Abstract: A pop-out toy having a latch mechanism controlled by manual pressure applied to the pop-out element, whereby pressure applied to the pop-out element when in retracted position unlatches it for pop-out movement, and pressure applied to the pop-out element when it is in pop-out position causes it to move into latched retracted position. In both instances, manual pressure on the pop-out element controls its movement from one position to the other, and, in the case of the pop-out movement, it prevents the sudden jack-in-the-box actioin that frightens young children.