Bookful Expands Its Massive Augmented Reality Library With Mattel’s Thomas & Friends And Barbie
New AR-enhanced stories featuring famous children’s characters arrive on the mobile platform.
Kids build a connection with their favorite toy characters through play, imagination, and entertainment. When it comes to reading, however, keeping children engaged, motivated, and inspired can be a significant challenge, especially into today’s modern world.
According to Scholastic’s Kids & Family Reading Report, 86% of kids ages 6 – 17 agree that reading is important, though 41% report difficulty finding books they actually like. On top of that, parents are underestimating the challenge, with only 29% saying their kids need help finding books to read.
To cultivate a love of reading and learning, immersive entertainment company Inception created Bookful. Touted as the world’s largest 3D/AR library, the mobile reading platform brings a variety of fictional characters kids know and love to life with hundreds of books and educational gaming experiences enhanced by AR and 3D animations.
Bookful recently expanded its library, teaming up with Mattel to add books from the company’s iconic brands, Thomas & Friends™ and Barbie®, to its platform. Titles from Thomas & Friends are now available on the mobile app, including Busy Busy Thomas, Search and Rescue, and Big Surprise, A Visit to London from Thomas & Friends, as well as titles from Barbie, with You Can Be a Fashion Designer, You Can Be a Doctor, and You Can Be a Gymnast arriving in the coming months.
“Thomas started as a story 75 years ago and since then, we’re always looking for new innovative ways to extend the Thomas story to consumers. By experiencing Thomas stories on Bookful, our consumers will be able to connect with Thomas and the world of Sodor in a new and interactive way,” said a spokesperson from Mattel.
Looking for more of your favorite toy characters? Bookful’s current collection of titles also includes those from Penguin Random House, Charlesbridge, Horace, and Co., and DK, including classics such as Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit and children’s favorites; My Little Pony, Transformers and The Smurfs.
In addition to offering exclusive access to premium titles from the world’s leading publishers, Bookful houses complementary immersive learning opportunities for a magically interactive reader experience. Bookful engages its readers with spelling, comprehension, painting, and dancing games to reinforce learning through a series of uniquely crafted “edutainment” content.
Welcoming one of the world’s leading toy companies into the Bookful library, Inception’s CEO Benny Arbel notes the potential of this addition: “We are extremely excited to have Mattel’s properties added to our library. With this partnership, we will be able to bring even more brands closer to users like never before”.
Bookful was recently selected by Verizon as one of 4 children apps that they were promoting to their customers as part of their COVID 19 relief initiative.
Download Bookful from the App Store and Google Play to begin your immersive reading adventure.
Image Credit: Inception VR
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