tonies + Book Bundles for Libraries: Play, Print, and Early Literacy

How do you get a three-year-old excited about books when a screen is always within reach?

Follett Content Regional Sales Director Fred Harvey joined tonies Education Director Drew Vernon and Allison Stack, who formerly led Independent and Education Sales at tonies, to share one answer: pair the stories kids already love with the print books that tell them. Missed the live session? Watch it on demand.

Here’s what they covered…

Play is serious learning.

Fred visits libraries every week, and he sees the same goal everywhere: reaching young readers in fresh ways without giving up what works. Technology on its own hasn’t delivered the results many hoped for. Its real value, he said, is in supporting traditional reading, not replacing it.

That’s the idea behind tonies^® + Book Bundles. A child places a Tonies character on the Toniebox, and the story starts to play. With the matching book in hand, they can follow along and see how the sound connects to the printed page.

Fred borrowed a thought from Fred Rogers to explain why it works: for children, “play is really the work of childhood.” And because reading is so often learned on the lap of an adult, tonies are built to be shared with parents and caregivers, not just used alone.

What the research shows:

Drew shared results from a recent University of Wisconsin study, that found:

• Children who listened to a Toniebox demonstrated 32% higher emergent literacy scores compared with children who did not.
• Children who used a Toniebox showed a 25% drop in those exceeding one hour of daily screen time.*

?*Based on a 2024 study conducted by the University of Wisconsin, commissioned by Tonies, involving children ages 3-5 over a 12-week period. Data on file. Individual results may vary.

Want to dig into the studies? Explore the research on tonies for learning.

How the bundles work:

Follett Content offers Tonieboxes, Tonies and 18 book bundles, built for children ages 1-9 (Grades PreK-3).

• Each bundle pairs a Tonies character with one to three matching print books. Some are bilingual.
• The Toniebox is made for small hands: colorful, durable, and sturdy enough to survive a tumble off the table. Headphones, chargers, and setup instructions are available, too.
• Ordering happens on Titlewave®, where a dedicated tonies® panel links to the players, characters, and bundles in one place.

Bundles are shelf-ready from the start.

Add processing to your order and your bundles arrive ready to circulate. Every bundle ships in a hanging bag, with the Tonies character in its own small pouch and the books alongside, ready for display and quick checkout. Cataloging and processing for the books themselves is available, too.

Get ideas from libraries already using them.

Fred recently visited a library that’s seeing tremendous success with tonies. 

• Staff there built their own approach to circulation, signage, and displays.
• Other libraries are sharing photos of themed baskets and creative children’s area displays.

The goal is one every library shares: more visits, new young families, and new ways to reach your community!

Bring tonies^® to your library!

Curious which characters your young readers would love most? Explore the full tonies® + Book Bundles lineup and see what fits your collection.

Your questions, answered.

Do the bundles come in reusable packaging for circulating the small figures?

Bundles ship in a hanging bag, with the Tonies character in its own pouch and the books inside. Many libraries adapt from there to fit their circulation workflow. Some keep the character in a small box or a DVD case on the display shelf, and patrons bring it to the desk to check out the figure. Others bundle multiple books and characters together or keep each one as an individual checkout.

How often are new Tonies released and available through Follett Content?

The current lineup is available on Titlewave now, and Follett Content plans to add more as demand grows. Each new bundle means matching a Tonies character to its book and getting licensor approval, so it takes some time. Have a character or book you’d love to see? Let your Follett Content sales rep or the tonies team know; suggestions help move titles up the list!