This wonderful granular material made up of finely divided rocks and mineral particles is in the running for the National Toy Hall of Fame in November. The public is invited to participate in the voting process, which organizers insist will not be manipulated by shadow Russian agents.

The National Toy Hall of Fame, established in 1998 by AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, a children’s museum in Salem, Oregon, aims to “recognize toys that have acquired longevity and national significance in the world of play and play. imagination, ”according to the Hall’s website. .

The institution moved from its original home in 2002 to a new location in Rochester, New York. There was no Mr. Potato Head scandal; it simply went beyond its original location.

There are currently 74 toys in the Hall of Fame, including favorites like the bike, ball, Ferris wheel, and GI Joe. Three more will be added in November

This year’s nominees, in addition to Sand, are American Girl Dolls, Battleship, Billiards, Cabbage Patch Kids, Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Mahjong, Masters of the Universe, Piñata, Risk, The Settlers of Catan and the Firefighter Toy.

It’s an interesting list, although I doubt the late Minnesota Fats thought of pool as a toy.

Hall said the induction criteria include: icon status (the toy is widely recognized, respected and remembered); longevity (the toy is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over several generations); discovery (the toy promotes learning, creativity or discovery through play); and innovation (the toy has profoundly changed the conception of the game or the toy).