Finalists announced for ASTRA’s Best Toys for Kids awards
Eighty-three specialty toys selected from hundreds of nominations have been named finalists for ASTRA’s 2015 Best Toys for Kids list, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) announced Wednesday, May 27.
From this group of finalists, ASTRA member retailers will view the products at ASTRA upcoming Marketplace & Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina, and will vote to select the winning toys that will become “the year’s top picks from America’s play experts” for the 2015 holiday season.
“Best Toys for Kids is the only annual toy list that is compiled by a national network of grassroots play experts who know specialty toys inside out,” noted Kathleen McHugh. “Those experts are ASTRA member retailers, and the list represents their collective experience in watching children play with products in their stores, combined with feedback they hear from parents and their own expertise about toys and child development.”
Retailers will have the chance to touch, feel and play with the 2015 Best Toys for Kids finalists at a special display at ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy in Charlotte June 8-9, 2015. Voting to select the winning products has begun and will be continued on-site and online at Marketplace & Academy. Winners will be announced in late June. In the fall, ASTRA member retailers will receive a free package of resources for using Best Toys for Kids list to increase their holiday sales.
ASTRA’s 2015 finalists for the Best Toys for Kids awards program are:
ACTIVE PLAY
Sky Saucer, b4Adventure – Brand 44
Play Zone Balance Board 2 Mazes, b4Adventure – Brand 44
Slackers Screamin’ 30’ Water Slide, b4Advenuture – Brand 44
HABA Sand Golf Set, HABA USA
Chrono Bomb, Patch Products
The Swurfer, The ROB Company
CHOOSE YOUR OWN CATEGORY
LiteHawk APEX Motorcycle, Borgfeldt (Canada) Limited
Mixed by Me Thinking Putty Kit, Crazy Aaron’s Puttyworld
Do Art Outdoor Chalk Art Set, Faber-Castell
Swingy Thing, Fat Brain Toy Co.
Boogie Board Play n’ Trace, Boogie Board eWriters
Geeker Speaker Lab, Thames & Kosmos
Light Stax, Light Stax 36 piece Classic Set
CONSTRUCTIVE PLAY
Joinks, Fat Brain Toy Co.
Wedgnetix, ImagAbility Inc.
Kingii Dragon Robot (Frilled Lizard), OWI Inc.
Skyhook, Tegu
Kids First Amusement Park Engineer, Thames & Kosmos
Modarri Surf & Turf Combo, Modarri/Thoughtfull Toys, Inc.
CREATIVE ARTS PLAY
Craft-tastic Yarn Tree Kit, Ann Williams Group
Craft-tastic Paper Bowl Kit, Ann Williams Group
The Extraordinaires Design Studio, The Extraordinaires Design Studio
Do Art Gel Stick & Texture Art, Faber-Castell
Dreamland Fairy, Dreamland Fairy
3D PlushCraft Puppy, The Orb Factory
Needle Felting Angler Fish Kit, Woolbuddy
CLASSIC PLAY, 0-7 YEARS
Gobblet Gobblers, Blue Orange Games
30th Anniversary Rody Horse Red Swirl, Toymarketing Intl, Inc.
Pretend and Play Teaching Cash Register, Learning Resources
Shopping Cart, Melissa & Doug
the SET game, Set Enterprises, Inc.
CLASSIC PLAY, 8-PLUS YEARS
Ticket to Ride, Asmodee Editions
Sleeping Queens, 10th Anniversary, Gamewright, a division of Ceaco
Fashion Plates Deluxe Kit, Kahootz
Window Art
Rubik’s Cube, Winning Moves
Risk 1959, Winning Moves
Mini Ogodisk, OgoSport, LLC
EARLY PLAY
Rolligo, Fat Brain Toy Co.
Emotiblocks, Miniland Educational
Take Along Zoo & Aquarium, PLAYMOBIL
Walk-A-Long Caterpillar, Hape
The Munch Mitt – Baby Teething Mitten, Munch Baby Inc.
Mirari Flip Flop ABC Blocks, Patch Products
GAME PLAY, 3-5 YEARS
Super Genius – First Words, Blue Orange Games
Mystery Dish Diner, Melissa & Doug
Three Little Piggies , Smart Toys & Games
Eye Found It! Journey Through Time Game, Wonder Forg
GAME PLAY, 6-PLUS YEARS
Outfoxed, Gamewright, a division of Ceaco
Fun Farm, IELLO
Cauldron Quest, Peaceable Kingdom
Bugs in the Kitchen, Ravensburger USA Inc.
Taco Takeover, The Haywire Group
Laser Maze Jr., ThinkFun
GAME PLAY, 8-PLUS YEARS
Sheriff of Nottingham, Arcane Wonders, LLC
Duplik, Asmodee Editions
Dimension, Thames & Kosmos
Rush Hour Shift, ThinkFun
Bellz Magnetic Game, Wiggles 3D
PRETEND — DOLL PLAY
Mon Premier Bebe Calin Ballerina, Corolle Dolls
Royal Princess Playhouse, International Playthings
HABA Doll Rubin with Baby, HABA USA
Babycat Cradle, Janod
Buddy Balls, Maxland Toys
Lottie Muddy Puddles, Schylling
Coleman Camp Stove & Food Set, Sophia’s
PRETEND — ROLE PLAY
Malia’s Beach House, Build & Imagine
Kidoozie Pop-Up Theater Tent, International Playthings
French Cocotte Trolley, Janod
Story Grand Prix Suitcase, Janod
Sunshine Preschool, PLAYMOBIL
Brio Roller Coaster Set, Brio
PRETEND — FANTASY PLAY
Folkmanis Winged Dragon Puppet, Folkmanis, Inc.
HABA Magician Glove Puppet, HABA USA
Princess Palace, Janod
Magician Role Play Set, Melissa & Doug
Royal Lion Knight’s Castle, PLAYMOBIL
Magic Elf Castle with Accessories, Schleich
SCIENTIFIC PLAY
Snap Circuits Arcade, ELENCO
LightUp Tesla Kit, LightUp
Tasty Food Science Bakeology, MindWare/MW Wholesale
Sound Science Kit, Science Wiz
Hydrapult — a fluid powered Catapult, Pathfinders Design
For more information, visit www.astratoy.org.