Alternatives to a “Real Book”
Source: Unsplash (@thoughtcatalog)
As a child, I loved books (still do!). My elementary school had a limit on how many books you could take out, and I always pushed that limit. But I also recognize that not everyone nurtured a love of the literary. That’s why we’re going to look at some alternatives to a traditional paper book and resources to improve reading skills that might just turn a book aversion into an obsession.
For beginners:
Starfall has a variety of games to help children with learning to read. As you can see from the above screenshot, the games are organized into four different levels to cater to different reading abilities. There are many interactive books and short animations that focus on phonics while still being fun and engaging. This site also has some games to build basic math skills. Although the animation style is not as modern as some of the other choices on our list, it is bright and colourful.
A note on price: Much of the site is available for free. However, to access all of Starfall’s content, you will need to purchase a premium membership. Home membership is $35 dollars a year.
Sesame Street remains a classic TV show, so children are likely to love playing games and learning to read with their favourite characters. There are reading (and number) based games, as well as some interactive books. Animations are bright and colourful, although those of us who remember Sesame Street before its redesign may balk at the new style!
A note on price: Everything appears to be free!
For older students:
Tumblebooks (available through most public libraries)
The Tumblebook library has a fairly extensive collection of kid’s books (for older readers, they also have a version geared towards teens). New additions to the library show up regularly, including fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, and documentary-style videos. The online reader for each book features animated images and an optional narrator. Thankfully, the narrator sounds like a real person as opposed to a disembodied robotic voice.
A note on price: Tumblebooks is accessible through the Fraser Valley Regional Library and Vancouver Public Library. Also, check out the other digital resources available to children here:
Audible promises to keep this limited library of books open “for as long as schools are closed”. While it’s around, especially for students who love more complex stories, but struggle with reading, audiobooks are a wonderful option. The variety of stories is decent, although not as extensive as the full library, plus stories are offered in multiple languages.
A note on price: Audible Stories is free. The full version costs $14.95 a month.