience without electronic bells and whistles.

The tablet and marker set lets kids reveal colors hidden inside special sheets of black paper as they draw.

"Color Explosion is a breakthrough innovation for the creative activities category," said Paul Winslow of Toys R Us. "It's been flying off of our store shelves since it launched."

Toy and children's lifestyle expert Chris Byrne of Toy Wishes attributes this response to parents who increasingly understand that a high quality play experience is not necessarily dictated by a price tag or computer chip.

"The best play puts children in full control of the experience, giving them an outlet for personal expression, social interaction, and discovery. The surprise of Color Explosion -- drawing on black paper to create color, which is the opposite of traditional coloring -- delivers a fully exciting play experience for under eight dollars."

While he adds that parents appreciate the value of a good toy that won't break the bank, especially in today's economy, Byrne notes that, "the best play has always been that which stimulates the imagination and engages the child. Crayola and other low-tech toys that are moving well this holiday prove once again that it's possible to put wow into a play experience that's not dependent on a computer chip."

Named one of the season's best toys by the Today Show Toy Test and praised by toy expert Herb Weisbaum as a toy with a unique twist that's fun and reasonably priced, Color Explosion lets kids uncover rainbow and neon colors hidden inside a black paper tablet as they draw with an invisible ink marker.