The basics:

• Audible, Crayola donate Story Studios to 10 schools across the U.S.
• Each school receives tablets, headphones, seating, $1,000 in Crayola products
• Newark and Easton, Pa., schools also receive Story Studios for local impact
• Program supports literacy, creativity and self-expression for students nationwide

Newark-based audio storytelling service Audible is teaming up with leading children’s art supply brand Crayola to inspire creativity in classrooms nationwide.

Ahead of the back-to-school season, 10 schools across the U.S. received mobile listening stations that come equipped with tablets, headphones and cozy seating. In addition to the Audible Story Studio, schools also received a three-year membership to Audible as well as $1,000 in Crayola products, the companies announced in an Aug. 27 press release.

According to Audible and Crayola, the following schools were randomly selected from thousands of sweepstakes entries:

• Saluda Middle School, Lexington, S.C.
• Worley Elementary, Canton, Ohio
• Three Rivers School, Channahon, Ill.
• Spring Hill Junior High, Longview, Texas
• Yellow Creek School Center, Middlesboro, Ky.
• Tikigaq School, Point Hope, Alaska
• Woodbine Elementary School, Sacramento, Calif.
• Meadow Lane Elementary, Lincoln, Neb.
• St. Agnes Catholic School, Louisville, Ky.
• Kleberg Elementary School, Dallas, Texas

In addition to the national winners, Audible also gifted Audible Story Studios to two public schools in its home base of Newark. Two public schools in Crayola’s headquarters city of Easton, Pa, also received the gift.

Another tool

Aisha Glover, global head of urban innovation at Audible, said the Amazon subsidiary is focused on “the transformative power of stories and imagination to catalyze a more equitable society.”

“Our collaboration with Crayola brings this vision to life, reflecting our commitment to expanding opportunities for youth globally, as well as investing in our headquarters city of Newark, NJ,” Glover said. “By bringing audio storytelling into the classroom, the Audible Story Studios will provide another tool for educators to improve children’s literacy, ignite creativity and encourage self-expression—all essential skills for lifelong learning.

“We’re proud to help foster the next generation of creative thinkers, both around the world and right here in our hometown.”

According to the companies, the Audible Story Studios awards stem from a sweepstakes held during Crayola Creativity Week. This year, Audible served as an official sponsor for the free global creative learning program.

Launched in 2022, Creativity Week is a standards-aligned, seven-day, virtual educational event that provides schools, families, and libraries with inspiring and interactive content to support creative learning across subject areas. Creativity Week 2025 brought together more than 820,000 teachers and 13.2 million students from 122 countries, Crayola said.

‘Fostering creativity’

Ahead of this year’s Creativity Week, Audible and Crayola partnered last fall to release a collection of exclusive “Imagination in Action” activity sheets, such as coloring and creative sketch prompts, that kids can use to creatively engage with select audio titles like “Disney Frozen: Olaf’s Quest” and “Peppa Pig’s Play-A-Long Podcast.”

Listening to stories can be a powerful experience that not only stirs the imagination but also encourages children to put that imagination into action …
– Victoria Lozano, Crayola, EVP of Brand Marketing

Crayola Executive Vice President of Brand Marketing Victoria Lozano shared, “Listening to stories can be a powerful experience that not only stirs the imagination but also encourages children to put that imagination into action, building life skills such as literacy, problem-solving, critical thinking, and self-expression.”

“Through this unique collaboration … we are fostering creativity in young minds and giving educators and parents more tools to nurture and engage children’s imaginations through creative moments,” she said.