BOOKSHELF ASHLEE COFFEY
There’s an
APP
for that
Fill your child’s appetite for new books with e-reader apps
ADOBE STOCK
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ometimes I can’t believe how fast my children go through books. Thank goodness for libraries because otherwise my house would be overflowing with books. But we can only check out so many books at the library, and we can only do that so often. So we rely on e-books a lot, too. While you can find free e-books out there, most platforms come with a fee or monthly subscription. But for our family, paying a subscription for an app that gives our kids access to thousands of e-books is more than worth it. If we head out out of town, you can bet we load our kids’ Kindles up with tons of books so we aren’t having to pack a separate bag just for books. It’s such a nice option to have and ensures my kids always have something new to read — while not filling our house up with books. There are some great e-book reader options out there.
EPIC What is it? This children’s reading app allows kids to freely explore their interests through 40,000+ books, audiobooks, learning videos and more. There’s even an option for personalized recommendations based on reading levels and interests. Epic does in-app progress tracking and emails parents weekly progress reports. Kids also get badges and rewards to keep them motivated. Who is it for? Ages 12 and younger Cost: Free to download; $9.99 per month or $71.99 per year. The cost includes four individual child profiles. Platform: iOS and Android
AMAZON KIDS+ What is it? This all-in-one app for learning and entertainment gives kids unlimited access to more than 10,000 kid-friendly movies, TV shows and books. The app also features parent controls, which let mom and dad personalize
screen time limits, set educational goals, filter age-appropriate content and manage web browsing and content usage. Up to four child profiles can be created so everyone can enjoy the content across devices. Who is it for? Ages 3-12 years old Cost: Free to download and comes with a free one-month trial. After that, it starts at $2.99 per month. Platform: iOS and Android
KINDLE UNLIMITED
AUDIBLE What is it? A subscription-based audiobook and podcast service. The podcasts are mostly stories broken into serial form. The audiobooks are narrated children’s stories. There are many Audible-exclusive stories and podcasts. Who is it for? Ages 12+ Cost: You can try Audible for free for 30 days and then plans start at $1.95 per month. Platform: iOS and Android
FAIRY TALES
What is it? This services gives you unlimited What is it? A collection of classic fairy tales reading and listening to e-books, audiobooks with interactive scenes, a read-to-me mode and some magazines. Just download the books and learning games related to each story. through Amazon and read them on your Kindle Who is it for? Toddlers and preschoolers app through any device. Cost: Free to download with in-app Who is it for? Everyone in your family — but purchases there is a robust children’s section. Platform: iOS and Android Cost: After a free trial, it’s $9.99 per month. Platform: iOS and Android
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