The Toys & Games That Shaped the Industry

In many ways, the toy industry feels like one big extended family. You’ve got the serious ones, the funny ones, the wacky cousins, the kids who don’t get along, the cool aunts and uncles, the babies, the elders, and the rock stars with the hit product of the moment. And if we’re talking family, then Toy Fair is the big reunion where the multi-generational purveyors of play come back together to catch up, do some business, and hopefully have some fun.

With that in mind, The Toy Book is cracking open the scrapbook for some insight into the toys and games that have inspired members of our toy industry family in their lives and careers. We hope you’ll enjoy these stories as we look forward to making new memories at Toy Fair that will ultimately result in new generations of kids being inspired to do big things in the years to come!

Click here or on the image below to begin flipping through the pages of our scrapbook on page 42 of our 2023 Toy Fair issue…

The Toy Book — October 2023

A version of this feature was originally published in the 2023 Toy Fair issue of The Toy Book. Click here to read the full issue! Want to receive The Toy Book in print? Click here for subscription options!

About the author

James Zahn

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.

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