LeapFrog Enterprises’ kid-friendly LeapPad Explorer tablet received the 12th annual Toy of the Year Award in an event held under the auspices of the Toy industry Foundation and held in conjunction with the 109th American Interntional Toy Fair in New York.
The device also was named Educational Toy of the Year and Preschool Toy of the Year, making it the only toy to take home more than one of the 11 awards. It has a video camera, microphone, touchscreen and motion sensors. Additional games and activities come on separately sold cartridges.
The remaining winners were, in alphabetical order by category: Activity Toy of the Year – Lego Ninjago Fire Temple, by Lego Systems Inc.; Boy Toy – Hot Wheels Wall Tracks, by Mattel Inc.; Game – Angry Birds Knock On Wood Game, by Mattel Inc.; Girl Toy – Fijit Friends Interactive Figures, by Mattel/Radica; Infant/Toddler – Elefun Busy Ball Popper, by Hasbro/Playskool; Innovative – Hot Wheels Wall Tracks, by Mattel Inc.; Outdoor – Rockboard Scooter Mini, by M.Y. Products; Property of the Year – Angry Birds by Rovio Entertainment Ltd./ Striker Entertainment (Licensing Agent); Specialty – Hexbug Nano Hive Habitat Set, by Innovation First Labs Inc.
The finalists were selected from nearly 600 products and properties submitted for consideration. Nomination committees comprised of academics, journalists & toy trend experts, play therapists, toy inventors & designers, and toy retailers narrowed the field to the slate of 77 finalists.
Related links:
Press release – http://tinyurl.com/7xythjj
