As we prepare to close the books on 2021, there is only one more thing to look back on. Following our roundup of the Top 25 most-read news items and the Top 10 most-streamed podcasts, we’re hitting the rewind button for a look at the Top 10 most-read features here at the Toy Book.

Unlike our daily news items, these long-read features were first experienced in print through our flagship magazine — the leading trade publication covering the toy industry since 1984! These digital editions are easily sharable and serve as a time capsule of where the toy industry was, circa 2021.

10. Backstory: Pokémon Turns 25

Source: The Toy Book

9. Backstory: Tangle — The Original Fidget Was 40 Years Ahead of the Curve

Source: The Toy Book

8. YouTube’s Algorithm Gets an Update

Source: YouTube

7. Talkin’ Toys: Octonauts Reborn — Silvergate Media

Source: Silvergate Media/The Toy Book

6. From Shelf to Screen: The Dramatic Evolution from Toymakers to Entertainment Companies

Hasbro’s Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins Classified Series Action Figures will hit retail Oct. 1. | Source: Hasbro

5. The Supply Chain Saga Continues: The Toy Industry Faces Its Most Complex Challenge Yet

Across land, air, and sea, shipping is a big issue. | Source: Adobe Stock/Comp by the Toy Book

4. PAW Patrol: No Screen is Too Big, No Pup is Too Small

Source: ViacomCBS/SpinMaster/the Toy Book

3. Backstory: Masters of the Universe — He-Man and Skeletor are Back in Action as the Legendary Battle for Eternia Reignites

Source: The Toy Book

2. TikTok Toys and Going Viral: Q&A with Learning Express Birmingham

Source: The Toy Book

1. Thanks to TikTok, Fidgets Are Back and Better Than Ever

Source: The Toy Book

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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