Something special happened in early October. Good Housekeeping published its 2026 Toy Awards list for preschoolers, and right there among the winners sits our Cali Reader.
Real kids played with it and real parents weighed in, while the experts watched it all happen. We keep pinching ourselves over one detail in particular: the Cali Reader hasn't even officially launched yet as of the end of September.
We're a small team, and this is our first award. So yes, we're going to toot our own horn a little today. We think we've earned it!
What do the Good Housekeeping Toy Awards actually test?
If you've ever wondered whether these awards mean anything, this one does. Good Housekeeping has been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years, and the Toy Awards follow that same tradition.
For the 2026 awards, their analysts and parenting editors put hundreds of toys through hands-on testing and real-world play. Families tried the toys at home, where parents gave detailed feedback on engagement, ease of use, and how long their kids stayed interested. After that, the editors watched children play with everything side by side during an in-person day of play.
That process matters to us for one simple reason. Nobody from our team was in the room. We were not there to hover, explain, or nudge a child toward the "right" reaction. Preschoolers are famously honest critics, because a toy that bores them gets abandoned in about four seconds.
What did the kids (and their parents) think?
Good Housekeeping featured the Cali Reader as a "New Way to Read" for ages 3 and up. The tester notes are our favorite part, though, because they describe exactly what we hoped families would feel.
Parents loved that their kids could enjoy stories independently, even when mom or dad was tied up with something else. One mom put it this way:
"This book allows her to hear a story read to her while she's able to look at the pictures and turn the page herself."
That sentence made our whole week. Imagine a child who can't read yet, sitting with a real book, turning real pages, and following the story all on her own. She feels like a reader, which is the entire reason we built this.
Another parent shared something that hit even closer to home:
"We started reading together before bedtime, and it's become a special part of our nightly routine."
We love that one, because we built the Cali Reader to join your storytime rather than take it over. On the nights you're there, it reads along with you. When you're stuck doing the dishes, it keeps the stories going.
What is the Cali Reader, exactly?
If you're hearing about it for the first time, welcome! The short version goes like this.
The Cali Reader is a screen-free reader that works with real physical books. Your child places a book into the reader and turns the actual paper pages themselves. When they want help, they press a button and the reader tells the story aloud. You can even record yourself reading, so your little one hears every story in your voice, whether you're in the next room or away on a trip.
There's no tablet involved, no videos, and no autoplay rabbit hole waiting at the end of a story. These are just books, pictures, and a child who gets to feel like she's reading all by herself.
Good Housekeeping tested it with preschoolers, and that age group sits right in the sweet spot. The library goes further, though, with stories built for every stage from babies all the way up to big kids.
When can you get one?
Very soon! And you don't have to wait for launch day to claim yours.
Pre-orders are open now, and our launch special gets you the Cali Reader plus 3 stories for $99.
Pre-order your Cali Reader or join the waitlist here.
Tonight, when you're reading that one book your little one has requested approximately four hundred nights in a row, picture her turning those pages on her own. That moment is closer than you think. And now it comes with a Good Housekeeping Toy Award behind it.
Frequently asked questions
What award did the Cali Reader win?
Good Housekeeping named the Cali Reader one of the winners in its 2026 Toy Awards, on the list of the best toys for preschoolers. The awards come from hands-on testing by parenting editors, toy experts, and real kids ages 3 to 5.
Is the Cali Reader available to buy yet?
Almost! Pre-orders are open now, ahead of the official launch. Our launch special includes the Cali Reader plus 3 stories for $99, and you can pre-order or join the waitlist at playcali.com.
What ages is the Cali Reader for?
Good Housekeeping featured the Cali Reader for ages 3 and up, and the story library covers every stage from babies to big kids.
Does the Cali Reader have a screen?
No. The Cali Reader is completely screen-free. Kids read real physical books with real pages, and the reader adds narration when they want it, including recordings of your own voice.