TOON Books
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
TOON Books firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TOON Books
- Legal name
- TOON Books
- Website
- https://toon-books.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TOON Books industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210), Book Retailers and News Dealers (459210)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Children’s Comics, Graphic Novels & Manga Publishing (MPAJAFAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Children’s & All-Ages Comics Publishing (MPAJAGAI), Early Readers & Phonics (Learn-to-Read) (EDAGAIAB), Digital Reading Content & eBooks (Leveled Readers, Libraries) (EDAFACAH)
Keywords
Where TOON Books is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
TOON Books business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Book Sales: Primary revenue from selling physical and digital books directly through website and via wholesale to retailers. One-time purchase model for individual titles and bundled sets for schools and families.
- Wholesale Distribution: Books sold through wholesale channels to booksellers and retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, IndieBound, and Powell's.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Complete Award-Winning Core Paperback Set | 28 Books |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Level 1: Award-Winning Core Paperback Set | 8 Books |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Level 2: Award-Winning Core Paperback Set | 8 Books |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Level 3: Award-Winning Core Paperback Set | 6 Books |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | TOON Graphics: Paperback TOON Graphics Set | 5 Books |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual TOON Graphics Titles |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
TOON Books product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TOON Books publishes and sells high-quality, educator-vetted comics and graphic novels designed for beginning and reluctant readers (children ages 4+, grades K-3+). The product line is organized into a four-tier reading level system (Level 1 K-1, Level 2 grades 1-2, Level 3 grades 2-3, and TOON Graphics grade 3+). The company also offers free digital tools including the TOON Readers online reading platform with audio support in five languages, and interactive Cartoon Makers/Comic Strip Maker creative tools developed in partnership with Professor Garfield.
Product overview
TOON Books is a publisher of high-quality easy-to-read comics and graphic novels for children, organized into a four-tier reading level system: Level 1 (Grades K-1), Level 2 (Grades 1-2), Level 3 (Grades 2-3), and TOON Graphics (Grade 3+). The core product line includes educator-vetted comic books that teach reading comprehension strategies through visual storytelling. Beyond printed books, TOON Books offers free digital platforms including TOON Readers (an online reading platform with audio support in multiple languages) and interactive creative tools called Cartoon Makers and Comic Strip Maker (developed with Professor Garfield). Notable titles include Black Heroes of the Wild West, The Secret of the Stone Frog, and the Eisner Award-winning Comics: Easy as ABC! guide. The company also publishes Spanish-language editions of select titles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TOON Graphics: A line of graphic novels for grade 3+ readers, part of the TOON Books collection.
- TOON Readers
Products and services
- TOON Readers Free online reading platform that allows children to read select TOON Books online with 'Read To Me' audio and individual balloon audio prompts, available in five languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese) to support ESL/ELL students.
- Cartoon Makers Free interactive program that lets children create one-panel cartoons and 3-panel comic strips using favorite TOON Book characters, with backgrounds, characters, props, balloons, and text tools, and the ability to print, save, and email completed creations.
- Comics: Easy as ABC! Step-by-step cartooning guide for children by Ivan Brunetti that teaches the essentials of making comics, featuring contributions from notable comic artists; winner of the 2020 Eisner Award for Best Early Reader.
- Black Heroes of the Wild West TOON Graphics graphic novel by James Otis Smith featuring Stagecoach Mary, Bass Reeves, and Bob Lemmons, celebrating African American heroes of the Old West, with an introduction by Kadir Nelson.
- The Secret of the Stone Frog TOON Graphics novel by David Nytra following siblings Leah and Alan on an enchanted forest adventure, the first in The Leah and Alan Adventures series.
- TOON Books Children's Book Catalog The full catalog of educator-vetted, leveled comics and graphic novels for beginning and reluctant readers, organized into four reading tiers: Level 1 (Grades K-1), Level 2 (Grades 1-2), Level 3 (Grades 2-3), and TOON Graphics (Grade 3+), plus Spanish-language editions. Available in hardcover and paperback formats.
