Arlington, Va.-based Beanstack, the popular reading motivation platform used in schools and libraries, has acquired Comics Plus, a leading digital platform providing schools and libraries with unlimited simultaneous access to comics, graphic novels, and picture books. Combined, the two platforms comprise the base of the new ed tech entity called the Joyful Reading Company, designed to help expand access and make reading fun.
The idea for the new brand grew from recent trends observed by Joyful Reading Company CEO and Beanstack co-founder Felix Lloyd and his team. “A couple years ago, we started seeing how our message around independent reading resonated—especially with the emergence of a generation that has grown up with screens—and we saw schools drawing more of a clear connection between reading outcomes and reading for fun,” Lloyd said. “We’ve always believed that Beanstack, our core product, is the leading motivation solution, but we lack for content,” he added. He also noted that, with the popularity of comics and graphic novels still growing among readers of all ages, and particularly among K–12 students, readers are seeking out those materials. “Comics Plus allowed us to build out both that expertise in having a very engaging type of content, but also the thesis that we can be a leader in joyful reading beyond motivation alone,” he said.
Under the Joyful Reading Company umbrella, Lloyd said users will find “an ecosystem of products” focused on the key principles of providing motivation, content, and assessment. The product lineup will soon include a Reading Motivation Index, which uses research from the National Reading Research Center to measure 10 different intrinsic and extrinsic reading motivation factors. “For example, an intrinsic factor is curiosity, people who love to read and to learn,” Lloyd said, “and an extrinsic factor is competition, people who are social, who really want to tell others about the books they’re reading, or to compete to read for more minutes than their peers.”
As Beanstack and Comics Plus join forces, they will reach more than 3,600 library systems, 9,000 school buildings (550 school districts), and 18 million readers combined. Beyond this new structure, Lloyd said, “People can expect better pricing, because we’ll be able to offer the products on their own, but also bundle them, offering a suite of different solutions at a lesser cost and better service.” He foresees a smooth transition for Beanstack and Comics Plus partners. “We’re getting an amazing team from Comics Plus, and our team is made up of a lot of librarians and educators. I’m a former educator myself” he said. “This is sharpening the mission and our capacity to deliver outstanding personal service that’s dedicated to schools and libraries in a way that we’ve always been about—but we have more opportunities now.”
Ian Singer, head of public and academic libraries at Joyful Reading Company, said in a statement, “Our mission has always been to remove barriers to reading. Now, we’re combining that access with Beanstack’s incredible ability to encourage and celebrate every reader’s journey. It’s a perfect match.”
