Original, print-first features are at the heart of The Toy Book legacy, and this year our team of in-house writers and editors, in collaboration with a host of talented freelancers, delivered a fantastic array of fresh content.

As we close the books on 2023 and look forward to a better 2024, our team has analyzed the data to see which stories resonated most with readers of The Toy Book this year in terms of traffic. One glaring fact: Big brands and licensed properties dominated the scene this year.

Check out our Top 10 Print-First Features and the Top 5 Digital-First Features of 2023!

The Top 10 Print-First Features of 2023

  1. The Year of Rebalance: Toy Manufacturers and Retailers Adapt to Shrinking Wallets
  2. Property Profile: Transformers — More Than Meets the Eye
  3. Full-Throttle Fun: Monster Jam Continues to Captivate Families With ‘The Greatest Show on Dirt’
  4. Backstory: Cabbage Patch Kids Celebrates 40 Years
  5. Into the Santaverse: Expanding Santa’s North Pole beyond the Elf on the Shelf
  6. Tales of Toy Fairs Past: From Elephants and Blizzards to the Grinch and Beyond
  7. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Independent Multimedia Mayhem Goes Mainstream
  8. Talkin’ Toys: Carrera — Racing Into 2024
  9. From the Tabletop to the Toy Department: Hasbro’s Dungeons & Dragons Goes Mainstream
  10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — Mayhem in the Toy Aisle

Bonus: The Top 5 Digital-First Features of 2023

  1. Mattel’s Josh Silverman Leads the Way in Location-Based Entertainment
  2. A New Era: Litzky PR Reveals Leadership Transition
  3. Backstory: The Legend of the Toys “R” Us Geoffreymobile
  4. Insights from Overseas: The Toy Book at Spielwarenmesse 2023
  5. The Paley Center for Media Honors Hasbro Centennial with Gala Tribute, Media Speakers

Click here to see the full archives of previous “Toy Book Top 10” features.

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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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