Curious Kingdom Story Starters: Now at Barnes & Noble!
The castle door creaked open as Princess Petunia peeked out, her eyes scanning the horizon. Her bunny friend Bumble hopped excitedly at her feet. "Ready for our big adventure?" she whispered. With a gentle smile, she mounted her broomstick and soared high above the kingdom. For the first time, Petunia wasn't just visiting one castle – she was flying to 600 of them across the kingdom!
We're thrilled to share that Playper's Curious Kingdom Story Starters has made its grand entrance into Barnes & Noble stores nationwide! This marks the first time our sustainable toys have appeared on the shelves of a major retailer – a true milestone moment for our growing company.
What Are Story Starters?
If you're searching for a screen-free activity that sparks creativity while teaching valuable skills, you've found your perfect match. Story Starters is an enchanting card activity designed for children ages 3 and up that introduces storytelling, creativity, and imaginative pretend play to your kids’ playtime.
What makes this set unique? Your kids select cards from three categories:
- Person cards (featuring Princess Petunia and friends from the Curious Kingdom)
- Place cards (from magical forests to royal castles)
- Thing cards (mysterious treasures and everyday items)
With these simple elements in hand, your child builds unique stories limited only by their imagination. The best part is…no reading required. The beautiful illustrations tell the story.
From Home Shelves to Barnes & Noble: Our Exciting Journey
Finding quality, eco-friendly toys that truly engage active children can feel challenging. When we created Story Starters, we created something that checked all the boxes parents care about:
- Sparks creativity
- Teaches valuable skills
- Made with sustainable materials
- Screen-free entertainment
- Grows with your child
Now, you can find Story Starters at your local Barnes & Noble for $14.99 – locate your nearest store here.
This nationwide launch means more families can access the magic of storytelling through our carefully crafted cards. But what exactly makes these cards so special? Let's explore why parents, teachers, and child development experts have fallen in love with Story Starters.
The Magic Inside: What Makes Story Starters Special
Meet Princess Petunia and Bumble
This Story Starters set includes a buildable 3D paper-based character – Princess Petunia – along with her small pet bunny friend Bumble. Princess Petunia even comes with a broomstick she can ride, just as illustrated on the product's cover!
For collectors and fans, this version features Princess Petunia in a different costume than the one she wears in the Curious Kingdom Castle Playset, making it a collectible addition for those who already have other Playper toys.
Social-Emotional Learning Through Storytelling
As a parent or caregiver to a young child, you know that early years are critical for development. Story Starters is a fun card activity and it's a powerful tool for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL).
When your kid tells stories with these cards, they:
- Develop speech patterns and vocabulary
- Express emotions through characters
- Build confidence in their voice and ideas
- Learn to think sequentially
- Practice creative problem-solving
These skills form the foundation of future success, both academically and socially. By starting early with storytelling, you're helping your child develop abilities they'll use throughout life.
Zero Plastic, 100% Imagination
In today's world, making eco-conscious choices matters more than ever. Story Starters is made with 100% plant-based material and is fully recyclable. There's zero plastic in the entire product – something we're very proud of at Playper as we work to become leaders in sustainable toys.
The cards themselves have a quality feel – durable, water-resistant, and with a soft, velvety texture that small hands love to hold.
How Story Starters Supports Child Development
When your 3-9 year old plays with Story Starters, they're developing key skills that go far beyond just having fun:
Speech Development
For preschoolers still developing language skills, storytelling provides natural practice. As they describe what Princess Petunia might do in the enchanted forest or how Bumble found a magic key, they:
- Form more complex sentences
- Learn to sequence events logically
- Expand their vocabulary naturally
- Practice clear articulation
Many parents report that their typically quiet children become animated storytellers when given the Story Starters cards!
Imagination Growth
In an age where entertainment is often passive, Story Starters puts children in the driver's seat. There are no wrong answers or predetermined plots – just endless possibilities.
This open-ended play:
- Encourages thinking beyond obvious solutions
- Helps children visualize scenarios
- Teaches them to connect seemingly unrelated elements
- Fosters the creativity that will serve them throughout life
Confidence Building
When you listen attentively to your child's story, something magical happens. They stand taller. Their voice gets stronger. They become more engaged.
Story Starters creates a supportive environment where children:
- Express their ideas without fear of being "wrong"
- Feel pride in creating something original
- Practice speaking in front of others
- Receive positive feedback for their creative thinking
This confidence extends beyond playtime, showing up in preschool, family gatherings, and other social situations.
Beyond the Cards: Extending the Story Starters Experience
The beauty of Story Starters lies in its flexibility. While the cards provide the foundation, there are countless ways to expand the play experience:
Prompts for Young Storytellers
Sometimes children need a gentle nudge to get their creativity flowing. Try these prompts when they seem stuck:
- "Once upon a time, there was a..." (a classic story starter)
- "What kind of day is it in your story? Sunny? Rainy? Special?"
- "Where did this object come from? Was it on the ground or was someone holding it?"
- "Is this character friendly or not? Why?"
- "What would happen if YOU were in this story too?"
Simple questions like "Then what happened?" can help move the story forward when momentum slows.
