The Toy Book

The Toy Book is now accepting editorial submissions for its August 2026 issue. This is your no-cost opportunity to get your products in front of the industry’s key decision makers at major events.

The Action, Adventure, & Mystery + Games Issue | Vol. 42, No. 4 (Street Date: July 31)

As its name implies, our August issue is dedicated to the spirit of action and adventure, spanning play categories for kids of all ages. And this year, we’re adding a little mystery to the mix with a dedicated showcase featuring the hottest blind boxes, bags, and mystery packs to surprise and delight customers.

Showcases include:

  • The Action Aisle (action figures, playsets, role-play)
  • Blind Box Bonanza (blind boxes/bags, mystery packs, surprise toys)
  • Shared Adventures & Heated Battles (tabletop gaming)
  • Let’s Play Outside (outdoor & active toys, including sports toys, blasters, water toys, pool toys, sand & water tables, swingsets, playhouses, trampolines, etc.)
  • Ride, Scoot, Skate, & Drive (wheeled goods, scooters, battery-powered vehicles, skateboards, etc.)
  • The Hobby (trading cards and accessories)
  • Driven to Play (vehicles & R/C, trains, die-cast, model kits, slot car sets)

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Submit by June 20, 2026| Bonus distribution at Gen Con, ASD Market Week, NETS

Get ahead of the game — Submit for our JUMBO-size September issue!

The Fall Toy & Licensing Preview Issue | Vol. 42, No. 5 (Street Date: September 1)

Our September issue, featuring The Licensing Book as an internal supplement, offers comprehensive coverage across all play categories. Our annual fall preview looks ahead to next year, offering first looks at new toys and games for 2027 while building momentum for this year’s holiday season.

Showcases include:

  • 2027 Preview: An early look at new toys and games for next year.
  • Hot for Holiday 2026: Key holiday drivers that retailers can still order.
  • The Licensing Book: What’s New in Licensed Toys & Games (licensed products across all categories)
  • The Action Aisle (action figures, playsets, role-play)
  • Driven to Play (vehicles & R/C, trains, die-cast, model kits, slot car sets)
  • You’re Never Too Old to Play (products for the adult consumer 18+)
  • Creative Corner (arts, crafts, activities, puzzles)
  • Oh Baby! (infant and toddler toys, games, and gear for kids ages 0-2)
  • Building & Exploring (building sets, construction sets, magnetic building sets, model kits)
  • Adorable, Fashionable, & Adventurous (dolls, including baby dolls, fashion dolls, 18-inch dolls, equestrian play, etc)
  • Shared Adventures & Heated Battles (games, including board games, tabletop games, strategy games, card games, etc.)
  • The Hobby (trading cards and accessories)
  • Impulse & Novelties (impulse and novelty items, rack toys, and pocket money toys)
  • Let’s Play Outside (outdoor & active toys, including sports toys, blasters, water toys, pool toys, sand & water tables, swingsets, playhouses, trampolines, etc.)
  • Cute, Cuddly, & Collectible (plush, including stuffed animals, soft dolls, plush characters, plush objects, etc.)
  • Playful Preschool (toys and games geared toward kids ages 3-4)
  • The Learning Lab (STEM & MESH)

Submit by June 26, 2026 | Bonus distribution at the LA Fall Toy Previews in Los Angeles and BLE 2026 (Brand Licensing Europe) in London!

NEW SUBMISSION PROCESS

To better serve you, all Adventure Media & Events publications, including The Toy Book, The Toy Insider, and The Pop Insider, have moved to a new submission portal

  • You can now create an account and log back into your submission up until the deadline(s) and make changes to your submission form. 
  • There is no longer a product limit per submission form; you can submit as many items as you’d like in one fell swoop.
  • If you need help navigating the new form, please email James Zahn.

MAKE A BIGGER IMPRESSION WITH THE TRADE

Additional marketing opportunities are available for The Toy Book and The Licensing Book. Custom packages that include digital advertising, advertorial, and more can help you get your company and products in front of the toy and licensing industries.

Contact James Devin, Jackie Breyer, or Stephanie Katz for more information.

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.

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