Best Storytelling Toys of 2025

Jimmy Roof Avatar
Jimmy Roof
Last Updated: Jan 17, 2025

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Storytelling toys are a great way to encourage imaginative play and spark creativity in children. These toys come in a variety of forms, from traditional storybooks to interactive toys that allow kids to create their own stories. Some popular storytelling toys include stuffed animals that tell stories when squeezed, board games that require players to create and tell their own stories, and electronic toys that allow children to record and play back their own stories. These toys can help children develop language and communication skills, as well as foster a love of reading and storytelling. Whether playing alone or with friends, storytelling toys provide endless opportunities for fun and learning.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Little Tikes Story Dream Machine Starter Set Cover #TOP 1
Little Tikes Story Dream Machine Starter Set
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Cuddle Barn Storytelling Dragon Cover #TOP 2
Cuddle Barn Storytelling Dragon
ftb score rating icon 9.8
VTech Storytime with Sunny Cover #TOP 3
VTech Storytime with Sunny
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Storytelling Toys

#TOP 1

Little Tikes Story Dream Machine Starter Set

663734
Multicolor
Medium
Little Tikes Story Dream Machine Starter Set Cover
Little Tikes Story Dream Machine Starter Set, Storytime, Books, Little Golden Book, Audio Play, The Poky Little Puppy Character, Nightlight, Toy Gift for Toddlers and Kids Girls Boys Ages 3+

Little Tikes Dream Machine brings storytime to life with colorful lights and sound effects. It includes 3 Golden Book stories and 1 character, like The Poky Little Puppy. The machine doubles as a nightlight with white noise sounds for peaceful sleep. Kids can develop reading skills by following along with projected words and a narrator. Easy controls and storage make it convenient for kids.

What We Like
Engaging and fun storytelling
Durable and kid-friendly design
Easy to use for children
Calming atmosphere for bedtime
Educational value promoting literacy
What We Don't Like
Battery usage may be frequent
Limited initial book selection
#TOP 2

Cuddle Barn Storytelling Dragon

CB42893
Purple
12 Inch
Cuddle Barn Storytelling Dragon Cover
Cuddle Barn | Duncan The Storytelling Dragon 12" Animated Stuffed Animal Plush Toy | Mouth Moves, Head Sways and Eyes Light Up | Recites 5 Fairy-Tales

Cuddle Barn Storytelling Dragon, Duncan is a 12" purple dragon with blue and green iridescent details that reads 5 fairytales from his magical book. His eyes glow, mouth moves, and he sways as he reads. This animated plush toy is made of soft polyester material and comes with 3 AA batteries. It's a perfect gift for kids aged 2+.

What We Like
Adorable design
Engaging storytelling
Interactive questions
Well-made and smooth movements
What We Don't Like
Volume control absent
#TOP 3

VTech Storytime with Sunny

80-546200
Blue
Small
VTech Storytime with Sunny Cover
VTech Storytime with Sunny

VTech Sunny Storytime is an interactive storytelling toy that introduces kids to Sunny, a lively storyteller. With over 300 activities and four disks containing stories, songs, and games, Sunny encourages creativity and imaginative play. This toy also helps kids learn about healthy habits like good manners and bedtime routines. Additionally, it features a gentle alarm and a night-light to aid in falling asleep peacefully.

What We Like
Highly interactive and engaging
Unique design and features
Encourages storytelling and learning
Adorable voice and expressions
Popular gift among children
What We Don't Like
Battery consumption is high
Occasional missing parts
#TOP 4

Cuddle Barn Dalton Dragon Animated Plush Toy

CB42892
Purple
12 inches
Cuddle Barn Dalton Dragon Animated Plush Toy Cover
Cuddle Barn | Dalton The Storytelling Dragon 12" Animated Stuffed Animal Plush Toy | Mouth Moves, Head Sways and Book Lights Up | Recites 5 Fairy-Tales

Cuddle Barn Dalton Dragon Animated Plush Toy is a 12" purple dragon with blue and green iridescent details that reads 5 different fairy tales from his magical glowing book. Dalton moves his mouth and sways his head as he reads each story. This storytelling toy is perfect for children aged 2 and above, comes with 3 AA batteries, and can be easily kept clean with a damp towel.

