David Sleasman is the director of library and archives at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York. In this edition of The Friday Five, David provides insight into how children’s literature shapes our understanding of childhood and culture, and explains its lasting influence on play, learning, and identity.
Released in 1987 by TOMY, Starcades was a series of palm-sized mechanical games designed to resemble miniature arcade cabinets.
Released in 1983 by TOMY, the Bring-Along-A-Song Cassette Player (#1058) was a wind-up music-box toy styled to resemble a portable tape player.
Cameron Smith-Rodewald collects PEZ. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, Cameron shares how a childhood curiosity became a 3,700-piece collection and lifelong passion.
Blake Changnon is the president, CEO, and founder of The Changnon Family Museum of Toys and Collectibles. In this edition of The Friday Five, Blake shares insights into the power of play, nostalgia, and the importance of preserving children’s cultural history.
Founded as a family-run operation rooted in mechanical and tactile play, Schylling built its business around classic toy forms and nostalgic design, developing and stewarding enduring playthings across generations.
Stern Pinball has joined forces with The Pokémon Company for a new line of pinball machines.
Hasbro’s 1981 toy catalogue presented a wide-ranging assortment organized by play category and age group.
Before its release in 1996, Pokémon was developed under the working title Capsule Monsters.
Buying or selling vintage toys and games on auction sites often means navigating a shorthand language collectors have been using for decades.
Rediscover Spirograph with this creative project. Turn geometric designs into greeting cards, bookmarks, envelopes, wall art, and more.
Introduced in 1990, the Toddler Kitchen was part of Fisher-Price’s line of early childhood activity toys.
