Each new generation has fad toys, from hula hoops to Chia Pets to Cabbage Patch Kids and Beanie Babies.

This generation of kids is no different, and one of the current fads reflects the Internet-driven world in which children are growing up.

Webkinz are stuffed animals that are sold with individual codes. Children can log onto the Webkinz Web site and enter the code. Then the stuffed animal comes alive in the digital world and children can feed, clothe and care for their pets.

The concept has caught on with kids in the digital age and become all the rage with children across the country and in Norman.

"I don't know any kids who come in here and have just one or two," said Roxanne Avery, manager at J's Hallmark in Sooner Mall. "They have a lot. ... I even have kids who have 50. It is a craze."

Webkinz have been around for years, but it took a little while to catch on.

Avery said her store started carrying the pets at Christmas 2006, but sales started exploding into the beginning of 2007.

"It's kind of the Beanie Baby of 2007, 2008," she said.

Linda Angel, owner of Kidoodles at 2266 W. Main St., has carried Webkinz in her store for about a year and a half, but the craze hasn't passed yet.

"Their popularity hasn't really gone away, even though there's a lot of brands out there trying to mimic what they do," she said.

She has tried to slow her orders down a bit in recent months though.

"'Cause I'm afraid that the craze is going to end and I'm going to be stuck with them," she said.

But that doesn't mean the fad looks to be going away any time soon.

"Just as we think that it's slowing down, we sell more," said Jill Brown, toy buyer at Copelin's Toy Zone, 425 W. Main St.

Buying a pet in the store opens up the whole Webkinz world online, which features games, trivia and chatting with friends.