Dive into our unbeatable, diverse range of children’s book apps where reading is celebrated for all. Good book apps for children open a fabulous world of imagination activity and education. And thanks to a number of brilliant authors and story-tellers, many fantastic children’s books have emerged recently, with a goal to educate and inspire little ones.
Kids' book apps support and encourage wider reading. They offer a chance for children to voyage to different worlds, meet new friends, battle terrifying enemies, learn wonderful facts and offer comfort when times are difficult.
For parents, book apps offer your children the chance to explore, without any pressure, a whole host of marvellous, informative, moving, rich stories, poems and non-fiction classic and contemporary texts. The stories kids hear when they're young are the ones they remember most, and reading together with a parent makes them even more memorable. For teachers, book apps offer support, guidance, inspiration and a wealth of resources to use and adapt in your class.
From picture books to graphic novels, reading is a fundamental part of growing up, and here you will find a whole world of book apps to accompany children on their journey through life. Come playtime and bedtime, they'll love reaching for captivating children's book apps, which feature easy-to-read text and beautiful illustrations.
Here is the list of the best children's book apps to inspire the little authors in your life.
If you want some books to support bedtime with your kids, these 10 tips for better kids' sleep and bedtime routines will help.
SmartDreams Bedtime Stories uses AI to create unique, personalised bedtime stories with vivid illustrations. Children’s love for reading will grow through this app with endless story possibilities. The app is safe and uses only the child’s first name to start the personalised story.
They can then choose from a wide selection of fun characters, fantastical worlds and foods to generate an individualised tale to read. Each story delivers valuable morals and lessons your child can learn through customised, colourful artwork and animal noises.
Features
- Personalized AI-generated bedtime stories with child's first name.
- Customizable characters, worlds, and foods for individualized tales.
- Colorful illustrations, animal sounds, and morals in stories.
- Option to save and share stories with family and friends.
- Simple and intuitive app design for children and parents.
Pros
- Enhances children's imagination and literacy skills.
- Suitable for children aged four and up, ideal for six to eight-year-olds.
- Free to use with a straightforward interface.
- Encourages reading with unpredictable story options.
- Safe for children; limited personal information required.
Devices: iPhone and iPad
Price: Free with premium plans
If we missed any of the Best Book Apps for Kids, tell us about them!
Smart Tales is an engaging app designed for kids, with a variety of mini-games and stories where children can use their imaginations and learn without even realizing it.
Smart Tales is very easy to use. The app is divided into chapters, and your kids can discover all kinds of stories, all narrated in English, as they explore the chapters. This gives them a great opportunity to listen to excellent English pronunciation and become more familiar with this language.
Features
- Focus on STEM topics, early reading skills, and social-emotional learning.
- Engaging graphics, animations, and narrated content for accessibility.
- Personalized learning program and support features for parents/teachers.
- Regularly updated content with interactive and educational games.
- Supports users with accessibility needs, including color blindness and dyslexia-friendly font options.
Pros
- High-quality execution of games and activities, suitable for independent and shared learning.
- Content appropriate for kids aged 2-6, ideal for under-five-year-olds.
- Includes seasonal content and over 300 printable worksheets for additional learning support.
- Engages kids with a variety of content types, avoiding repetitive learning experiences.
- Free to download with a seven-day free trial; safe with no advertisements.
Cons
- Rhyming in stories can lead to awkward sentence structures and false rhyming, potentially confusing early readers.
- Lacks interaction-based usage tracking, which may result in inaccurate usage readings.
Devices: Android, iPhone and iPad
Price: Free with premium plans
Epic Books is the world's leading children's book service offering immediate, on-demand access to over 25,000 high-quality illustrated books and chapter books for children ages 12 and under. Kids and parents can read them online or offline, on the Web, or on mobile devices.
Users can search books by subject, genre, and age, and some are audio or read-to-me versions where kids can follow along with highlighted words. On a Reading Stats page, time spent reading, number of pages flipped, and books read are tracked, and kids can earn badges and rewards based on certain milestones making it one of the best book apps for kids.
Features
- Over 40,000 books and audiobooks for kids.
- Offline reading capability.
- Personalized profiles and book recommendations.
- Audiobook and text-to-speech features.
- Multilingual book options, including Chinese, Spanish, and French.
Pros
- Large and diverse selection of books.
- Supports development of focus and reading skills.
