​Dear kids, parents, caregivers, teachers, and librarians,
​
TOON has many free resources that are accessible online that may be of help to you during this time of distance learning.  Some of these resources, kids can use on their own; others are more hands-on. And perhaps best of all, some are designed for pure fun. After all, kids do love comics!

We will continue to add to the resources listed below and hopefully offer more helpful solutions. Please email us with questions or suggestions ​HERE. 
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We send our very best during these challenging times.  
As of today, we are still able to ship orders placed through our online store and we are offering a 33% discount on all orders (use coupon code  "SAVE33" at checkout).  Our small warehouse in Pennsylvania is working with minimal staff and taking all steps to protect its workers.  Please note that orders may take extra time to process and to reach your destination.  
​

Resources for Distance Learning &
Home-Based Activities for Kids Ages 3-12

COMICS: EASY AS ABC by Ivan Brunetti

TOON is giving free online access to the entire book for all users.
This guide to comics for kids is an essential tool for all those who enjoy comics. Simple cartooning basics are outlined with easy examples to follow. Kids, parents, teachers, and librarians will love the humorous step-by-step lessons by master cartoonist and teacher Ivan Brunetti. Even reluctant artists will be inspired to pick up a pen and give it a try. View the step-by-step lesson plan here.

With contributions by:

Geoffrey Hayes
Art Spiegelman
Eleanor Davis
Kevin McCloskey
Reneé French
James Sturm
Roz Chast
Sergio García Sánchez
Lemony Snicket
Chris Ware
Elise Gravel
Jeff Smith
Liniers
Neil Gaiman

TOON READERS

This entirely FREE resource allows children to read select TOON Books online...and in multiple languages!  Children can listen to the entire text using "Read To Me" or activate the audio prompts on individual balloons when they need a little extra help.  TOON Readers were developed in cooperation with Professor Garfield, a non-profit educational collaboration between Garfield the Cat and Ball State University.
​In Multiple Languages!For children studying two (or more!) languages, select TOON Readers are also available in multiple languages!

  • English
  • French
  • Spanish
  • Russian
  • Chinese

TOON Readers are an excellent resource for learning a second language.


​CARTOON MAKERS

Create your own one-panel carTOON using your favorite TOON Book characters! Just click and choose your own backgrounds, characters, props, balloons, and text and then print, save, and email your completed carTOONS!  This FREE interactive program was developed in cooperation with Professor Garfield, a non-profit educational collaboration between Garfield the Cat and Ball State University.  It's a great activity for imaginative play and creative writing. Have fun!
To start, choose 
your favorite stories & characters
Benny & Penny

​Jack and the Box

Little Mouse Gets Ready
​
Luke on the Loose

Mo & Jo Fighting Together Forever​

Otto's Orange Day

Silly Lilly and the Four Seasons 
​
Stinky

Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework
Once you master single-panels, it's time for your very own 3-panel cartoon strip with Benny, Penny, and friends.  Choose from characters, props, backgrounds, and balloons to craft your own original adventure!
Just 3 steps to get started!

  1. Enter your name. Log-in is FREE and does not require email or registration.  
  2. Click "COMIC CREATOR"
  3. Click on the first left panel and start designing. You'll get the hang of it in no time!


​LESSON PLANS & ACTIVITY SHEETS
FOR EVERY TOON TITLE

Our FREE Common Core Guides have been customized for every TOON Book to provide teachers with easy-to-use tools that support standards-based instruction in the classroom. Guides include Lesson Plans, Student Activity Sheet and topics for the ELA Common Core Standards, with a special emphasis on our core area of expertise: developing students' visual literacy and using comics in the classroom. We hope these tools will be helpful to you and that you'll write to us with feedback, students' achievements, and suggestions.


​CRAFT ACTIVITIES
CREATE YOUR OWN 
STINKY MONSTERS
Follow the prompts from Stinky author, Eleanor Davis, to create your own monsters, complete with googly eyes, secretive smiles, spindly legs, and a bat-filled cave! When you're done drawing monsters, turn to the last page to draw a monster's dream. Will it be scary or nice? Booklet is 8 pages.
POPSICLE PUPPETS: 
PUT ON A PLAY
WITH ZIG AND WIKKI & 
BENNY & PENNY

Color the figures if you'd like, cut them out (with a grown-up's help!), tape or glue to a popsicle stick and you're ready to go. Put on your own original play or use the popsicle puppets to reenact your favorite TOON Books. Includes 2 per page.
DRAW WITH 
BENJAMIN BEAR
TOON into drawing fun with tips on how to create Benjamin Bear plus "Complete the Picture" panels for your budding cartoonist to fill in the blanks. Includes 3 pages.
CREATE YOUR OWN 
PIGEON FINGER PUPPETS
Download, print and cut out pigeon finger puppets of your very own!  What will your pigeons have to say?
COLOR & SCRAMBLE
WITH BENNY AND PENNY
Add your own touch of color to Benny and Penny's world, then try asking a grown-up to cut the panels out and scramble them. Can you put them back in the correct order? Booklet includes 9 comic strips.
TOON Books