The Toy Book’s 2023 Innovation & STEAM Issue is Here!

The Toy Book‘s 39th volume concludes with the 2023 Innovation & STEAM Issue!

Our editorial cover sets the tone with a first in Toy Book history — cover art created using generative artificial intelligence (AI). While there are currently no plans to use AI in the pages of The Toy Book to any great extent (our writers will always be human!), the technology is used for images throughout this issue as we dive into how AI and other innovations are helping to shape the future of play.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ISSUE!

SELECT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

AI Rising: Senior Editor Nadia Velit speaks with some of the players who are bringing artificial intelligence into the toy department.
Full STEAM Ahead: The Toy Book’s annual look at what’s happening in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics).
Raising the Bar: Stephanie Pottick of Protect for Success explores the legal implications of AI in toys.
Have You Heard About MESH?: ThinkFun’s Rachele Harmuth offers an update following the first year of the MESH (mental, emotional, social health) movement.
Cultivating Toy Sales: The Farm & Ranch Retail Channel Outpaces the Industry in Growth
Backstory: RoseArt at 100: Editorial Assistant Madison Patterson looks at a company with a century of Cra-Z resilience.
New in Town: Droyd: Assistant Editor Samantha Connell shines the spotlight on a new player in the ride-ons category.
Idea to Innovation: TinkerTini’s Trina McFarland takes a look at an inventor-sourced product marketed by VTech.
Stock This! New Product Showcases: New products in multiple categories, including STEAM, MESH, Farm Toys & Ag Play, and Sustainable & Eco-Friendly toys.

But that’s just the beginning!

As always, The Toy Book is packed with actionable insights from ASTRA, The Toy Association, Circana, Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment, and more.

If you’re not already a Toy Book subscriber, be sure to subscribe today and start the new year off right with the 2024 edition of The BIG Toy Book in February!

In the meantime, flip through the pages and let us know what you think, and feel free to shoot me a note via email or on LinkedIn if there’s something that you would like to see in The Toy Book.

As always, be sure to check out toybook.com early and often and follow us on X (formerly Twitter), 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, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, 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) 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.