You’re invited to a friend’s birthday party. Your parents have given you $15 to buy a gift. What are you going to buy? A gift card from one of the big-box stores is useful but kind of lame. You want something fresh. Something cool. Something your friend can enjoy right away. Never fear, here are some suggestions.

Yamodo!, (at right) Yamodo, $12, ages 8+

Each page gives you a made-up word and the start of a doodle. Add to the doodle and come up with the start of a funny explanation of what the word means. Pass it around and see what you come up with, then share your best efforts on the company’s Web site: www.yamodo.com.

Silly Spheres and Silly Squares, (below, top left) DuneCraft, $5, ages 6+

Wiggly, jiggly fun. Empty the colorful contents into a container of water and watch them grow to hundreds of times their size. Then bounce them — or throw them hard and watch them explode! Can be used multiple times.

Bandits, Buffalo Games, $7, ages 10+

If you’re starting to get bored with Uno, give this Wild West-themed card game a try. There are lots of tricks and twists. And kids ages 6-10 will enjoy the Monster Maker car game.

Chops, Bigetoys, $7, ages 6+

No matter what game you play — solitaire, crazy eights, rummy, etc. — you’ll become more familiar with musical notes and chords. Really, Mom, I’m practicing my music!

Available at www.bigetoys.blogspot.com.

Drop Popz, (right) SpinMaster, $5, ages 6+

These simple toys will be the hit of the party. Flex the rubber toy, then spin the post between your thumb and index finger as you drop it. When it hits the ground, it will pop and soar eight feet in the air! (Zing Toys has a similar product called ZeeBees.)

Sports keychains and bracelets, GameWear, $10 and up, ages 8+

Perfect for the sports fans on your list. The leather, stitching and rubber elements of sports balls and pucks have been turned into products that keep their owners close to the games they love. The company also has iPod cases.

Smart-Switch Yo-Yo, (above) Yomega, $13, ages 8+

With a DVD showing more than 100 tricks, this is the perfect yo-yo for a beginner. As you improve your skills, flip a switch from auto-return to high-speed-spin mode, and take your yo-yoing to the next level.

Spinz pens, Jakks Pacific, $10, ages 8+

More than a million people are spinning pens, and these models are made for twirling, collecting and decorating.

L.E.D. SpokeLit, NiteIze, $10, all ages

Attach this green or red light to a bike wheel and you’ll look cool — and be more easily seen by motorists. Designed to last 100,000 hours. Available at www.safetysmartgear.com.

Benders, Hog Wild, $8-$12, ages 6+

Bendable magnetic figures come in dozens of fun styles, including monsters, athletes, musicians, Wild West figures and pirates.

Robotikits, OWI Inc., $12 and up, ages 10+

Educational building kits allow you to make heavy-duty aluminum creatures (including scorpions, butterflies, rhino beetles) and plastic, solar-powered figures.

Color Surge, (left) Crayola, $8, ages 6-10

Brighter colors than you’ve ever seen on colored construction paper. Crayola scientists have come up with a special, secret process so markers’ colors pop even on really dark paper. And the pages have a different color on each side.