Nominees must have fulfilled one or all of the following criteria, depending on the award category:
- Overall excellence of product, including design, safety standards, and play value.
- Outstanding, unusual, and creative execution of artwork or product/program design.
- Overall product/program/company performance on all levels, including sell-through.
Activity Toy of the Year
In recognition of a toy that inspires creative play through various forms of activity, the 2009 winner was Crayola Color Wonder Magic Light Brush by Crayola LLC. The Magic Light Brush is a special paint brush that is dipped into a gel substance, which then lights up to the color it will paint.- Crayola Crayon History
- Youtube - Crayola Color Wonder Magic Light Brush
- Shopping for Crayola Color Wonder Magic Light Brush Compare Prices
Boy Toy of the Year
For toys developed for boys of any age. The 2009 winner was Bakugan Battle Brawlers Battle Pack Series 1 Spheres by Spin Master.
And.. Toy of the Year
The supreme award goes to Bakugan Battle Brawlers Battle Pack Series 1 Spheres by Spin Master. Bakugan Battle Brawlers is a collectible game with a companion television series, the first time a Canadian toy company has created an original TV series to accompany its toy line. Bakugans are small spheres that pop open into powerful Bakugan warrior action figures when skillfully rolled onto the game’s Gate Cards. Kids learn to master battle by strategically selecting Bakugan warriors and gate cards to beat their opponents.This is not the first year that Spin Master has won. In 2007, Spin Master’s hugely innovative and popular Air Hogs Havoc Heli Laser Battle set was awarded the prestigious Toy of the Year honor. Also in the spring of 2007, the Air Hogs Havoc Heli flew into the Guinness Book of World Records as the lightest R/C helicopter, weighing in at less than 280 grams.
- Shoping for Bakugan Battle Brawlers Battle Pack Series Compare Prices
Educational Toy of the Year
In recognition of a toy that, through play, helps children develop special skills and/or knowledge. The 2009 winner was the LeapFrog TAG Reading System. leapfrog claims that the Tag reader is the first handheld learn-to-read system that works with real books.Leapfrog was also the winner of the very first Toy of the Year Award, with their LeapPad Learning System.
- LeapFrog's Tag Reading System Wins Educational Toy of the Year
- Shopping for LeapFrog TAG Reading System Compare Prices
Girl Toy of the Year
For toys developed specifically for girls of any age the 2009 winner was Playmobil Horse Farm by Playmobil USA, Inc. The Playmobil Horse Farm is a vintage style game - no batteries required - based on many classic toys.
- Playmobil’s Girls Horse Farm & Trend of Classic Toys
- Shopping for Playmobil Horse Farm Compare Prices
Electronic Entertainment Toy of the Year
For toys that merge high-technology with creativity and imagination the 2009 winner was FurReal Friends Biscuit My Lovin' Pup by Hasbro. According to Hasbro, "The lovable mutt features voice recognition, obeying six commands, including, "Sit", "Speak", and "Lie down." Tell your furry friend to give you his paw and he’ll raise his right or left paw. Ask him if he wants a treat, and he’ll nod and whimper to let you know he’s ready for his dog "bone."
- Shopping for FurReal Friends Biscuit Compare Prices
Game of the Year
Including board, CD-ROM, electronic and card game formats the winner was Bananagrams by Bananagrams LLC. Another vintage style game that reminds me of scrabble that's based on anagrams.
- How to Play Banagrams
- Shopping for Bananagrams Compare Prices
Infant/Preschool Toy of the Year
For toys designed for infant and/or preschool children the winner was Elmo Live by Fisher-Price, Inc. According to Fisher-Price, the battery-operated Elmo seems to actually be speaking as his mouth opens and closes, just like Elmo from Sesame Street. He speaks, waves his arms, sits and stands, crosses his legs, tells stories and jokes, sings songs, and plays games.- Shopping for Elmo Live Compare Prices
Most Innovative Toy of the Year
For the most outstanding, unique and creative toy the winner was Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro by Spin Master. A R/C controlled car version of their popular Air Hogs Havoc Heli that can drive upside down and on walls.- Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro Review
- Shopping for Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro Compare Prices
Property of the Year
For the licensor that had the greatest success spreading its brand or property throughout the industry while generating interest and excitement the 2009 winner was Bakugan Battle Brawlers by Cartoon Network.Outdoor Toy of the Year
Focused on toys designed for outdoor play the winner was Crayola 3D Sidewalk Chalk by Crayola LLC.
- Shopping for Crayola 3D Sidewalk Chalk Compare Prices
Specialty Toy of the Year
For toys distributed primarily through specialty retailers the winner was Create Your Own Pop-Up Books by Creativity for Kids/Faber-Castell USA.
- Shopping for Create Your Own Pop-Up Books Compare Prices
