You know I love lists. I’m a listophile. This blog features t a list of 500+ Things that Kids Like, Things They DON’T Like, and a list of over 200 fun, cool and interesting words. List-o-mania! List-o-rama! The lister! (Pretend I’m talking in Rob Schneider’s SNL “annoying office guy” voice.)
Today I invited debut author Darlene Beck Jacobson to the blog to share the Top 10 Toys and Candies of the early 1900’s, the time when times, well, they were a-changin’. It was also the time during her new middle grade novel, WHEELS OF CHANGE! (Don’t you just LOVE that cover?)
TOP TEN TOYS OF 1900-1920
- Teddy Bear (1902)—in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt who, on a hunting trip, had an opportunity to kill a bear and didn’t.
- Erector Set—invented by AC Gilbert, a gold medal Olympian in the 1908 Pole Vault.
- Lionel Trains (1901)
- Lincoln Logs (1916)
- Raggedy Ann Doll
- Radio Flyer Wagon (1917)
- Tinker Toys (1914)
- Crayola Crayons 8 pack (1903)
- Tin Toys
- Tiddlywinks
Other popular toys of the time included: Baseball Cards (1900), Ping Pong (1901), Jigsaw Puzzle (1909), Snap Card Game, playing cards, marbles, checkers, chess, yo-yos, wooden tops and (of course) dolls.
Let’s see, what would the top 10 toys of today be? I think Teddy Bears might still have a shot at it. Maybe Crayola crayons, too. But I bet no one back then could envision an app being the most popular toy. (An app? they might say. You mean a tiny apple?)
Now let’s devour the top tasty treats of the era!
POPULAR CANDY FROM 1900-1920
- Candy Corn (1880-s)
- Juicy Fruit Gum, Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum (1893)
- Tootsie Rolls (1896)
- Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar (1900) with Almonds (1908)
- Necco Wafers (1901)
- Conversation Hearts (1902)
- Brach Wrapped Caramels (1904)
- Hershey Milk Chocolate Kisses (1906)
- Peppermint Lifesavers (1912)
Hmm, I think Hershey would still rank pretty high today. But my kids love Sour Patch and Fun Dip and AirHeads and all kinds of gross things now. Give me a Hershey’s any day (although make it a Cookies-n-Cream bar).
Last night was back-to-school night at my daughter’s elementary, and I’m astounded every year when the principal says, “Our children will be working in fields that haven’t even been invented yet.” That’s how fast things are moving. I’m sure in another hundred years the top toys will be time machines and molecular transporters that will bring the catchphrase “Beam me up, Scotty” back in style.
Today’s world is moving fast, and that tempo is paralleled in WHEELS OF CHANGE with racial intolerance, social change and sweeping progress. It is a turbulent time growing up in 1908. For twelve year old EMILY SOPER, life in Papa’s carriage barn is magic. Emily is more at homehearing the symphony of the blacksmith’s hammer, than trying to conform to the proper expectations of females. Many prominent people own Papa’s carriages. He receives an order to make one for President Theodore Roosevelt. Papa’s livelihood becomes threatened by racist neighbors, and horsepower of a different sort. Emily is determined to save Papa’s business even if she has to go all the way to the President.
Sounds exciting, right? IT IS!
And guess what, you have yet another chance to win another book! Leave a comment stating what YOU think the #1 toy and #1 candy is right now, in 2014. You have until the last seconds of September 29th to enter. The winner receives WHEELS OF CHANGE.
To learn more about Darlene Beck Jacobsen and WHEELS OF CHANGE, visit DarleneBeckJacobson.com.
Tara and Darlene at NJ-SCBWI 2013!
I work at a center for kids 1-7, and I’d say it’s a tie between bubbles, balls and toy cars for the little guys, action figures and Legos for the bigger guys. Another big favorite with the little ones is an empty coffee can with an x cut in the plastic lid and some wooden clothes pegs that they push down into the can! The older ones also love homemade playdough, and both ages like books.
Hmm . . . my guesses are PlayStation and Snickers.
Number 1 toy for boys is probably blocks/Legos and for girls, maybe American Girl dolls. If it had been last year, I would have said Rainbow Loom bracelets for both boys and girls but that ship seemed to set sail pretty quickly. For candy, gummies, Sour Patch, Nerds. Fun post!
Lego for toys and Swedish Fish for candy. Those are my favorites. My boys would ditto the Lego pick but probably opt for either Jolly Ranchers or Mike and Ike’s
Hmm Does Xbox count as a toy? And Monster High dolls. Great post! I can’t wait to read it! As for Candy the juicy drop pop.
Thanks for doing such an awesome job on the post Tara! I find it amazing that all the toys listed are still AVAILABLE in stores! And “old-timey” candies are popular again, thanks to baby-boomers wanting a taste of childhood. Anyone remember Chunky chocolate bars? A whole lot of chocolate for a nickle!
Thanks for the post and giveaway! I think Playstation and skittles are very popular today.
Fun lists! My guesses #1 toy – Legos & #1 candy – Snickers
I see a lot of my favourites in these 2 lists – like Tinkertoys and Lincoln Logs, which I could never get enough of as a child! As for the #1 toy and candy, I’d guess toy cars as top toy(s) and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups as the top candy.
Hmmm, Sour patch kids and legos.
I love lists too! For 2014, going to go with Legos as the number one toy and for candy…hmmm, that’s a tough one. I am going with M&Ms even if that is not my favorite. My favorite is Twix. And Wheels of Change sounds like a great read.
I don’t have a guess. I can’t get past Necco Wafers #5. Seriously? Have they tasted Neccos? :)