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.
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.
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.
Eric collects vintage model kits. In this Collector Spotlight, he discusses how a lack of reliable information led him to fill a gap in the vintage model kit community and ultimately launch a YouTube channel focused on the history and evolution of model building.
Duncan Fisher is the son of Spirograph inventor Denys Fisher. In this edition of The Friday Five, Duncan shared his Dad’s unlikely path into the toy industry and explains why he’s now working to document his remarkable life and legacy.
Fernando Albarran collects The Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, Fernando talks about how his love for the film turned into a passion for collecting and the joy within the Nightmare community.
B. and Candice Woodward, founders of The National Toy Museum of Canada, join us for this edition of The Friday Five to talk about what inspired the creation of the British Columbia–based museum and to share how they rebuilt and expanded the space after moving to a larger location.
Aaron Wiley is the curator behind The Halloween Retrospect digital archives. In this edition of The Friday Five, Aaron talks about the new volume in his Halloween Artifacts book series and reflects on the traditions, toys, and imagery that continue to inspire his love of the season.
Kate Wiggs is the daughter of Polly Pocket creator Chris Wiggs. In this edition of The Friday Five, Kate reflects on her father’s creative legacy and the enduring charm of his most famous creation, Polly Pocket.
Collector Spotlight, Otherworldly
Danii Meger collects Scooby-Doo merchandise. In this edition of Collector Spotlight, Danii talks about right and wrong in the world of collecting and the approach that turns “stuff” into a collection.
