The Best Reading Apps for Kids by Grade

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Reading is a fundamental skill that lays the foundation for a child’s educational journey. In today’s digital age, there is a wide range of reading apps available to support and enhance kids’ reading abilities at various grade levels. Whether your child is in preschool or high school, there’s an app that can help.

Related: Check out these Top Phonics Apps to build Early Literacy Skills!

In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best reading apps, broken down by grade level, to aid your child’s literacy development.

For Preschool and Kindergarten:

1. ABCmouse – ABCmouse is a comprehensive early learning app that covers a wide range of subjects, including reading, for children ages 2-8. It offers a structured curriculum, interactive lessons, and activities that engage young learners in a playful and educational way. ABCmouse addresses the need for foundational reading skills and is available on a subscription basis, starting at $9.95 per month.
2. Hooked on Phonics – Hooked on Phonics offers a systematic and step-by-step approach to teaching phonics and reading skills. It includes interactive lessons, practice activities, and phonics-based stories to help young children develop foundational reading skills. Hooked on Phonics offers various products and packages, including both physical kits and digital subscriptions, with pricing options that vary. Get your first month of Hooked on Phonics for just $1
   
3. Starfall– Starfall is an interactive website and app that focuses on early literacy and phonics skills. It offers free access to a variety of games, songs, and stories designed to help young children learn to read. Starfall is a free resource, with additional premium content available for a subscription.
4. Homer – Homer is an early learning app designed for children aged 2-8. It provides a personalized reading program that adapts to each child’s skill level and interests. The app offers a mix of stories, activities, and games to enhance reading readiness. Pricing starts at $7.99 per month.

For Elementary School (Grades 1-5):

4. Epic! – Epic! is an e-book library with thousands of high-quality books for kids aged 12 and under. It offers personalized reading recommendations and quizzes to help students improve comprehension skills. Epic! is available for a monthly subscription fee of $9.99 and is a fantastic resource for encouraging independent reading at home.
5. Raz-Kids – Raz-Kids is an interactive leveled reading platform that offers hundreds of eBooks at 29 different levels of reading difficulty. It provides a robust library of books with comprehension quizzes to reinforce reading comprehension skills. Pricing varies by subscription type and starts at $109.95 per year.
6. Reading Eggs – Reading Eggs is an educational program that combines reading, phonics, and comprehension activities for children ages 2-13. It includes fun lessons, games, and activities to improve reading skills. Pricing starts at $9.95 per month.

For Middle School (Grades 6-8):

7. Newsela– Newsela offers a vast library of current events articles and nonfiction texts at various reading levels. It helps middle school students build reading comprehension and critical thinking skills while staying informed about the world. Newsela offers a free version with limited access, and pricing for the paid version varies.
8. ReadWorks – ReadWorks provides a collection of reading comprehension lessons and passages for students in grades K-12. It offers a range of fiction and nonfiction texts with questions and quizzes to assess understanding. ReadWorks is a free resource for educators and parents.

For High School (Grades 9-12):

9. Audible – Audible, an Amazon company, provides a vast collection of audiobooks and spoken-word content. High school students can benefit from audiobooks to improve their listening skills, vocabulary, and literary knowledge. Audible offers a subscription service starting at $14.95 per month normally, and some educational titles are available for free, but right now they are running a special for only $5.95 a month for the first 4 months!
10. CliffsNotes Study Guides – CliffsNotes offers study guides for classic literature and popular books often studied in high school. These guides provide summaries, analysis, and helpful information to aid in understanding and discussing literature. Some content is available for free, while others can be purchased as e-books.

For All Grade Levels:

11. Duolingo – Duolingo is a language-learning app that helps students develop reading skills in various languages. It offers gamified lessons, reading exercises, and pronunciation practice. Duolingo is available for free with optional in-app purchases, making it an excellent tool for learning a new language and improving reading comprehension.
12. Bookshare – Bookshare is an accessible online library offering a vast collection of e-books for students with disabilities, including dyslexia. It provides a wide range of books, including textbooks, novels, and nonfiction titles. Bookshare is free for qualified U.S. students and offers paid memberships for others.

These apps cater to different grade levels and provide various benefits such as improving reading skills, fostering a love for reading, and offering a wide range of reading materials. However, it’s essential to evaluate each app’s suitability for your child’s specific needs and educational goals before making a selection. Happy reading!