Praise for Timeless Toys (formerly The Playmakers)

“Rare indeed is the reader who will be able to resist perusing this hefty, sweet-natured book that presents the history of dozens of classic toys….This is the kind of book you give to one person and find the whole family reading.”

— Deirdre Donahue, USA Today

“(A) loving roundup of playthings that were invented long ago and cherished still.”

— Gene Shalit, Today Show

“…The enthusiastic text complements the handsome photography….A worthy, fascinating, and overdue tip of the hat to toymakers who have made so many so happy.”

— Kirkus Discoveries, read the starred review

“…tells the behind-the-scenes toy stories of some of the world’s most beloved playthings, from Flexible Flyers to Beanie Babies.”

— Vickie Chachere, The Associated Press

“…An illustrated compendium of America’s 20th-century favorites.”

— Cynthia Crossen, The Wall Street Journal

“A fun book that feels like it should accompany a museum exhibition…”

— Publishers Weekly

“…300 pages of déjà vu. The book is full of delightful stories…”

—Dave Tianen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“Timeless Toys is such a cool book that it’s hard to find the right words to convey how much fun it is to read. It doesn’t matter what age you are, toys really are timeless. And this book proves it…. A five star book that deserves a special spot on the bookshelf of anyone who has cherished a toy or spent hours playing a favorite game — which covers just about all of us.”

— about.com

“…A glorious coffee-table valentine to memorable toys since the 1900s ….Only someone who escaped childhood altogether would not feel pangs of nostalgia….”

— John Marshall, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

2005 President’s Book Awards Winner for Best Overall Book

— Florida Publisher’s Association, Inc.

2004 Book of the Year Award (Gold) in Popular Culture

— Foreword Magazine

Grand Prize Winner in the 2004 Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards.

— Writer’s Digest

IPPY Award for the Best Pop Culture/Leisure book of 2005

— Independent Publisher

“Monopoly. Slinky. Pez. Candy Land. Silly Putty. Frisbees. Mystery Date. Barbie. Sea Monkeys. Etch A Sketch. GI Joe. Twister. Rubik’s Cube. Trivial Pursuit. Cabbage Patch Kids. For most of us, the mere mention of these former amusements creates a wave of nostalgia. Tim Walsh’s Timeless Toys presents the often-improbable stories of the creations of these national obsessions; it rekindles our interest with hundreds of color photographs of classic toys and vintage ads. More fun than Hula Hoop or Slip ‘N Slide.”

— Barnes and Noble.com

“…Well researched and beautifully photographed….What seems a coffee table book actually made for compelling bedtime reading.”

— Nicholas Wiedenhoeft, BookReview.com, 4 Star Review, “Must Read” Full review

“…Reveals a world of commerce, play, and wonder that is equally fun, fascinating and nostalgic….Readers of all ages will get lost in its pages…”

— Playzak Magazine

“Open this book to any page, and you’ll be drawn into the world of Magic 8 Ball, Lincoln Logs, Slinky, Mr. Potato Head, Etch A Sketch, Ant Farm, Wiffle Ball — and all the memories of childhood play that those names evoke…. Despite the academic-thesis quality of the research, Walsh’s writing style is as inviting as a novel.”

— Ruth B. Roufberg, Parents’ Choice Foundation

“…A brightly colored toy chest filled with memories and trivia.”

— H.V. Cordry, ForeWord

“…Provides a fascinating look at our collective toy chest.”

— Evelyn Small, Washington Post.com

“…will quell the curiosity of any grown up with a thirst for knowledge of nostalgia…. The research alone required for such an in-depth look at this magnitude of information is remarkable. Truly a toy anthology. This book is perfect for the collector or the kid at heart.”

— Emily Stavrou, Schuler Books & Music, Grand Rapids, Michigan

“A fun book that all can enjoy – It’s AWESOME BABY!”

— Dick Vitale, ESPN sportscaster

“…a walk through the enchanted land of toys. For those of us who live in this fantasy land, it is a wonderful story of our best and brightest.”

— Alan Hassenfeld, Chairman, Hasbro Inc.

“What a cool, beautiful book – full of all the toys I had, coveted or never knew existed.”

— Steve Rushin, author of Road Swing: One Fan’s Journey Into The Soul Of America’s Sports

“Everyone has a toy box full of memories and The Playmakers lifts the lid wide open!”

