The National Toy Hall of Fame has unveiled its 12 finalists for the year, with balloons among the new contenders. Highlighting their versatility and broad appeal, balloons are joined by other first-time nominees, including the trampoline and the party game Apples to Apples. Voting, open to the public and expert judges, will determine which toys are inducted in November.
This year's lineup showcases a diverse range of playthings. Finalists include the "Choose Your Own Adventure" gamebooks, Hess Toy Trucks, remote-controlled vehicles, and stick horses. Also in the mix are the games Phase 10, Sequence, and Pokemon Trading Card Game, along with recurring nominees My Little Pony and Transformers.
Christopher Bensch, vice president for collections and chief curator, noted the challenging decision ahead, stating, "These 12 toys represent the wide range of play—from strategic to whimsical to physical." Fans can cast their votes from Sept. 18 to 25 at toyhalloffame.org. The top three public choices will form part of a "Player's Choice" ballot that will be included with votes from 22 historians and experts. Established in 1998, the Hall has honored over 80 toys, from simple items like sticks to cultural icons like Barbie dolls. The toys that made the cut last year were baseball cards, Cabbage Patch Kids, Fisher-Price Corn Popper, and Nerf foam toys. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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