We are thrilled to have our Celestial Star Explorer nominated as a finalist in the Infant/Toddler Toy category for this year’s Toy Of The Year awards (TOTYs)—an annual award program hosted by The Toy Foundation. Every year, the TOTYs recognize the top toys, games, and licenses across 17 categories of play. Think of them as the Oscars of the toy industry. So, yeah, they’re kind of a big deal, which is why we’re so excited!
Has Manhattan Toy Been a Finalist Before? Or Ever Won????
Yes, on both accounts! Our most recent finalists were in 2020 with our Deep Sea Adventure, Musical Lili Llama in 2019, Tree Top Adventure in 2015, Skwish Stix in 2014, and Parents Jungle Pals Stacking Puzzles in 2012. We were fortunate to bring home a few wins over the years, thanks to our Groovy Girls® Scout dolls back in 2008 and Groovy Girls® T-series in 2002. We are fortunate to be among the finalists again this year, but we are itching for a win!
Flashback to 2002 with our winning dolls - featured in The Toy Book’s TOTY Awards Showcase Issue this August.
Want to know more about the TOTYs? We’ve got you covered!
What’s the story behind the TOTY awards?
The TOTY Awards support the impactful philanthropic work of The Toy Foundation, including its Children’s Hospital Play Grants program to offer play in children’s hospital settings; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program to bring the joy of play to everyone around the world; and Toy Bank program to deliver the comfort of a toy to children around the world. One hundred percent of the award program's proceeds support the work of The Toy Foundation.
Who’s Eligible to Vote?
You! That’s right, consumers, retailers, Toy Association members, and the media can vote for one finalist in each of the 17 categories.
Nominations & Criteria
Brand representatives nominate toys. There were over 600 nominations this year alone! All eligible nominees must be new to the market (introduced within the last two years), comply with all U.S. toy safety standards, and be available for purchase in the U.S. by November 1, 2022.
The Fortunate Finalists
Toy finalists are hand selected by a panel of industry experts of varying backgrounds – toy experts, journalists, and retailers. Only seven toys are named finalists under each of the 17 categories.
What are all the Categories?
Action Toys, Collectible Toys, Construction Toys, Creative Toys, Dolls, Games, Grown-Up Toys, Infant/Toddler Toys, License, Outdoor Toys, Playsets, Plush Toys, Preschool Toys, Ride-On Toys, Specialty Toys, STEAM Toys, and Vehicles. Visit the Toy Association website for more details on category specifics.
When are the Winners Announced?
The category winners, determined by votes from Toy Association members, retailers, media, and consumer votes on the TOTY website, will be announced at the TOTY Awards on September 20, 2022 in Dallas, TX.
The overall Toy of the Year and People’s Choice award winners will be announced November 21, 2022. Voting for the People’s Choice Award will remain open through November 11, 2022; it is uniquely decided by votes on the TOTY website. The Toy of the Year will be determined by a panel of expert judges.
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