It’s All App-ening: 9 Great Book and Reading Apps for Kids

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At this moment, you are reading a post on a site dedicated to the love of books and reading. That means that at some point, you learned to read, and most likely, it happened at a young age. And you’re probably reading this particular post because you know a young reader and want to share the love of reading with them. That’s fantastic! With all the negative news about reading statistics about fewer people reading books these days, the world needs more young readers.

The apps below are some of the best apps aimed at helping kids not just learn their letters, but also how to read. These apps encourage them to keep reading, too, so one day they can pass along their love of reading.

Each of these apps is different in content and may contain digital books for children to read themselves or share with others. These apps also include audiobooks, read-to-me books (where kids can follow along as a book is read aloud), games, quizzes, and more. There are even a couple that include math.

Millions have used these nine fun apps to help kids learn to read and/or continue loving reading. Some apps are free, and others require payment. Note that prices and availability may be subject to change.

Finally, it’s distressing how many comments are made on these apps in the app stores about how children should only be given physical books to learn how to read. Physical books are great, yes, but books on any device count as reading, and kids respond to different ways of learning, which is what these tools are for. Children are not all the same and whatever helps them learn to love reading is a great thing. Reading is proven to increase empathy and the world needs it!

Duolingo ABC (free)

This colorful learning app, aimed at kids in kindergarten through second grade, works much like Duolingo’s language app for adults. Kids can learn to read through games and follow familiar characters in short stories to help build their love of reading.

Epic: Kids’ Books & Reading (free; in-app purchases)

Epic claims to hold the largest digital library in the world. Readers ages 12 and younger can access over 40,000 e-books, read-to-me books, and audiobooks, and the library is also available for offline reading. This app gives readers badges for achievements.

Khan Academy Kids (free)

This is one of the highest-rated kids’ learning apps of the bunch! This has over 5,000 books, games, and videos focused on both reading and math, aimed at kids ages 2-8, starting with learning letters and numbers. The library contains fiction and nonfiction books, as well as read-aloud storybooks and songs.

MeeGenius (free; in-app purchases)

MeeGenius contains a library of 10,000+ free audiobooks, read-to-me books, and soundscape experiences in many categories and genres. They are all professionally narrated. Young readers can also use the app offline and receive personalized book recommendations based on their favorites in the app.

Readability (30-day free trial; in-app purchases)

This award-winning app is tailored to help kids from kindergarten through sixth grade build their vocabulary and reading confidence. It also allows kids to set reading goals and offers a large library of age-appropriate books to choose from.

Reading Eggs (free; in-app purchases)

Children ages 2-13 can build reading comprehension and math skills with Reggie using this highly rated, award-winning app used in over 12,000 classrooms. Each lesson is tailored to the child’s specific comprehension level and rewards kids with collectible pets, games, and golden egg awards for their progress.

Bedtime Stories for Kids (4 free stories, then $2.99/month; in-app purchases)

This 2019 Mom’s Choice GOLD award winner features over 200 stories, fairy tales, and fables in its digital library for kids to read at bedtime (or anytime). Kids can receive in-app rewards for reading classics like Little Red Riding Hood, The Fox and the Grapes, Cinderella, and more. Readers can choose to read the stories themselves or have them read aloud.

Teach Your Monster to Read ($8.99 app purchase)

This is a great app for kids 3-6 who enjoy interactive games. Children can create a customized silly monster character who then joins them in games designed to strengthen their vocabulary and ability to read complete sentences. This app will also help identify the areas where young learners need more help.

Vooks (7-day free trial, then $9.99/month; in-app purchases)

And finally, this charming animated audiobook app has a large library of books read aloud by humans, with sound effects and highlighted text. Kids can choose timed settings, like for bedtime or chores, or read for as long as they want. With a subscription, users can create their own digital books that include voice recordings.

For more reading for kids, check out the Libby library app, Hoopla, and these fun lists of great early chapter books and must-read books for first and second graders.

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