What We Like
Engaging sound quality
Interactive storytelling
Colorful and vibrant design
Good size for children
Soft material, well-made
What We Don't Like
Lacks volume control
Voice can be loud
#TOP 5

Cuddle Barn | Octavius The Storytelling Owl Plush Toy

CB42896
12 inch (Pack of 1)
Cuddle Barn | Octavius The Storytelling Owl Plush Toy Cover
Cuddle Barn | Octavius The Storytelling Owl 12" Animated Stuffed Animal Plush Toy | Eyes Light Up, Mouth Moves and Head Sways | Wizard Owl Recites 5 Fairy-Tales

Octavius is a 12" magical owl plush toy with a wizard hat and a purple starry cape. He recites 5 fairytales such as Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel. His shiny blue eyes light up as his mouth moves and head sways. All Cuddle Barn animated plush toys come with batteries included, making them the perfect gift for kids aged 2+. Made with a soft polyester material, and comes in a polybag to protect it during transit. If he gets dirty, use a damp towel to spot clean.

What We Like
Adorable animated toy
Engaging storybook tales
High-quality voice recordings
Soft and cuddly material
Captivates children's attention
What We Don't Like
Dependable seller required
Limited story options
#TOP 6

Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set

10000762
Purple
Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set Cover
Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set with Playtime Puppy - Listen, Learn, and Play with One Huggable Little Box - Purple

The Tonies Audio Player offers a delightful audio experience for children aged three and up. This innovative device provides a screen-free way for your kids to enjoy bedtime stories, music, and educational content, which can help spark their imagination without the distractions of flashing screens. Its user-friendly design allows even the youngest children to operate it on their own. Simply placing Tonies audio characters on the player starts the playback, while tapping the sides lets them switch tracks easily. This convenience makes it a perfect choice for independent playtime.

What We Like
Educational value
Easy to use
Great sound quality
Durable design
Wide selection of figures
What We Don't Like
Setup may be complicated
Volume not very loud
#TOP 7

Cuddle Barn Mother Goose Talking Musical Plush Toy

['B00HYI96FG_US']
Mother Goose (Pink)
14 Inch
Cuddle Barn Mother Goose Talking Musical Plush Toy Cover
Cuddle Barn – Mother Goose Animated Stuffed Animal Reads Nursery Rhymes, 14”

The Cuddle Barn Mother Goose Talking Musical Plush Toy is a delightful and entertaining 14" tall stuffed animal that reads 7 classic nursery rhymes to captivate your child. With moving head and beak, she speaks in a soothing motherly voice accompanied by twinkling music. This storytelling toy is perfect for children 18 months and older and comes with batteries included. Cuddle Barn's animated plush toys are of high quality and look realistic, making them a unique and memorable gift for any special occasion.

What We Like
Adorable design
Great quality
Plays cute songs
Soft and cuddly
Engaging for young children
What We Don't Like
Packaging could be improved
Not boxed for gifting
#TOP 8

WonderBuddy Dino Audio Player

WonderBuddy
Yellow
WonderBuddy Dino Audio Player Cover
WonderBuddy Kids Screen-Free Audio Player, 500+ Preloaded Stories & Rhymes, Story Writing DIY Art Kit, Voice Recorder, Content Upgrade, Bluetooth, Christmas Birthday Gift for Boys Girls 3+ years- Dino

The WonderBuddy Audio Player is designed to engage children aged 3-10 without screens. It features over 500 preloaded stories and rhymes, which help enhance listening skills and vocabulary while sparking a love for reading. The included activity book offers fun exercises like coloring and puzzles, making learning enjoyable. Additionally, the device allows you to personalize content by adding your own stories and music, giving you the flexibility to cater to your child's preferences. With its voice recorder, kids can create their own stories, fostering creativity and family connections.

What We Like
Variety of stories available
Easy for children to use
Compact and portable design
Recording feature for creativity
Clear sound quality
What We Don't Like
Voice quality could improve
Price may be considered high
#TOP 9

Cuddle Barn Sir Frederick The Storyteller - Fox Plush Toy

CB42159
Yellow
Cuddle Barn Sir Frederick The Storyteller - Fox Plush Toy Cover
Cuddle Barn - Sir Frederick The Storyteller | Fox Animated Storytelling Stuffed Animal Plush Toy Reads 5 Fairy Tales, Mouth Movement, Swaying Motion, Lights Up, 12 inches

Cuddle Barn Sir Frederick The Storyteller is an adorable fox plush toy that sways and has light-up eyes while reciting 5 fairytales including The Emperor's New Clothes, The Frog Prince, The Story of King Midas, The Princess and the Pea, and Rumpelstilskin. It is a fun and memorable storytelling toy for all ages, comes with batteries included, and made with soft polyester material.

