HYPHNT, Pan Macmillan and Spotify launch NFC‑enabled children’s sneakers with instant audiobook access

The Reader Times desk 3 November 2026 Based on Dosdoce reporting

Engraved illustration of a library room with a study desk, shelves and warm light. — Editorial illustration for The Reader Times.

A new Nova sneaker for kids embeds NFC chips that link to Spotify, letting users tap their phone to stream audiobooks such as the InvestiGators graphic series.

The collaboration, announced for the National Reading Year, pairs HYPHNT’s Nova sneaker with Pan Macmillan titles and Spotify’s streaming platform.

Each shoe contains an NFC chip; when a smartphone is held near the sneaker, the Spotify app opens and plays the selected audiobook.

The launch features John Patrick Green’s popular InvestiGators graphic novels, with plans to add further Pan Macmillan stories over time.

Company data cite that 47% of children and young people listen to audiobooks or podcasts, 56% of those do so weekly, and 50% feel the experience mirrors reading.

Spotify research also shows 68% of parents who listen to audiobooks use them to promote reading at home, underscoring the project’s aim to blend everyday footwear with literary content.