Apps that read books to you are a great resource for parents to use at home to help children with reading. Listening to stories can help children visualize the action of the plot or even better distinguish the emotions or motivations of characters. Hearing a story as the child follows along in the book also could help children understand the pronunciation of words or even pick up new vocabulary words.

Many children also might find hearing stories to be relaxing and fun. While parents might not feel that hearing stories or listening to stories helps a child read, all reading can be beneficial—even reading with the ears. Some children learn better hearing—they are auditory learners.

For parents who want to integrate auditory resources as a reading resource for children can use these apps that read books to you:

• Audible

• Ereader Apps

• Apps from their public library

• Readability

What is Audible?

One of the most popular apps for audiobooks is Audible. This app requires a monthly subscription, although sometimes promotional rates are offered. Audible subscribers can purchase materials, too.

A subscription gives parents and their children access to different auditory resources like podcasts (more of an interest for parents!) and audiobooks. There are numerous ways that parents can use audiobooks at home, including:

• Offering them as a storytime resource

• Using them to help children as they follow in the book

• Introduce books above a child’s reading level

Parents can use audiobooks as a means to complement a child’s current book; children can hear and follow along in the book. In addition, children can just listen to the stories at bedtime or just for fun.

Another benefit of audiobooks via Audible is to give children access to books above their reading level. While reading a more difficult book could cause a child to feel frustrated, hearing the book could make more sense to a child.

Listening to the book means they don’t have to focus on sounding out words that are beyond their reading ability. Some children who struggle to read at grade level might not be able to read the same books as their friends, but audiobooks could bridge this gap.

EReader Apps

Android and Apple devices typically include an ereader app. Parents shouldn’t have to worry about downloading this app. While ereader apps let parents download ebooks that can be read like standard books, they also may provide access to audiobooks.

Parents can click on the ereader app on their smartphone or tablet to access the bookstore. In the virtual store, they can search for different audiobooks for their child.

Some audiobooks might be free. However, prices for others may vary and might be comparable to the price of ebooks.

Unlike Audible, though, ereaders don’t require a subscription. Once an audiobook is purchased through the bookstore, the user has access to it anytime.

Public Library Apps

The public library is a great resource for parents to borrow books and audiobooks to read or listen to at home with their child. Many children love having their own library card, too.

Public libraries might offer many audiobooks at the library, but many also could offer an app that provides cardholders with access to virtual materials like ebooks and audiobooks, too.

The biggest benefit for using the library is that access to materials is free—unless cardholders incur a late fee or lose materials. Parents who don’t have much to spend on reading materials can use the library to access books, audiobooks and other materials, too, without spending money.

Check with the local library about online resources or apps that cardholders can download for virtual access to materials.

Introducing Storytime from Readability

Parents might subscribe to a reading program if their child is struggling to read. Does the reading app read to the child, though? Readability isn’t just a reading helper app or a reading tutoring app, it also is an app that is capable of reading stories to children.

Readability recently launched the new feature Storytime that allows Readability users to have access to audiobooks of their favorite Readability stories. The Storytime feature provides a story narration, just like an audiobook.

Children who learn better through hearing can use Storytime as part of their reading journey. After reading a story via Readability, they can listen to it, too. Some programs used by school districts also have a read-aloud component.

Providing children with many ways to engage and learn can help them gain proficiency and a multi-modal approach better caters to different learning styles. In addition, the Storytime feature can be used anywhere.

Today’s parents are busy and running in so many different directions. Parents might not have time for storytime with their child. This feature of Readability ensures that all children can enjoy the Storytime experience.

Parents can let children listen to a story at night or in the car on the way to an errand. Children also can listen to stories again and again. As long as a child has an active subscription to Readability, they have access to the Storytime feature.

Is a Reading App Appropriate for All Readers?

While audiobook apps and ebook readers can be used by almost any age, parents might wonder if a reading app like Readability is appropriate for all children. While a child who struggles to read can benefit from using a reading program, all children can use these apps.

Readability is appropriate for children from preschool through fifth grade. Parents can sign up for a subscription to Readability to provide a fun and unique reading resource that encourages their child to get excited about their daily reading minutes. Readability can be used to complement in-class reading, too.

Parents also can follow their child’s reading progress through Readability. While parents may wonder if their child is actually reading in the bedroom, when a child uses Readability, they are required to read stories aloud. The program tracks a child’s reading data.

Readability includes a built-in AI tutor that learns the child’s voice. As they read, the tutor is measuring their fluency (measured in words read per minute). At the end of each book, the tutor also asks the child questions to gauge their understanding.

Parents are provided with their own portal on Readability called the Progress Dashboard. This includes a compilation of the child’s reading data. Parents can better understand their child’s reading level and see their fluency, too.

If parents are concerned about how long their child is reading, they can review this data on the Progress Dashboard. The app tracks reading minutes!

Readability requires a subscription for children to have access to the Storytime feature and all the learning tools on the program, too. However, one account can be used for up to three readers. Parents can track the data on up to three of their children.

Children and their parents can try out the Storytime function on Readability without committing to a subscription. Parents can sign up for a free seven-day trial period that provides access to Storytime and all the app’s other features, too.

If parents like the program, they can sign up for a subscription. Interested in accessing audiobooks via Readability? Sign up today for a free trial to an app that reads books to you!