Melissa & Doug

These folks design and make over 800 toys from puzzles to puppets, plush to play food, magnetic activities, music, and more. Well-built yet amazingly affordable, their toys always scream "value."

While they started in a garage (think Hewlett-Packard?) back in 1988, they are now one of the major players in the specialty toy market. And, yes, there really is a Melissa, and a Doug, too!