Help Thomas the Tank Engine win Toy Property of the Year!

Are you a fan of Thomas the Tank Engine? You can help Thomas and Friends win Property of the Year at this year's Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards! The TOTY Awards are like the Oscars of the Toy Industry, and the 2011 winners will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held before the start of American International Toy Fair on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Property of the Year Award will go to the property that has had the greatest success spreading its brand throughout the industry in 2010. Besides Thomas & Friends, the other nominees in this category are Ben 10 Ultimate Alien (Cartoon Network Enterprises), Chuggington (Ludorum), Dinosaur Train (The Jim Henson Company), Monster High (Mattel) and Toy Story 3 (Disney Consumer Products). Finalists in this category and 10 others were selected by Nomination Committees from a record 500+ toys, games and properties submitted for consideration across 11 TOTY categories.

Looking at the nominees, I think all six brands were hot, hot hot in 2010, but in my opinion Chuggington, Monster High, Ben 10 and Dinosaur Train (which I really, really love) don't have the cross-generational appeal that Thomas and Toy Story 3 have. Thomas, while definitely a child's character, has been around since 1945, so even middle aged men have a soft spot for him. Toy Story 3, while not as old as Thomas, is a worldwide phenomenon that people of all ages love. Impressed as I am with the Disney merchandising juggernaut, I think Thomas should win because Thomas is on clothing, shoes, bags, food, books, CDs, DVDs, party goods, and so many other things besides play sets and stuffed animals.

How about you? What do you think? You can vote for your favorite toy at ToyAwards.org, TOTY's consumer voting website. Now through January 14, 2011, families can vote, download a Holiday Gift Guide, and register to win fantastic prizes. So don't delay -- get on board, and vote for everyone's favorite train!

Psst, here's a secret: I'll be running a giveaway for a Thomas the Tank Campaign Party Package, with four fun Thomas toys, very very soon...... and if you vote for Thomas at ToyAwards.org, you'll get an extra entry into the giveaway!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. DKC Public Relations will be sponsoring a future Thomas the Tank giveaway on this site. Contest information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.