- Engaging book illustrations and designs.
- Ability to create and share custom book collections.
- Reading statistics tracking and milestone badges.
Cons
- Limited content access in some regions.
- Incompatibility with Amazon devices.
- Occasional issues with audiobook synchronization.
Devices: Android, iPhone and iPad
Price: Free with premium plans
FarFaria is one of the most popular read-to-me children's story books for kids 1-9, for free. FarFaria encourages kids to read by presenting faraway places such as FairyTale Forest, Classic Groove, Fable Hills, and others. The books in this collection are all read aloud, with words highlighting as read.
Features
- Digital library of over 1,000 ebooks for kids, updated weekly.
- Books categorized into nine different genres/worlds.
- Option for kids to read alone, listen to auto-play, or read along.
- Ebooks in Spanish also available.
- Books highlight words as they're read, aiding early reading skills.
Pros
- Wide selection of books covering various topics and genres.
- Features racial, ethnic, and religious diversity in titles.
- Easy navigation for parents, though kids may initially need help.
- 30-day free trial available.
- Supports literacy development with read-along options.
Cons
- Subscription required after free trial (monthly, yearly, or lifetime).
- Reported issues with app performance and book loading times.
- Limited to one book per day without a subscription.
- Some user interface challenges, especially for children.
Devices: Android, iPhone and iPad
Price: Free with in-app purchases
LillyPad is a library of digital books, articles, blogs, PDFs and one of the best book apps for kids. Listen and follow along as Lilly reads and highlights everything in real time to any story, article, news event or blog that you bring into your personal library.
Features
- Focus on improving reading, spelling, pronunciation, and vocabulary.
- Wide range of content including books, articles, blogs, and user-uploaded materials.
- Four reading modes with speech recognition for practice.
- Personalized content based on proficiency level and interests.
- Comprehensive tracking module for monitoring progress and usage.
Pros
- Highly personalized learning experience with progress tracking.
- User-friendly interface with smooth transitions between sections.
- Beneficial for English language learners and encourages a love of reading.
- Useful for a wide age range, from children to adults.
- Offers a freemium version with limited functionality.
Cons
- Some mechanical and jarring aspects in the voice feature.
- Limited range of books, needing more diversity to cater to all tastes.
- Subscription required for full access with various pricing options.
Devices: Android
Price: Free with premium plans
Dr. Seuss is an interactive book app for young readers. These interactive books are unique in setting the stage for each scene, allowing children to imagine it themselves.
Laugh and read along with The Grinch, The Cat in the Hat, The Lorax, Sam-I-Am from Green Eggs and Ham, Horton the Elephant and hundreds of other unique and zany characters found in Dr. Seuss's Treasury.
Features
- Full library of Dr. Seuss books with original text and illustrations.
- Interactive elements, animations, and sound effects in books.
- Read-along feature with highlighted words for young readers.
- Flexible browsing options: by series, publication date, or alphabetically.
- Reading statistics tracking (time spent, pages viewed, books completed).
Pros
- Enhances reading fluency and enjoyment with classic children's books.
- True to the original look and feel of Dr. Seuss books.
- Portable reading experience suitable for various screen sizes.
- Useful for both independent and assisted reading.
- Free 30-day trial with subscription-based access.
Cons
- Requires subscription for full access post-trial period.
- Limited to Dr. Seuss's books, which may not cater to all reading preferences.
- No mention of additional resources for teachers beyond the books.
Devices: iPhone and iPad
Price: Free with premium plans
BOOKR Class is a digital library of animated books and games for English learners. You can enjoy inspirational books created by their educational team and world-renowned content providers.
Features
- Digital interactive reading platform for English learners aged 4-14.
- Animated books and educational games to develop reading, writing, listening, and communicative skills.
- Supports 21st-century skills like critical thinking and social-emotional learning.
- In-app purchase for additional content; subscription-based after trial period.
- Teacher dashboard for managing students and monitoring progress.
Pros
- Engaging user experience with informative in-app tutorials.
- Educational and challenging games following book readings.
- Comprehensive teacher dashboard for student progress tracking.
- Lexile scoring system to gauge student reading levels.
- Coin and badge collection system to motivate students.
Cons
- Subscription required after the trial period for continued access.
- May require initial assistance for younger students to navigate.
- Limited to digital format, lacking physical book interaction.
