T
he Big Toy Book held its annual Holiday Event at the Hearst Tower in New York City in partnership with the Toy Insider and Woman’s Day magazine on October 23. Overlooking Central Park and the New
York City skyline, close to 100 prominent journalists and bloggers from Philly to Boston got a sneak peek at the hottest toys from the holiday season and had some fun testing out new dartslinging crossbows from Zing Toys, battling robots from Tomy, a learning tablet from LeapFrog, and tons of Doc McStuffins toys from Just Play. Toy Insider Mom Laurie Schacht and her good friend Big Hugs Elmo greeted guests while they enjoyed a gourmet lunch. Schacht gave the guests a brief overview of all the companies exhibiting this year’s hottest toys, while also stressing the importance of a “well-balanced toy box.” She explained that choosing just the right toys helps children gain a full play experience. To demonstrate this idea, the Toy Insider also displayed its picks from the Hot 20 and Top Tech 12 lists, which help shoppers effortlessly find the perfect toy for every child on their holiday shopping lists. Social media was abuzz with bloggers posting tweets, photos, and more using #HotToys13. Trending on Twitter during and after the event, #HotToys13 has amassed more than 5 million impressions and counting. All of the lucky guests left with swag bags overflowing with the hottest toys from the sponsors to review and share with their families. Plans are already underway for The Big Toy Book’s second annual Baby Palooza event and the fifth annual Sweet Suite event in New York City, where hundreds of bloggers will get up close and personal with the hottest toys on the market. If you’re interested in learning more about these events, contact Laurie Schacht at laurie@thebigtoybook.com.
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014
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THE TOY BOOK • 11