— Rob Angel, inventor of Pictionary

“This is no mere listing of popular toys with pretty pictures — it’s a definitive look at 100 years worth of America’s most important toys… Expertly photographed and affectionately written…a delightful chronicle of America at play in the 20th century.”

— Jim Barnes, Editor, www.IndependentPublisher.com

_”…a big beautiful book about toys, games, and other playthings…a nostalgic trip through childhood for anyone of any age.”

— Terri Schlichenmeyer, www.bookwormsez.com

_”…personal, detailed, lavishly illustrated with more than 400 pictures, and well-organized into witty, bite-sized essays….Tim Walsh is a game designer himself, and writes the toys’ stories with the verve of an insider. But his clever prose is meant for the rest of us who played with or longed for these classic toys….a pleasure to read.”

—Scott G. Eberle, Vice President for Interpretation and Director of Play Studies, National Toy Hall of Fame^® and Strong Museum

“A timeless collection of priceless anecdotes….This wonderfully illustrated book is an accessible and timely contribution to our understanding of the popular toys of past and present….Tim Walsh brings an understanding of what readers who are either in or outside of the toy business will equally appreciate.”

— Stevanne Auerbach, PhD/Dr. Toy

“Toys and games helped shape the culture of the Twentieth Century. They defined our childhood and our sense of enjoyment as adults. We have Tim Walsh…to thank for reconnecting us with our memories, placing them in such caring perspective, and bringing into the light the men and women who created these marvelous playthings. Tim’s behind the scenes stories are as much fun as the toys and games themselves. We’re all winners, as a result.”

— Philip E. Orbanes, Monopoly historian and former Senior VP of Research and Development at Parker Brothers

“For America’s 78 million Baby Boomers, nothing evokes an emotional reaction more compelling than the memory of a toy we grew up with. Remembering what we played with brings back — for one exquisite moment — a period of our lives that will never be equalled in the grownup world. Now, here comes Tim Walsh with a gorgeous book which shows and tells it all. Tim is America’s foremost authority on 20th century toys, and his book is an unexpected opportunity to rush down the stairs and look under the Christmas tree one more time.”

— Garry Lee Wright, WGN Radio

“Walsh was able to uncover the tantalizing untold stories behind America’s favorite toys – like the connection between shoe polish and Twister, the link between oil wells and Super Balls, and the true story behind Play-Doh’s lineage as a wall paper cleaner.”

— Sharon Korbeck, Toy Shop Magazine

“… If you have ever wondered who came up with Play-Doh, Clue, Frisbee, Lego, Nerf, Monoply, Barbie, Magic 8 Ball…you will find this a very satisfying reading experience.”

— Alan Caruba, Bookviews

“Visually compelling, stunning in its breadth… tells the often dramatic, always eye-opening stories of mavericks and dreamers who created the playthings and cherished totems that in turn helped create US. Walsh has done his homework well and ker-plunked it home with clarity and wit.”

— John Michlig, author of It Came from Bob’s Basement, GI Joe: The Complete Story of America’s Favorite Man of Action, and the creator of The Masterpiece Edition book-and-toy series.

“This is quite simply the most gorgeous book about commercial games and toys ever published. This hefty coffee table book, lavishly illustrated with over 400 photographs, celebrates 75 classic toys and games with the histories of their invention and profiles of their inventors. Illuminating, inspirational, and simply a joy to browse and read, this book is an absolute must-have.”

— Peter Sarrett, The Game Report

“If you want to see joy and wonder fill a person’s face, watch someone open The Playmakers …the most interesting history of our favorite toys and games ever told.”

— Reyn Guyer, developer of Twister and Nerf

“…immensely interesting, informative, and a great deal of fun….a visual feast! The layout, the color, the images—it’s all wonderful!

— Bruce Whitehill, The Big Game Hunter

“A flip through the pages…is a trip in a time machine….Tim’s passion for playthings oozes from the pages and stirred nostalgia in the heart of this overgrown kid.”

— Peggy Brown, VP Product Development, Patch Products

“The collective book Tim Walsh has put together is remarkable…colorful, informative…so fascinating that every family should have one in their bookcase.”

— Legend Book Review Group

“One of the best gift books for Boomers that I’ve ever seen.”

— Betsy Wright-Lampe, Executive Director of the National Association of Independent Publishers

“A thoroughly enjoyable read…highly recommended for the child in all of us.”

— Harold McFarland, The Midwest Book Review

“Nostalgia, quirky trivia, timelines and exquisite photos of 100 years of toy history make this coffee-table book a must-have…”.”

