Story Time—Facebook Portal

I created a new revenue funnel via an emerging technology and adapted existing children’s book content for one of the country’s biggest tech companies.

Facebook Meta reached out to me via my network and mentioned they were confidentially releasing video chat hardware for Messenger and WhatsApp. They also had an idea for something called Story Time—reading a children’s story with the video caller’s face overlaid within the artwork in augmented reality. A few months later, magic was born.

Negotiating and closing a multi-title, multi-year contract with Facebook wasn’t on my 2020 bingo card, but man if this wasn’t one of the coolest projects I’ve been a part of. Together with Meta, we built and deployed multiple Portal Story Time augmented reality experiences, adapting content from children’s publisher Little, Brown for Young Readers, including The Okay Book, The Underwear Book, The Don’t Worry Book, and the Otto series from acclaimed children’s author Todd Parr and Thank You, Omu! from Caldecott Award winner Oge Mora.

When Fred approached me about working with Facebook and the Portal, I jumped right away. Fred and the team were always there for me through the development process and making sure I was happy with everything. I can’t wait to see what Fred brings me next.
— Todd Parr