Making Stories More Complex
As your child grows more comfortable with storytelling, you can add new challenges:
- Use multiple cards from each category (2-3 characters, locations, or objects)
- Ask them to retell the story with a new twist
- Have them swap one character for another and see how it changes the story
- Create a "chain of events" by drawing new cards throughout the storytelling process
Talking About Story Structure
Even young children can grasp basic story concepts:
- For 3-4 year olds, point out how stories have beginnings, middles, and ends
- With 5-9 year olds, introduce concepts like character development and conflict resolution
- Use the object cards to discuss how items can move a story forward or create problems to solve
- Before starting, ask what might go wrong in the story (conflict) and how it might be fixed (resolution)
Exploring Emotions Through Stories
Stories provide safe spaces to explore feelings:
- After finishing a tale, discuss whether it was silly, scary, happy, or sad
- Challenge your child to tell both a sad and happy story using the same cards
- Suggest themes like kindness, friendship, or bravery, especially around holidays
Family Game Night Ideas
Turn Story Starters into a family activity:
- Deal cards to everyone and take turns telling stories
- Vote on the most creative, funniest, or most surprising story
- Create collaborative tales where each person adds a part
Multiple Ways to Tell Stories
Remind your child that stories come in many forms:
- Act it out like a play
- Sing the story as a song
- Tell it traditionally
- Draw pictures to illustrate what happens
- Record it as a "podcast" or video
Why Storytelling Matters in the Digital Age
You might wonder why card-based storytelling remains relevant when digital entertainment surrounds us. The answer lies in the unique benefits that come from unplugged, imagination-driven play.
Digital content often provides complete narratives for passive consumption. Story Starters, by contrast, puts your child in charge of creating content – a skill that becomes increasingly valuable as they grow.
Consider how much of adult life involves crafting narratives:
- Creating social media posts
- Writing emails and presentations
- Explaining ideas clearly to others
- Building personal and professional connections
By starting storytelling early, you're preparing your child for a future where content creation is a crucial skill. Plus, the face-to-face interaction that comes with Story Starters builds social skills that screen time simply can't match.
What Parents and Educators Are Saying
Since launching Story Starters, we've received wonderful feedback from families and teachers:
"My 4-year-old son usually races through activities, but he'll sit with Story Starters for 45 minutes at a time, carefully crafting tales about Princess Petunia's adventures. His preschool teacher has commented on how much his verbal skills have improved!" – Maria P., mom of two
"As a kindergarten teacher, I appreciate having a quality resource that works for students at different language levels. The visual nature of the cards makes them accessible to everyone, including my English language learners." – Rebecca T., educator
"We bring Story Starters on every road trip now. It keeps the kids engaged without screens, and we all end up laughing together at the wild stories they create." – James L., dad of three
Find Story Starters at Your Local Barnes & Noble
Ready to bring the magic of storytelling home? Visit your local Barnes & Noble store to find Curious Kingdom Story Starters in the children's section, priced at $14.99.
Locate your nearest Barnes & Noble store here
When you introduce Story Starters to your child, you're giving them tools to:
- Express themselves confidently
- Think creatively
- Develop language skills
- Build emotional intelligence
- Create rather than just consume
Plus, with its eco-friendly materials and zero plastic components, you can feel good about your purchase from an environmental perspective.
Creating Family Moments That Matter
In the rush of daily life, quality time often gets squeezed out. Story Starters creates natural opportunities for connection:
- Listen to your child's stories to gain insight into how they see the world
- Join in the storytelling to model creativity and verbal skills
- Use story time as a calm, screen-free wind-down before bed
- Take turns being storyteller and audience
These simple moments build relationships and create memories that last far longer than the play session itself.
Supporting Your Child's Learning Journey
As a parent or caregiver, you're your child's first and most important teacher. Story Starters makes your job easier by:
- Providing structure for creative play
- Creating natural learning moments
- Growing with your child as they develop
- Being portable for learning on the go
- Requiring zero prep time or cleanup
You don't need special training or extra materials – just open the box and the learning begins.
From Playper to Barnes & Noble: A Sustainability Success Story
We started Playper with a mission to create toys that are good for children AND good for the planet. Seeing Story Starters on Barnes & Noble shelves nationwide represents a major step forward in bringing sustainable play options to mainstream retail.
Every time a family chooses Story Starters instead of a plastic-heavy alternative, it's a win for our environment. With 600+ Barnes & Noble locations now carrying our product, the potential positive impact multiplies dramatically.
We're proud that our first major retail product:
- Contains zero plastic
- Uses 100% plant-based materials
- Is fully recyclable
- Teaches valuable skills
- Encourages imaginative play
Looking Forward: The Future of Creative Play
As Story Starters reaches more families through Barnes & Noble, we're excited about the next generation of storytellers, creators, and thinkers.
Children who grow up expressing themselves through stories develop skills that serve them throughout life:
- Creative problem-solving
- Clear communication
- Emotional intelligence
- Confidence in their ideas
- Appreciation for different perspectives
These are precisely the qualities needed for success in school, relationships, and eventually, careers.
Join the Storytelling Revolution
By bringing Story Starters home from Barnes & Noble, you're joining thousands of families who believe in the power of creative play. You're saying yes to:
- Quality time together
- Skill development through play
- Environmental responsibility
- Screen-free entertainment
- Child-directed learning
We can't wait to hear the amazing stories your family creates with Princess Petunia, Bumble, and all the magical elements in the Curious Kingdom Story Starters set.
Visit your local Barnes & Noble today to add this special toy to your collection, priced at just $14.99. For store locations, visit Barnes & Noble's website.
Here's to imagination, creativity, and the countless stories waiting to be told!