Devices: Android, iPhone and iPad
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Homer Reading is a love-to-read library of interactive stories for kids. Homer Stories takes each child’s interests and curates stories just for them. It includes hundreds of animated and interactive stories that engage kids while building critical skills. From classic fairy tales like Jack and the Beanstalk to contemporary favorites like Angelina Ballerina, your child is sure to find stories they love.
Features
- Interactive lessons on phonics, sight words, ABCs, and more for ages 2 to 8.
- Covers literacy, numeracy, social skills, thinking skills, and creativity.
- Offers a 60-day free trial with a variety of educational games and activities.
- Subscription-based access with profiles for up to five kids.
- Compatible with iOS and Android devices; also available on the web.
Pros
- Proven to increase early reading scores by 74%.
- Modern, user-friendly design with smooth and responsive functionality.
- Activities are plentiful, varied, and beautifully presented.
- Supports educator accounts for classroom use.
- Comprehensive parent resources available online, including a blog and printables.
Cons
- Subscription fee required after the trial period for continued access.
- Initial setup may cause anxiety for parents selecting their child's level.
- Limited to the subjects covered in the app, may not cater to all educational needs.
Devices: Android, iPhone and iPad
Price: Free to try
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is an interactive story books app, featuring characters from the book. It consists of a number of games and puzzles, which can help young children practise counting, sorting, and memory skills. The app can also help them discover facts about caterpillars and other animals, and learn about healthy eating. The beautiful illustrations and reward badges will motivate children to keep on playing.
Features
- Interactive pop-up app based on "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" book.
- Games and puzzles to practice counting, sorting, and memory skills.
- Educational content about caterpillars, animals, and healthy eating.
- Beautiful illustrations and reward badges to motivate children.
- Available for free on Apple and Android with in-app purchases.
Pros
- Encourages exploration and fine motor skills in preschoolers.
- Combines fun interactions with learning activities.
- Safe for children with no advertisements.
- Accessible for young children and suitable for use with a parent.
- Free version available for trial.
Cons
- Expensive.
- Immediate in-app purchase prompts can be off-putting.
- Content might be too limited, leading to quick completion and disappointment.
- Lack of alignment with the reasons children love the original book.
- Some awkward design choices
Devices: Android, iPhone and iPad
Price: Free on Android, Paid on iOS
Features
- Collection of 365 stories divided into twelve bundles for kids aged 5 to 7.
- Colorful illustrations.
- Expressive and clear narration to support early readers.
- Free to download with sample stories; full access via in-app purchases.
- Content covers various topics, including nature, science, and history.
Pros
- Convenient and space-saving compared to physical books.
- Encourages daily reading with a large selection of stories.
- Supports choice and independent reading for children.
- Appropriate for classroom use with a range of reading materials.
- Cost-effective for parents, avoiding investment in physical books.
Cons
- Directly translating physical book pages to app format can cause display issues.
- Notch on some devices obscures text, affecting readability.
- Permanent button-based user interface on story pages can be distracting.
- Limited typeface control and text positioning adjustments.
Devices: Android, iPhone and iPad
Price: Free with premium plans
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the educational benefits of purchasing book apps for kids?
Book apps for kids offer a range of educational benefits. They often incorporate interactive features that can enhance the learning experience, such as animations, read-along options, and interactive quizzes. This interactivity can help children develop reading and comprehension skills more effectively. Additionally, many book apps are designed to be engaging and fun, which can encourage a love of reading and learning in young children.
How do book apps for kids support different learning styles?
Book apps can cater to various learning styles, making them a versatile educational tool. For visual learners, these apps often include colorful illustrations and animations. Auditory learners can benefit from read-aloud features and sound effects. Kinesthetic learners are engaged through interactive elements that require them to tap, swipe, or drag items on the screen. This multi-modal approach can help children grasp and retain information more effectively.
Are there any benefits of book apps for kids with special educational needs?
Yes, book apps can be particularly beneficial for children with special educational needs. Many apps offer customisable settings, such as adjustable text size and contrast, which can be helpful for children with visual impairments. For children with dyslexia, certain apps provide dyslexic-friendly fonts. Additionally, these apps' interactive and multi-sensory nature can be advantageous for neuro-divergent children, as they provide engaging and structured ways to learn.
We have a guide to choosing the best book apps for your kids. Buyer's Guide to Book Apps
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What are your favorite book apps for kids? Plus, check out Reading Apps for Kids
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