If you’re looking for a really unique gift for a special child in your life, you can’t go wrong with Hallmark’s Story Buddies. These adorable stuffed animals take the idea of reading together to a whole new level. When you read a book with your child, his Story Buddy will chime in with a response at key points throughout the story.
Honestly, I have no idea how the technology behind Hallmark’s Story Buddies works. My son received Watson as a gift from his grandma and I was skeptical this cute little raccoon would actually pipe up with comments at the appropriate time. But, he did an amazing job of “helping” to read the story.
My seven-year-old son was impressed by how lifelike he seemed. As long as we were reading in a room without any background noises like a loud television set, Watson didn’t have any trouble knowing when to add his comments.
There are currently only four books that work with Watson, which makes his usefulness a little limited. Hallmark offers several other adorable Story Buddies, but each only has a few books as well. This makes them costly if you have a child who is already on the cusp of learning to read independently. But, if you’re looking for a unique present for a toddler who you’ll still be reading to for several years to come, these would be perfect!
Hallmark Story Buddies are sold at Hallmark stores nationwide. There are currently six different stuffed animal choices. Each one comes with a book to get you started, then additional books are also available for purchase.
Does your child have one of the Hallmark Story Buddies? If so, what do you think of this toy?
photo credit: Hallmark