What We Like
Entertaining for children
Sturdy construction
Engaging story reading
Fast shipping
Good battery life
What We Don't Like
Packaging issues
Minor durability concerns
#TOP 10

Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set

10002303
Small
Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set Cover
Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set with Chase, Skye, Marshall, and Playtime Puppy - Listen, Learn, and Play with One Huggable Little Box - Red

The Toniebox Audio Player offers a delightful way for children aged 3 and up to enjoy stories, music, and educational content without screens. Its user-friendly design allows even the youngest kids to operate it independently, fostering confidence and imagination. Simply place a Tonie character on the box to start playback, making it a seamless experience for parents and kids alike. You can easily adjust the volume by pressing the ears and change tracks by tapping the sides, ensuring a fun and engaging listening experience that inspires creativity while avoiding the distractions of screens.

What We Like
Easy to use
Durable design
Great screen-free option
Long battery life
Wide character selection
What We Don't Like
Setup instructions can be unclear
Customer service access issues
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the toy that reads kids stories?

The Toniebox is a popular storytelling toy that allows kids to control storytime. It has interactive features like squeezing an ear to adjust volume, tapping the sides to change chapters, and tilting to fast-forward or rewind. It also makes swapping stories simple and enjoyable for kids.

2. What is the gift of storytelling?

Storytelling is a powerful gift for children as it helps them manage emotions, develop empathy, and gain a better understanding of the world. It also fosters a strong bond between parents and children, building intimacy, resilience, and trust. The benefits of storytelling are invaluable.

3. What age is storytelling for kids?

Storytelling is suitable for toddlers and kids between the ages of 1 and 5. It serves as an effective tool to teach them basic concepts like sizes, colors, emotions, alphabets, and numbers. Storytelling engages young children and helps them learn in a fun and interactive way.

4. What age is Storynory for?

Most of the stories on Storynory are aimed at children aged 7 to 11. However, they also provide nursery stories and rhymes for preschoolers, as well as some more sophisticated stories for older children.

5. Should a 4 year old be able to tell a story?

Yes, it is developmentally normal for 4-year-olds to tell stories. They can follow complex directions, make up their own stories, retell stories, and predict what comes next in familiar stories. Their sentences usually consist of 4 or more words, and their vocabulary continues to expand.

6. How do you tell a 6 year old a story?

When telling a story to a 6-year-old, start with the classic opening words 'Once upon a time...' to grab their attention. It helps to have an interesting character and a few twists in the plot. Additionally, asking questions throughout the story can keep them engaged and interested.

7. Is it normal for a 7 year old to make up stories?

Yes, it is normal for 7-year-olds to make up stories. They enjoy hearing stories and using their imagination to create their own. At this age, children may sometimes blur the line between reality and fantasy, but it is a healthy and creative activity for them.

Editor's Notes

During our storytelling toy research, we found 24 storytelling toy products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 59,129 customer reviews through our big data system to write the storytelling toys list. We found that most customers choose storytelling toys with an average price of $35.11.

The storytelling toys are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of storytelling toys, including Little Tikes, Cuddle Barn, VTech, Tonies, WonderBuddy. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Jimmy Roof Avatar

Jimmy Roof is a toy designer who lives in Chicago with his family. He works in a big toy firm, so he is surrounded by toys every day. Throughout his career, he has developed expertise in children's toys, baby products and preschool education. Jimmy Roof often publishes articles related to toys on key websites.

Storytelling Toys Comparison Table

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Brand Little Tikes Cuddle Barn VTech Cuddle Barn Cuddle Barn Tonies Cuddle Barn WonderBuddy Cuddle Barn Tonies
Item Weight 1.32 pounds 1.19 pounds 2.16 pounds 1.15 pounds 0.32 ounces 2.75 pounds 0.353 ounces - 1.21 pounds 3.43 pounds
Manufacturer recommended age 36 months - 8 years 18 months and up 36 months - 6 years 18 months and up 18 months and up 3 years and up 18 months and up - 24 months and up 3 years and up
Batteries 4 AA batteries required. (included) 3 AA batteries required. (included) 6 AA batteries required. (included) 3 AA batteries required. (included) 3 AA batteries required. (included) 3 AA batteries required. (included) 4 AAA batteries required. (included) - 3 AA batteries required. (included) -
FTB Score
ftb score rating icon 9.9
ftb score rating icon 9.8
ftb score rating icon 9.6
ftb score rating icon 9.5
ftb score rating icon 9.4
ftb score rating icon 9.3
ftb score rating icon 9.3
ftb score rating icon 9.3
ftb score rating icon 9.1
ftb score rating icon 8.9
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