American Girl dolls, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and puppets vying for a spot in the Toy Hall of Fame

An American Girl doll.
(Image credit: Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

The 12 finalists for entry into the National Toy Hall of Fame this year range from the classic (puppet) to the newfangled (Super Soaker) to the primitive (spinning top).

The other contenders include the Wiffle Ball, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the coloring book, American Girl dolls, Battleship, Jenga, Playmobil, the scooter, and Twister. Every year, people nominate their favorite toy for inclusion in the Hall of Fame, located at The Strong Museum in Rochester, New York, and the two winners this year will be inducted Nov. 5. The criteria is simple: The item has to have lasted for more than one generation; is widely known; and encourages creativity, learning, or discovery through play.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.