Margaret Evans Price: The Woman Behind Push-Pull Toys

When it comes to toys, we know that Fisher-Price Toys has been producing some of the most beloved toys since the 1930s. I’m sure a large percentage of us have owned at least one toy made by them. What we don’t know is that behind the toys is the imagination of a woman who was inspired by her own books: Margaret Evans Price. She is one of the few women who have made a tooth in the toy design industry. Who can forget the classic push and pull metal toys that were based on her books?

He was born on March 20, 1888 and died on November 20, 1973. He lived a comfortable life with his family in New York who was very successful in business and politics. But what helped her succeed as a toy designer? It is her experience writing and illustrating children’s books. Before becoming art director for the beloved toy company, she was a writer and illustrator of children’s books. Among her most beloved titles are The Night Before Christmas, Hansel and Gretel and The Baby in the Manger. So what made her transition to becoming an art director at Fisher-Price Toys easy? There is no doubt that books and toys go well together. She really didn’t need to change her way of thinking because both help in the development of children. Margaret Evans Price has the imagination and creativity to write and illustrate children’s books and her transition into toy design was easy. She just had to use her passion for helping children develop and channel it into creating toys for Fisher-Price Toys. Her illustrations are very popular to this day and she just had to channel her talents into a different industry.

Toy design can be intimidating for some of us. But if you have child development experience like her, it will be easy. It doesn’t necessarily have to be with books and toys. If you are a nurse, teacher, doctor, or professional who deals with children, the transition will be easy. While it’s true that Margaret Evans Price started young when she first got her chance in the children’s book industry in 1900, she can never be too old to be in the book and toy industry.

So, have you written or illustrated a children’s book? Why not go into toy design? Ask yourself why you wanted to go into writing children’s books in the first place. I’m sure one of the reasons is that you love children and want to participate in their development. Take a few minutes and brainstorm potential toy designs using your experience as a writer and illustrator. That’s all you need, a few minutes.

Boys need more women like Margaret Evans Price. She, with the help of Fisher-Price Toys, helped the children become good children with books and toys. If you have the experience, use it to come up with an idea for a toy and turn it into the next big thing. The kids will thank you.