‘I don’t think I have that in me’: what was Lena Dunham’s abandoned Polly Pocket movie actually going to involve?
Stuart Heritage
Barbie: The Exhibition review – the wonder doll’s evolution, from Gehry homes to ‘gay Ken’
June 2024
The Great British Seaside
From swimwear to toys: how to go plastic-free for a day at the beach
Lycra, neoprene, polystyrene and other potential pollutants have become near-ubiquitous but there are alternatives – if you know where to look
Millions of Miniverse toys recalled over risks of skin, eye and respiratory issues
US product safety agency says MGA Entertainment’s Make It Mini toy sets contain resin that is harmful when liquid
‘Someone who looked like me’: the women who created Black Barbie
Designer clothes and £90 toys: rise of kids’ birthday gift lists heaps pressure on parents
Forget soft play areas. If you want to entertain your children, take them to a skip
Nell Frizzell
May 2024
‘Genuinely a con’: Lego enthusiasts bemoan half-empty room at Birmingham NEC event
Brick Fest Live promised lifesize models and rare collectibles but disappointed visitors of all ages
April 2024
The Eva Wiseman column
Shelf life: why are toy shops full of horrors these days?
Eva Wiseman
Teenager finds ‘holy grail’ Lego octopus from 1997 spill off Cornwall coast
The Wall Street lawyer who quit to make Lego art: ‘It is a job, not a hobby’
Hobby horse competition is no joke for young riders
March 2024
Lego tells California police: stop putting our heads on your mugshots
Toy company makes request after altered images – which hide suspects’ identities in line with state law – go viral
Observer business profile
‘The total toy platform’: boss of The Entertainer aims for infinity and beyond
Andrew Murphy is planning a long game with overseas deals. But, he says, the government needs to play ball too
Shock of the old
Shock of the old: 10 of the weirdest, wildest dolls from history – from Frozen Charlotte to the Cabbage Patch Kids
We’ve played with miniature humans for thousands of years – so why are they so often creepy? From ivory Roman dolls to wax antiques, here are some of the most unnerving
February 2024
An icon turns 65: Barbie’s changing style showcased in London exhibition
Cute review – the world is on fire, but just look at that smol round boi!
From Victorian cat memes to Hitler petting a deer, with more big-eyed manga characters than you could shake a magic wand at, this exhibition showcases the unsettling power of cuteness
Peppa Pig to make Lego debut and expand global theme parks
Hasbro signs deal with Lego Group and Alton Towers operator Merlin Entertainments
Squishmallows success fails to cushion impact of £200m drop in UK toy sales
Cuddly toy costing £9 is best seller as parents buy fewer games and action figures for children
