Our Timeline

Capstone Through the Years

We help kids succeed by making learning fun. For the last 30+ years, our goal has always been to provide opportunities for children to access books and online resources and help create a lifetime love of reading and learning. See how our story began and changed over the years from the timeline below!

2022
PebbleGo Create logoPebbleGo Create logo

 

Capstone launched PebbleGo® Create an active learning tool and digital workspace that expands the learning experience for K-5 students by empowering them to demonstrate their understanding of content in PebbleGo.

2021

 

purple graduation cap with light blue backgroundpurple graduation cap with light blue background

Capstone established a scholarship program to assist students who live or reside in Minnesota who plan to continue their education in college or vocational school programs.

The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarship, tuition assistance, and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. 

 

buncee logobuncee logo

Capstone acquired Buncee, extending its digital capabilities to better serve elementary educators and students

2020
astronaut on the moon book inside a Google Assistant device astronaut on the moon book inside a Google Assistant device

 

Capstone and Google Assistant partnered to bring your favorite You Choose Adventures stories featuring iconic DC Super Heroes and Scooby-Doo™ characters, to all Google Assistant enabled devices such as Nest Hub Max and Android mobile devices.

 

PebbleGo Next logo. PebbleGo Next logo.

 

PebbleGo™ Next re-launched with accessibility for children with disabilities. Among the enhancements include compliance with Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 AA standards, ensuring PebbleGo Next is accessible to children with vision, cognitive, physical, and hearing disabilities.

 

Capstone ConnectCapstone Connect

We launched Capstone Connect, helping educators intuitively find and share standards-aligned content from a comprehensive collection of PebbleGo modules, thematic Capstone Interactive eBook bundles, and compilations of instructional materials.

 

PebbleGo HealthPebbleGo Health

Capstone unveiled PebbleGo™ Health as the newest module in the database collection focused on fundamental health, wellness, safety, and social-emotional learning concepts for K-3 students.

 

2020 Capstone Giveaway Bag2020 Capstone Giveaway Bag

Capstone Bag 2020

2019
Reading Is For EveryoneReading Is For Everyone

Capstone launched the #ReadingIsForEveryone literacy campaign to spark conversation on inclusivity, equity, and accessibility so that every child sees themselves reflected in stories and recognizes themselves as a reader.

 

You Choose Adventures logo with Alexa device showing Extreme Survival screenYou Choose Adventures logo with Alexa device showing Extreme Survival screen

Capstone teamed with Amazon Alexa to offer its popular, bestselling You Choose Books on Alexa-enabled devices. With an increasing demand for safe children’s content on Alexa, families enjoyed interactive audio storytelling with reader-favorite stories.

 

PebbleGo logoPebbleGo logo

PebbleGo™ celebrated its 10th anniversary! In 10 years the database has cultivated a passionate user community and developed nine curriculum-focused modules, including Animals, Biographies, Science, Social Studies, Dinosaurs, and four Spanish version modules. The K-2 research product is used in 20% of U.S. elementary schools by more than 3 million kids.

Capstone relaunched PebbleGo with Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 AA compliance standards, ensuring PebbleGo is accessible to children with vision, cognitive, physical, and hearing disabilities. Among the accessibility enhancements included: simple, intuitive, and predictable navigation, text-to-Speech on all articles, transcripts for all videos, alternative text and descriptive titles for meaningful images, screen reader support, access keys for keyboard-only navigation, and color contrast design to support students with color-blindness and low vision.

 

2019 Capstone Giveaway Bag2019 Capstone Giveaway Bag

Capstone Bag 2019

2018

A Different Pond, written by Bao Phi and illustrated by Thi Bui, was named a Caldecott Honor Book by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association. The Caldecott Medal recognizes the most distinguished American picture book for children. 

 

PebbleGo Next logo with Biographies module iconPebbleGo Next logo with Biographies module icon

PebbleGo Next Biographies unveiled as the newest module in the database collection, introducing historical and contemporary biographies targeted to grades 3-5 national curriculum.

 

Image of the 2018 Capstone BagImage of the 2018 Capstone Bag

Capstone Bag 2018

2017
Capstone 4D logoCapstone 4D logo

Capstone 4D, an augmented reality component blending print books with technology to extend children’s reading experience, launched with its first series Origami Crafting 4D .

 

myOn logomyOn logo

Capstone announced the sale of myON to tech investment firm Francisco Partners.  

 

PebbleGo Next logo with Social Studies module iconPebbleGo Next logo with Social Studies module icon

PebbleGo Next: Social Studies launched, offering 150 articles aligned with national curriculum standards for grades 3-5 social studies.

 

image of 2017 Capstone Bagimage of 2017 Capstone Bag

Capstone Bag 2017

2016
Capstone 25th AnniversaryCapstone 25th Anniversary

Capstone turned 25 years young. Happy Birthday, Capstone!

 

Image of 2016 Capstone BagImage of 2016 Capstone Bag

Capstone Bag 2016

 

PebbleGo Next logo. PebbleGo Next logo.

 


PebbleGo Next: Science launched, offering content in earth science, physical science, and life science with 150 articles aligned with Next Generation Science Standards for grades 3-5.

2015
myOn, PebbleGo, and Capstone Interactive logosmyOn, PebbleGo, and Capstone Interactive logos

Capstone’s digital media products—myON, PebbleGo, and Capstone Interactive eBooks—reached 55 million visits. 

