MercuryNews.com releases a list of thier own “10 Treasurers”

1. Nerf Weather Blitz All Conditions Football (Hasbro). Take it anywhere for easy-grip throwing by anyone, in any conditions. We love the price: $9.99.

2. RC Tarantula (Uncle Milton Industries). Each leg of this fuzzy-textured, remote-control scare-toy moves individually. $20-$25.

3. Youniverse ATM Machine (Summit Products). This 21st-century piggy bank operates like a bank ATM, with slots for feeding in bills and coins. Kids use the machine’s play credit card to track an account balance and need the secret PIN to open the cash vault. $30-$40.

4. Itsy-Bitsy Spider-Man (Playskool/Hasbro). Our office sample of this plush toy for toddlers provoked women in particular to say they had to get one for children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews. Sings and dances to “Itsy-Bitsy Spider'’ and the “Spider-Man and Friends'’ theme song. $25.

5. Blue Man Group musical toys (ToyQuest). We haven’t tried these instruments, but we’re mesmerized by the concept, which has been adapted from the Blue Man Group’s performances. A $70 percussion toy uses tubes for drum sounds (snare, conga, etc.); an $80 keyboard toy incorporates nine instruments, including the guitar and saxophone. Check out www.bluemangroupinstruments.com. Both toys are iPod and MP3 compatible.

6. Emily doll from American Girl (www.americangirl.com). The newest girl in this famous dolls-and-books line is actually English — Emily Bennett (Molly McIntire’s friend). Doll and accessories: $100-$150.

7. Ultra Blast Batman (Mattel). This formidable-looking, 15-inch-high figure comes with a blaster that shoots soft darts 20 feet. $30-$35.

8. Star Wars Transformers (Hasbro). Two iconic pop-culture brands are blended in $15 toys that convert back and forth from Star Wars vehicles into action figures, including Darth Vader.

9. Air Hogs R/C Storm Launcher (Spin Master). We haven’t tested this toy, but it’s a follow-up of sorts to last year’s Zero Gravity Humvee, which got attention for climbing walls. This radio-control vehicle is supposed to fly or cross any terrain — without wings or wheels. Recommended for 10 and older. $80.

10. Color Wonder Sprayer activity kit (Crayola). This airbrush artwork kit, which promises not to leave stains on skin or clothes, reveals colors when the paint hits the special Color Wonder paper. $25.