Just as the Chicken Dance song has topped dance party music lists, Chicken Dance Elmo "rules the roost" of this year's hot holiday toy lists.

The editors of Toy Wishes Magazine, the celebrated resource guide designed to put the fun back in toy shopping, have announced that Chicken Dance Elmo is one of its coveted 'Hot Dozen,' the list of twelve toys it predicts to be the top sellers of holiday 2002.

"Elmo is going to do for the Chicken Dance what Chubby Checker did for the twist," says Jim Silver, publisher of Toy Wishes Magazine. "You can't help but start flapping your arms and wiggling your behind. Not only did we predict that Chicken Dance Elmo is going to be one of the big sellers of holiday 2002 we also think the new dance craze is going to be the Chicken Dance, courtesy of Elmo."

The highly-regarded Oppenheim Toy Portfolio 2003: The Best Toys, Books, Videos, Music & Software for Kids awarded Chicken Dance Elmo with its highest honor, a Platinum Award.

Editors of Parents Magazine named the toy as one of the "Best Toys of 2002."

This fall, the toy was recognized as Ambassador to Cincinnati, as Chicken Dance Elmo "assisted" Verne Troyer, Mini Me of "Austin Powers" fame, in leading 25,000+ Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati attendees in the Chicken Dance.

Wayne Brady was a hit with his studio audience when he danced along with Chicken Dance Elmo and, with the help of Fisher-Price, gave Chicken Dance Elmo to everyone there.

With all the hype about opposing pitchers walking Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants at Pacific Bell Park, Chicken Dance Elmo made a brief TV appearance during this year's World Series. As the Chicken Dance song blared through the park's loud speakers, cameras zoomed in on a fan who was waving his own Chicken Dance Elmo.

Parents and kids recently lined up for blocks in New York's famed Times Square to see Sesame Street's Elmo and his friend Gordon kick off the holiday dance party season at Toys "R" Us Times Square, where they taught the standing room only crowd of toddlers the ever-popular Chicken Dance.

"Elmo makes magic wherever he goes, even in a yellow chicken suit," notes Neil Friedman, president of Fisher-Price. "Of course, it's impossible to predict just how popular a toy may be, but we've done our best to prepare for the demand."

Dressed in a yellow chicken suit, Elmo is ready to take on the dance party favorite. Kids just press Elmo's foot and he sings the popular Chicken Dance song and as he sings, Elmo moves up and down and flaps his "chicken" wings back and forth, just like the real Chicken Dance! Recommended for children 1 1/2 years and up, Chicken Dance Elmo retails for approximately $19.99 and is available now at major toy stores nationwide.

Clear some room in the barnyard this holiday season. Chicken Dance Elmo is probably coming home to roost.

Fisher-Price, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. and located in East Aurora, New York, is the leading brand of infant and preschool toys in the world. Celebrating over 70 years of excellence in children's products, some of the Company's best known "classic" brands include Little People®, Power Wheels® and View-Master®. The Fisher-Price brand includes some of the most popular and widely recognized character brands -- from Barney(TM) and Blue's Clues(TM) to Disney, Dora the Explorer(TM), Sesame Street® and Winnie the Pooh. The Company also develops and markets juvenile products called babygear (nursery monitors, infant swings, high chairs and more) that are designed to help families get the best possible start in life. The Company's web site can be found at http://www.fisher-price.com, providing valuable articles and resources to new and expectant parents.