The Toy Book | 2025 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards Issue

The Toy Book‘s 40th volume continues with our 2025 TOTY Awards issue!

This commemorative special issue celebrates the finalists vying for a win in The Toy Foundation’s 2025 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards. Alongside ballot pages for each of the 16 categories, this issue includes special features honoring excellence in the toy industry across products, people, and philanthropy.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ISSUE

Highlights Include:

  • From the Editor: Racing Into Awards Season
  • Toy Association Perspectives: Celebrating 25 Years of Play, Purpose, and Philanthropy
  • Giving Back: The Toy Foundation’s Philanthropy in Action

Plus: Insights from Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment, a look at the latest inductees into The Toy Industry Hall of Fame, Pop Quiz with Wendy Smolen, and more!

If you’re not already a Toy Book subscriber, sign up today to stay on the pulse of play with six big issues delivered directly to your mailbox each year!

In the meantime, flip through the pages and tell us your thoughts. If there’s something you want to see in The Toy Book, feel free to shoot me an email or message me on LinkedIn.

As always, be sure to check out toybook.com early and often and follow us on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay on the #pulseofplay with the latest toy news, trends, and new products all year round!

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book and Co-President of The International Toy Magazines Association (ITMA). He is also a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC), New York Comic Con, Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

archivearrow-chevron-downarrow-chevron-left-greyarrow-chevron-leftarrow-chevron-rightarrow-fatarrow-left-blackarrow-left-whitearrow-right-blackarrow-rightarrow-roundedbookscalendarcaret-downclose-whiteclosedocumenteditorial-archiveeyefacebook-squarefacebookfilesgifthamburgerheadinghearthomeinstagram-squareinstagramlatestlinkedin-squarelinkedinmailmedia-inquiresmessagenewsopen-boxpagination-leftpagination-rightpauseplayprintproduct-archiverecent-productssearchsharesort-filterspotifysunteamtiktoktime_purpletimetrendingtvtwitter-squaretwitterxyoutube