Just in time for Christmas, Bag Lady has a new favorite store for kiddos. In Auburn. With plenty of parking. And, this week, everything’s on sale.

I know. It is awesome.

Imagination Express on lower Minot Avenue opened in The Barn a month ago. While its interior is no-frill, its stock is not. Brands like Melissa & Doug, Learning Resources, Kidz Labs. Aisle upon aisle of colorful, playful educational toys, puzzles and games for babies on up, with a small section of classroom supplies. There are puppets and dolls, but it’s altogether light on stuffed animals or non-constructive playthings — mostly it’s brain-on.

Or, er, brain-out. (Just keep reading.)

This week, according to the woman behind the counter at Imagination Express, items in the store are 10 or 20 percent off, so take a chunk off most of the prices below.

We’re already starting in a happy place.

And I haven’t even mentioned the smiling cabbages yet.

* Melissa & Doug wooden stir fry or wooden sushi play sets, $19.99

Bag Lady has never tried sushi. I blame the lack of an adorable wooden play set in my youth.

Wooden brownies and doughnuts play sets are also available. Admittedly, I never had pine versions of either but managed to warm up to both. Mmm, warm brownies. … No, no. Go sushi. Start the kid off right.

* Learning Resources’ Jumbo Forest Animals, $29.99

Mr. Moose, Mr. Bear, Mr. Fox, Mr. Beaver and Ms. Owl, sized jumbo for little hands, adventure-ready.

However, do not mix with:

* Build-A-Road play set, $30

Well, for the obvious reasons. This play set comes with two battery-operated cars, 15 feet of track, bridges and the works.

* Melissa & Doug Augie the Alligator sleeping bag, $24.99

Green with a drawstring carrying case, Augie gets an ahhh. Your tot slips into Augie’s mouth. Which isn’t eerie at all. Nope, sir.*

(*Brought to you by the Hungry Polyester Alligators of America Club)

* Mermaid Doll Making Kit, $12

For any crafty pre-teen. Make the hair, draw the face, sew the clothes, gift it to a pal. I mean, if you can stand to part with it. You’ve probably got eight hours invested in the thing by the time she’s presentable. Ten if you’re as unhandy as Bag Lady.

* Kidz Labs’ Green Science kits, $12

Choose from experiments like Dynamo Torch (learn to light your own light bulb!) or Potato Clock (It’s a potato! It’s a clock!)

* Yookidoo Flow’n Fill Spout bath toy, $16.99

Bag Lady hadn’t heard of this brand before but was impressed by all the chunky, colorful offerings for toddlers. This one suctions to the side of the tub and has little cups to play in the water. Water that will stay inside the tub. Maybe.

* Potato Gun by Toysmith, $2.50

On the packaging: “Hours of fun!” and “Completely Harmless.”

Harmless? Where’s the fun in that?

Best find: Earlyears Lil’ Shopper Play Set, $12.99

A plush brown shopping tote with a smiling cabbage, a smiling apple, a smiling banana, a smiling orange and an ambivalent milk carton inside. Each crinkles, rings or Velcros shut. For baby retailers in training — resistance is fruitile.

Think twice: Learning Resources’ cross-section heart or cross-section brain, $18.99

Soft foam models with all the smart bits labeled. Love the idea of this because, really, who doesn’t want to groom a mini-MD? But know thy giftee. Brains aren’t for every kid at Christmas.

Bag Lady’s true identity is protected by a pair of stylish, sweater-wearing Doberman pinschers (who fail to get excited about toys that aren’t for them) and the Customer Service counter at the Sun Journal. You can reach her at baglady@sunjournal.com.

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