A storytelling system in which a base unit broaadcasts some blocks of audio data stored therein, and transmits other blocks of audio data stored therein to remote units either for remote broadcast, or cause the remote units to illuminate. Transmission to the remote units may be as radio signals, as ultrasound signals, as infrared signals, or as electrical impulses transmitted along wires. The blocks of data include identification codes to indicate which units are to broadcast the blocks of audio data or illuminate. The remote units have unique identifying features and are covered by matching dolls representing characters of the story. Each remote unit broadcasts the audio data appropriate to its own doll, or illuminates its own doll while the audio data appropriate to its own doll is being broadcast by the base unit.