HOUSTON, TX - Families gathered at Houston Public Library’s (HPL) Central Library location on November 5 for a special treat: a stop on the tonies® Tour. Kids were given the chance to play with the brand-new Toniebox 2, a screen-free audio player that lets children dive into stories and songs just by placing a Tonie character on top.
And the fun didn’t stop there. Tonies® made a generous donation to HPL families: five Tonieboxes and 25 Tonies figurines, a gift valued at $1,000, so that more children can enjoy storytelling at home. 
Left photo: Kids and families playing at tonies® on Tour event
Right photo: L-R Nicholas Sawicki, Executive Director, HPL Foundation; Sandy Gaw, HPL Library Director; Drew Vernon, Director of Education, tonies®; LaTrisha Milton, HPL Youth and Family Services Manager
Tonieboxes may be placed on hold and checked out from HPL's Library of Things collection with a valid MYLink library card.
“We selected Houston Public Library because of their long-time support and interest in tonies®. We’re thrilled to partner with HPL to bring screen-free storytelling to families across the community,” says Drew Vernon, Director of Education, tonies®. “Their continued support of early literacy makes them an ideal partner for tonies ® on Tour. Together, we’re creating moments where children can engage with stories in a tactile, interactive way that sparks creativity and fosters a lifelong love of reading."
“Houston Public Library is proud to host tonies® and share this exciting resource with our community,” says Sandy Gaw, Library Director. “By combining technology with storytelling, we’re opening new doors for children to discover the joy of reading in creative, hands-on ways.”
“We are grateful for tonies®’ commitment to fostering literacy and imagination. This donation helps us provide families with innovative tools that make reading and storytelling more accessible and engaging,” said Nicholas Sawicki, Executive Director, Houston Public Library Foundation.
About tonies®
Tonies® is a playful audio system for children, where stories and songs come to life without screens. It works with small figurines called Tonies that are placed on a soft, kid-friendly speaker called the Toniebox. As soon as a Tonie is on, the magic begins: music, adventures, or learning moments start playing. It’s hands-on, easy to use, and built to spark imagination, confidence, and fun.
About Houston Public Library
We are a dynamic public service organization serving one of the largest and most diverse areas in the nation – both in population and geography. Our comprehensive, customer-focused service delivery strategy supports the 2.3 million residents of the City of Houston.
Our system is comprised of 44 public service units, including six Regional Libraries – anchored by our flagship Central Library – 28 Neighborhood and Express Libraries, three History Research Centers, four TECHLink centers, a Satellite location at the Children’s Museum Houston, the Mobile Express outreach unit, and the Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy. Together, we provide equitable access to resources, technology, and lifelong learning opportunities for all Houstonians.