Reimagining Reading: Kibeam Learning Calls on Publishers to Join Its Screen-Free Storytelling Revolution

Developed by education experts behind LeapFrog, the Kibeam Wand transforms ordinary paper books into immersive, screen-free storytelling adventures, reshaping how children learn to read

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine a children's storybook that talks, sings, and plays music as a child flips the pages. That's the promise of the Kibeam Wand, the first-of-its-kind, screen-free, AI-powered device from edtech startup Kibeam Learning, the latest venture from the team of creators behind the LeapFrog LeapPad. With a simple point of the Wand, characters come to life, music swells, and sound effects transform every page into an interactive experience—turning traditional books into immersive literacy adventures.

Kibeam is partnering with publishers and authors to bring this frontier of reading to life, helping books reach new audiences, deepen engagement, and amplify their impact on early literacy. For publishers, the Wand offers an opportunity to turn their titles into unforgettable, interactive experiences that children will want to revisit again and again.

"Just as we did with LeapPad 25 years ago, we're once again reimagining how children engage with books—this time by bringing stories to life without screens," said Jim Marggraff, Kibeam founder and CEO, and the inventor of the LeapFrog LeapPad. "Our focus now is on forging publisher partnerships to expand children's access to beloved stories in a format that is both joyful and grounded in research."

Each book in the Kibeam library is mapped to a comprehensive set of early literacy and language skills and enhanced with directed play: interactive prompts and activities woven into the story that reinforce one or more of these key skills. For example, a dinosaur adventure might build  vocabulary and categorization, while a story about a character overcoming obstacles could strengthen comprehension and social-emotional learning.

"What I really love about this technology is that it doesn't replace physical books but complements them and brings them to life in exciting and wonderful ways," said Peter H. Reynolds, author of the acclaimed children's book The Dot who has partnered with Kibeam to include some of his titles in its library. "The Wand lets you explore fun activities, hang out with the book, and really understand it in completely new ways."

The Kibeam Wand seamlessly integrates into existing classroom routines—like circle time, small group instruction and learning centers—making it easy for educators to enhance instructional time. In addition, the Kibeam Wand equips educators with access to real-time data to monitor progress, tailor support and obtain embedded assessments.

Kibeam Wand will be available in PreK classrooms beginning in the 2025–26 academic year, with consumer channels to follow in 2026.

The company is currently in active conversations with publishers and invites interested partners to connect with Matt Brown, VP Business Development, at [email protected].

About Kibeam
Kibeam is transforming the way young children learn to read. Founded by Jim Marggraff, inventor of the LeapPad, Kibeam combines the magic of storytelling with a Science of Reading-backed literacy approach to spark joy, focus and curiosity in early readers. Its flagship product, the Kibeam Wand, is a first-of-its-kind, screen-free, AI-powered handheld device that brings regular, physical books to life through sound effects, music and character voices, enabling children to engage deeper, for longer. At Kibeam, we aspire to be the leading force in improving literacy by making every child's reading journey more accessible, playful and effective. To learn more, visit kibeam.com.

Media Contact
Colleen Raona
[email protected]
313.209.4971

SOURCE Kibeam Learning, Inc