- Spanish/Libros en Espanol Editions Spanish-language editions of select TOON Books titles, including Flores salvajes (Wildflowers in Spanish), aimed at Spanish-speaking families, bilingual classrooms, and Spanish-language literacy programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Transforms reluctant readers into confident, lifelong readers who love to read
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use TOON Books
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
TOON Books technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
TOON Books partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Professor Garfield (Ball State University)coreCo-developed Cartoon Makers interactive cartoon creation tool and TOON Readers online reading platform with Professor Garfield, a non-profit educational collaboration between Garfield the Cat and Ball State University. These free digital tools help children learn to read and create comics.
- Astra Publishing HousecoreAstra Publishing House is the parent publisher of TOON Books. All TOON Books titles are distributed through Astra Publishing House, which handles the publishing and distribution operations.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
TOON Books competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- First Second Books: Macmillan-owned graphic novel publisher with a strong children's and middle-grade list (e.g., Science Comics series). Most direct competitor in publisher-led, educator-vetted graphic novels for young readers.
- Graphix (Scholastic): Scholastic's graphic novel imprint including the Bone and Raina Telgemeier backlist. Directly comparable in publishing children's graphic novels with massive school-book-fair distribution.
- Papercutz: Independent graphic novel publisher focused on kids and all-ages titles (Smurfs, Geronimo Stilton, Disney). Comparable as a specialty children's graphic novel publisher competing for the same bookstore and library shelf space.
- Amulet Books (Abrams): Abrams' children's imprint publishing graphic novels and illustrated middle-grade titles. Comparable in producing high-production-value, illustrated children's books targeting the same school and library buyers.
- Flying Eye Books: Nobrow's children's imprint producing illustrated children's books and graphic novels. Comparable as a design-forward, independent children's graphic novel publisher serving schools, libraries, and bookstores.
Others
Emerging players
- Oni Press: Independent comics publisher with a growing all-ages and middle-grade line (e.g., Rick and Morty, Junior Braves). Comparable as a specialty comics publisher expanding into younger-reader titles.
Broad incumbents
- HarperCollins Children's Books: Major trade publisher with extensive children's graphic novel lines (Amulet, Bone reissues via Scholastic, custom imprints). Overlaps with TOON in distribution channels and educational buyers but operates at much greater scale.
- Random House Children's Books: Major children's publisher with graphic novel titles (Dog Man via Graphix partnership, etc.). Competes for the same retailer and library buyers but is orders of magnitude larger.
Regional players
- Capstone / Stone Arch Books: Educational publisher producing leveled graphic and illustrated readers for school and library markets. Comparable as a publisher focused on leveled early-reader content distributed primarily through educational channels.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TOON Books social profiles
Digital presenceTOON Books financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TOON Books leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
TOON Books funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TOON Books M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TOON Books
What does TOON Books do?
TOON Books publishes and sells high-quality, educator-vetted comics and graphic novels designed for beginning and reluctant readers (children ages 4+, grades K-3+). The product line is organized into a four-tier reading level system (Level 1 K-1, Level 2 grades 1-2, Level 3 grades 2-3, and TOON Graphics grade 3+). The company also offers free digital tools including the TOON Readers online reading platform with audio support in five languages, and interactive Cartoon Makers/Comic Strip Maker creative tools developed in partnership with Professor Garfield.
Is TOON Books a public or private company?
TOON Books is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was TOON Books founded?
TOON Books was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is TOON Books based?
TOON Books is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does TOON Books make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale Distribution.
Who are TOON Books's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are First Second Books, Graphix (Scholastic), Papercutz, Amulet Books (Abrams) and Flying Eye Books. KaBOOM! (BOOM! Studios) is listed as an others. Oni Press is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are HarperCollins Children's Books and Random House Children's Books. Capstone / Stone Arch Books is listed as a regional player.
Does TOON Books have an API?
No public API is recorded for TOON Books.
What industry is TOON Books in?
TOON Books's product category is Children's Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAFAH, Children’s Comics, Graphic Novels & Manga Publishing, with a secondary code of MPAJAGAI, Children’s & All-Ages Comics Publishing. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 2731.