Christmas has become awfully technical in the last decade or so. But if you've already caved and bought your child a smartphone and iPad or anything else with a webcam on it, you might consider buying them a Popar book to go with it.
These books employ augmented reality to overlay interactive digital images and games into a standard children's book. Or if you need to sell this to your 4-year-old daughter, "It's a magic pop-up book that you can play with if you look at through the iPad."
The technology is pretty impressive and they've pulled down a number of awards including a nod from "The View" for being one of the best toys at the New York Toy Fair.
See Also: - T-Post: A Wearable, Interactive, Jan Brewer-Slugging Magazine - Seven Reasons Why Book Art Makes Me Uncomfortable