— Pamela Stock, Nick Jr. Magazine

More to come…

USA Today!

So my Mom calls me at 7:00AM to tell me that she saw my book in USA Today. What she neglected to tell me was that they nearly covered the USA Today logo on the front page with a picture of the THE BOOK!

And on the inside…

Rare indeed is the reader who will be able to resist perusing this hefty, sweet-natured book that presents the history of dozens of classic toys. The list includes almost every plaything familiar to American children. Take Play-Doh, for example. Walsh points out that more than 2 billion cans of the stuff have been sold since 1955 — enough to snake around the world nearly 300 times.

A toy inventor himself, Walsh conveys his passion for creative people and his genuine love for toys. He writes the biographies of the toy creators with warmth — even when the background stories involve acrimonious wrangling over money and creative credit.

This is the kind of book you give to one person and find the whole family reading.

Thank you Deirdre Donahue (and Mom).

"...a tip of the hat..."

Kirkus Discoveries just posted their entire review of The Playmakers on the Kirkus Reviews website. I was not aware that it was a “starred” review until I found this posting. “A star is assigned to books of unusual merit, determined by the editors of Kirkus Reviews.” It’s all good.

It's Awards Season

The Playmakers took top honors (GOLD) in the Pop Culture category in Foreword magazine’s Book of the Year Awards! This on the heels of The Playmakers winning the Grand Prize in the Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards, and an “IPPY” award for the Best Pop Culture/Lesisure book at the 2005 Independent Publisher Book Awards.

Once again, thank you Herb Booth at Booth Studio for taking great pictures; Giles Hoover and Amanda Smith at Osprey Design for designing a great layout; Marcia Fairbanks at The Careful Reader Editorial Service and John Michlig for their editing expertise; Dana Lutz for her thorough proof reading. Luke T. Murphy for his excellent photo editing; Wendy and Kevin Alex at Allex Indexing Services for their awesome indexing –– all pros, friends and colleagues who held my hand through this two and half year journey.

PW's full review of The Playmakers

Publishers Weekly, the 131-year-old international news magazine which reaches every major publisher worldwide has just reviewed The Playmakers.

“A fun book that feels like it should accompany a museum exhibition, Walsh’s history includes toy timelines (beginning with the Flexible Flyer in 1900); postcards, ads and articles (such as a 1980s Newsweek cover on “The Cabbage Patch Craze”); and close-up photos of game pieces (including a board from a 1949 version of Candy Land in which a boy has a peculiar line running up his leg, which Walsh supposes might “speak volumes to… young polio victims”). Centered on toys that sold at least 10 million copies, were invented outside of the major toy companies (so no Mattel Hot Wheels or Hasbro Easy-Bake Oven) and that had significance to the author—a game inventor and 15-year veteran of the toy industry—and his friends, Walsh’s account gives the particulars of 75 toys that enchanted American kids from 1900 to the 1990s. Among the playthings Walsh examines are Lincoln Logs, Monopoly, Barbie, Slip ’n Slide, Mouse Trap, GI Joe and Rubik’s Cube. The book’s nostalgic feel should appeal to fans of Americana.”

Author John Michlig On The Playmakers

In preparation for writing the 1960s-1970s section of The Playmakers, I had the privilege of interviewing writer and producer John Michlig, whose GI Joe Masterpiece Edition book-and-figure product arguably kick-started Hasbro’s newfound reverence for the “classic” version of the product. Besides writing the definitive book on Hasbro’s little-big man, GI Joe: The Complete Story of America’s Favorite Man of Action, Michlig genuinely loves toys. We hit it off immediately and talked about action figures, movies, comics, and movies based on comics. We conversed over Marvin Glass, Batman, King Kong and other pop culture giants. He gave me a schooling on the business of books and his contributions to the final version of The Playmakers were numerous. Yet, just when I thought he couldn’t possibly do anymore to help, he agreed to preview a pre-press version of my book. Here’s what he had to say:

“Visually compelling, stunning in its breadth, and wonderfully subjective at times, The Playmakers tells the often dramatic, always eye-opening stories of mavericks and dreamers who created the playthings and cherished totems that in turn helped create us. Walsh has done his homework well and ker-plunked it home with clarity and wit.”

— John Michlig, author of It Came from Bob’s Basement, GI Joe: The Complete Story of America’s Favorite Man of Action, and the creator of The Masterpiece Edition book-and-toy series.