Welcome to the first of four dispatches from the 2010 American International Toy Fair, going on this week in New York City. We were thrilled to get one of our favorite bloggers, Amy Kraft of Media Macaroni, to be our eyes and ears for big event.

Remember the summer when suddenly every kid on the playground was on a scooter? I couldn't walk through the neighborhood playground without getting cut off by a kid blasting by on a Razor. Well, judging by the showing at Toy Fair, summer 2010 is poised to be the summer of the balance bike.

ZRecs has reported on some of the balance bikes currently on the scene, including Kettler and Skuut, but now a new crop of toymakers have jumped on board. I have seen nearly 30 different balance bikes at Toy Fair this year, with prices ranging from $75 to $450. My favorites include:


Skip Hop Wishbone Bike: Made from sustainably managed woods and 60% post-consumer recycled plastic wheels, the Wishbone is three bikes in one. It begins as a tricycle and transforms into two different sizes of two-wheeler balance bikes. $249 | Amazon.com | Direct


Early Rider: Major style points go to the Early Rider line, which have flames blazing across the bike and pitch-black tires. Around $160 | Direct


Footcycles: More balance bikes to feel good about are made by Footcycles, who plant a tree for every bike manufactured and give 10% of their profits to bike-related non-profits. And they're nice and durable, too. $150-200 | Direct

I liked the durable offerings from Kazam, on display at the top of this post. They retail for about $100 on Amazon.com. And one other item of note: Of the metal frame balance bikes, I found the mini-balance bikes from TootScoot hilariously tiny. You can see them here.

But I've saved the best for last. My favorite find of the day is the Moov construction set from Berg Toys. It's a balance bike. But it's also a scooter. And a tricycle. And a helicopter, crane, windmill, and scale. Basically, it's a set of super-sturdy pieces that come in different kits to make your own vehicle (SRP $249 - $439). They've also put together activities for schools to use the kits in a variety of educational ways. I got Gary Landis of Berg Toys to demonstrate the Moov for me:



Stay tuned for tomorrow's Toy Fair dispatch on the latest in environmentally friendly toys, featuring some surprising new toys from Green Toys, Sprig, and several exciting newcomers. And make sure to check out Media Macaroni for more finds from Toy Fair all week long.