 

Image of 2015 Capstone BagImage of 2015 Capstone Bag

Capstone Bag 2015

2014
Engage Literacy logoEngage Literacy logo

Capstone acquired guided reading program Engage Literacy from Australian publisher Hinkler, expanding our offerings in the early literacy market.

 

PebbleGo Next logo. PebbleGo Next logo.

 


Building from the success of PebbleGo, Capstone launched PebbleGo Next, a curriculum-aligned research resource for grades 3-5.

2013
Maupin House by Capstone Professional logoMaupin House by Capstone Professional logo

Capstone acquired professional development publisher Maupin House and continued to publish professional development titles for classroom teachers and elementary education professionals.

2012
DC Comics logoDC Comics logo

Capstone entered a licensing agreement with DC Entertainment to publish reinforced library hardcovers and paper-over-board editions of DC Comics, popular with children and families all over the world.

 

myOn Reader logomyOn Reader logo

Capstone launched new mobile capabilities for myON®™ reader.

myON®™ reader topped 1 million students reading in the platform.

 

The Capstone Literacy Center was established to boost the literacy skills of struggling readers in the local Mankato, Minnesota, area. 

 

Capstone Interactive Library logoCapstone Interactive Library logo

Capstone Interactive Library interactive eBook program expanded to include greater title selection and improved digital media technologies.

2011
Capstone 20th Anniversary logoCapstone 20th Anniversary logo

Capstone celebrated its 20th anniversary in publishing children’s books.

 

myOn Reader logomyOn Reader logo

Capstone launched myON®™ reader, the largest online library of interactive ebooks.

 

Tony Hawk logoTony Hawk logo

Capstone entered a licensing agreement with Tony Hawk Inc. to publish new sci-fi, action-adventure series, Tony Hawk's 900 Revolution, for kids.

 

Smithsonian logoSmithsonian logo

Capstone entered a licensing agreement with the Smithsonian Institution.

 

PebbleGo logo with Biographies module iconPebbleGo logo with Biographies module icon

PebbleGo™ Biographies unveiled as the newest addition to the PebbleGo database collection.

 

An annual nationwide survey conducted by Renaissance Learning recognized Capstone as the number-one brand for struggling readers for the third year in a row.

2010

Capstone acquired educational software company Portage Interactive LLC.

 

CapstonePub.com is re-launched to integrate all imprint’s titles and formats into one e-commerce site.



Capstone released the first interactive book for Apple’s iPad, iPhone, and iTouch platforms and a new game for Nintendo DSi.

 

PebbleGo logoPebbleGo logo

PebbleGo™ Earth and Space unveiled as the newest addition to the PebbleGo database collection.

 

Books for Africa logoBooks for Africa logo

Books for Africa received 300,000 books donation, valued at more than $5 million—the largest single book donation in Capstone’s history.

2009
DC Super Heroes logoDC Super Heroes logo

Capstone entered a licensing agreement with DC Comics to publish DC SUPER HEROES, a new chapter book series for children based around DC Comics’ iconic characters.

 

PebbleGo logoPebbleGo logo

PebbleGo™ debuted as the first interactive animal database designed for emergent readers and researchers in grades K-2.

 

Capstone Digital logoCapstone Digital logo

Capstone Digital division is launched with interactive and online resources to engage learners.

 

Sports Illustrated Kids logoSports Illustrated Kids logo

Capstone entered a licensing agreement with Sports Illustrated KIDS to publish a new line of high-interest nonfiction and fiction sports stories.

 

Capstone Rewards logoCapstone Rewards logo

Capstone Rewards, a free, customer points program, is established to help educators stretch their budgeted funds.

 

Capstone KidsCapstone Kids

Educational resource for kids CapstoneKids.com re-launched.

2008
Heinemann Library logoHeinemann Library logo

Heinemann Global Library was acquired, expanding Capstone’s market globally.

 

Raintree logoRaintree logo

Raintree was established in the U.K.

 

CollectionWiz logoCollectionWiz logo

CollectionWiz, the first online collection analysis and management tool created by a publisher, was released.

2007
Capstone Publishers LogoCapstone Publishers Logo

Capstone Publishers (now Capstone) is established to unify the publishing companies with shared services.

 

Capstone Interactive Library logoCapstone Interactive Library logo

Capstone Interactive Library with interactive, digital ebooks are released.

2005
Stone Arch Books logo and Graphic Library logoStone Arch Books logo and Graphic Library logo

Stone Arch Books, the first exclusively safe graphic novel publisher, and the Graphic Library brand, the first nonfiction graphic novels series, make their debut.

2004
Pebble Plus logoPebble Plus logo

Capstone published the Pebble Plus® brand to provide larger nonfiction picture books for beginning readers, grades PreK-2.

2003
Facthound logoFacthound logo

FactHound.com®, the first publisher-provided, internet-based resource for elementary students launched.  

2002
Red Brick Learning logoRed Brick Learning logo

Red Brick Learning made its debut, focusing on achieving reading success in the classroom,  from struggling to fluent readers.

2001
Picture Window Books logoPicture Window Books logo

Picture Window Books, the first solely illustrated nonfiction and fiction series publisher, launched.

1999
Compass Point Books logoCompass Point Books logo

Capstone established its second imprint, Compass Point Books, focusing on the needs of middle school students.

1998
Pebble logoPebble logo

The Pebble brand® becomes the first nonfiction research series in the market for emergent readers, grades PreK-2.

1991

Capstone Press published its first books, 48 titles.

1990
Capstone Press logoCapstone Press logo

Capstone Press was acquired and rapidly expanded, setting the pace for our entry into the publishing industry.