At Joyful Reading Company, we believe building a reading culture grows when schools and libraries create an environment where reading feels meaningful, accessible, and fun.
That’s why we’re excited to announce a new integration between Beanstack and Comics Plus®. This connection brings two powerful tools together to support a more connected ecosystem of reading engagement.
Beanstack helps libraries and schools motivate readers through challenges, goals, badges, and shared reading experiences. Comics Plus gives readers unlimited access to high-interest digital comics, manga, graphic novels, and picture books. Together, they make it easier for readers to discover something they’re excited to read, stay interested over time, and see their progress add up.
Bringing Together Access, Engagement, and Motivation
Libraries and schools work hard to build strong reading cultures, but reading happens in many places: in classrooms, at home, on library shelves, and increasingly through digital collections. This integration brings reading activity together while increasing engagement for both platforms.
With the integration, schools and libraries can:
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Offer a seamless experience: Reading in Comics Plus automatically counts in Beanstack, giving readers credit for the reading they’re already doing.
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Encourage use across both platforms: High-interest content from Comics Plus will fuel participation in Beanstack challenges. On the flip side, Beanstack challenges will encourage readers to explore Comics Plus’ 25K+ titles.
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See impact in action: A more connected experience helps schools and libraries see how access, participation, and engagement work together.
How it Works
The Beanstack and Comics Plus integration is simple for staff to activate and easy for readers to use. Once it’s turned on, readers can connect their accounts one time and keep reading as usual.
Step 1: We set up the integration
Our team enables the integration for your library, school, or district. This can be done for a single Beanstack site or across a school district.
Step 2: Readers connect their accounts
Readers will see an option to link their Beanstack and Comics Plus accounts. They only need to do this once. After their accounts are connected, they can continue reading in Comics Plus as usual and see a link to switch between platforms.
Step 3: Comics Plus reading counts in Beanstack
Once accounts are linked, Comics Plus reading automatically syncs in Beanstack and counts toward reading challenges. Whether your school or library tracks minutes, books, days, or pages, that reading will count.
A Win for Readers and Staff
For readers, the experience is seamless. They can move between Beanstack and Comics Plus more easily, see when Comics Plus activity has been added to their Beanstack reading log, and make progress toward Beanstack challenges without having to manually log every page, minute, or book.
For Beanstack admins, the integration adds helpful visibility without adding extra work. Staff can see whether a reader’s account is linked and access reporting on linked accounts and imported Comics Plus reading activity, making it easier to understand how digital reading is contributing to participation, challenge progress, and overall reading culture.
Why it Matters
Recent data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress shows that only about one in three U.S. students reads for fun every day, a decline from previous surveys. This drop suggests that many children are disengaging from reading even before adulthood.
Strong readers are built through consistent reading habits. When students aren’t choosing to read, they miss out on the regular practice that helps them grow academically and build confidence as readers.
We also know that choice and flexibility make a huge difference. When readers are genuinely excited about a story, they are much more likely to start reading and keep going. Increasing access to high-interest materials — and recognizing comics, manga, graphic novels, and picture books as meaningful reading — can help schools and libraries create a more welcoming and motivating reading culture.
This is where Beanstack and Comics Plus work especially well together. Comics Plus helps readers find stories they want to read. Beanstack helps turn that interest into momentum. Together, they create a positive feedback loop: engaging digital content encourages more reading, and Beanstack helps keep it visible, motivating, and connected to a larger community goal.
Part of a Growing Joyful Reading Ecosystem
The Beanstack and Comics Plus integration is part of the growing Joyful Reading Company ecosystem, designed to support readers wherever they are in their reading journey.
By bringing together access, motivation, and meaningful data, Joyful Reading Company helps libraries and schools inspire more reading and increase engagement. Because when reading is easier to access, easier to celebrate, and easier to connect to shared goals, everyone benefits.
Get Started
The Beanstack and Comics Plus integration is now available to schools and libraries with both Beanstack and Comics Plus subscriptions. Eligible schools and libraries can contact our support team to activate it today.
Want to see how Beanstack and Comics Plus can work together to increase usage, engagement, and reading culture at your school or library? Request a demo to learn more.
Please note: We’re working to make this functionality available for organizations using Comics Plus through MackinVIA. Stay tuned for an update!
