Wondering whether Story Reader will help your child develop reading skills? Read on to learn everything you need to know and how TTS can help.

Story Reader

Most parents understand the importance of reading storybooks to their toddlers to expand their world. Parents may introduce them to short story books and minute stories with read-aloud features as the children grow older, allowing the youngsters to hone their reading skills by reciting along. For this reason, the Story Reader range of books is popular among young readers, as it immerses them into a fictional setting with their favorite characters. In fact, the platform has various Goodreads and Amazon favorites.

In this article, we'll take an in-depth look at Story Reader and Pi Kids, a similar service catering to young readers. We'll also explore Speechify, a text to speech (TTS) app children can use to have their favorite stories read to them.

Without further ado, let's dive in.

What is Story Reader?

It's never too early to introduce a child to reading and Story Reader makes the activity all the more engaging. The boxed set of children's books arrives with a console. All parents need to do is place the cartridge into the book, connect the storybook to the console and watch as their child falls in love with reading.

The console then produces audio output and as the narrator reads the story, children turn the pages and follow along. Story Reader even features music and sound effects that further enrich the experience. So, it would be wrong to describe these stories as audiobooks. Calling them sound books is more appropriate since they incorporate sound effects to help children focus on the plot and narration to improve their reading skills.

But which children's books are available? Story Book offers multiple titles which appeal to the preferences of different children. The service's most popular boxed set is the three-book Disney Library. It includes adapted stories from three of Disney's most well-known classics, “Toy Story 2,” “Pinocchio,” and “The Jungle Book.”

Each storybook is spiral-bound, so young children won't have difficulty turning the pages to read what happens next. Because young readers with small hands sometimes struggle to hold bulky hardcovers, Story Reader is a good solution.

Not only does Story Reader highlight the wonders of reading, but the tales contain life lessons that help children grow into wise adults. As they read about Pinocchio and Geppetto, they'll learn about the consequences of lying and why being truthful matters. Parents who want to teach their children about the natural world can let them explore the jungle with little Mogwai and his loyal animal companions.

The last storybook in this set, “Toy Story 2,” is a heartwarming tale about a group of toys whose friendship saves them from dangerous situations.

After completing this set, young readers can move on to other Story Reader titles. The 3-Book Sesame Street Library contains three fun tales about beloved characters like Cookie Monster, Elmo, and Grover.

For children interested in more Disney classics or New York Times Best-sellers, the service offers another box set that contains books about Bambi, Peter Pan, and Lady and the Tramp. The illustrations perfectly capture the classic Disney art style and bring the characters to life.

Pi Kids - A Story Reader alternative

If your child has explored every Story Reader book, they may be eager to find more interesting titles. Although it has some similarities to Story Reader, Pi Kids from Phoenix Publications International offers more products than Story Reader. Pi Kids strives to create educational, entertaining, and engaging books that will instill in children a life-long love for reading.

It provides licensed material from companies like Walt Disney so that children can read about more familiar characters. For example, in "Disney Princess: First Words," young readers can spend time with Jasmine, Merida, Belle, and Cinderella. The book has 30 buttons that help children complete pointing, matching, and listening exercises. In addition to pronunciation and reading, they'll improve comprehension and memory retention.

"Disney Frozen: Let it Go" is another popular Walt Disney title from Pi Kids. Not only does this sound book bolster literacy skills, but it also promotes self-expression. Children learn the words to the song "Let it Go" and then use the five interactive buttons to test their memory. Pressing the buttons plays a different part of the song and children can sing along to the inspiring tune.

Should a child forget the lyrics, they can look at the page to refresh their memory. The book is available as a hardcover and features eye-catching illustrations.

Pi Kids has also released numerous stories as part of their Electronic Me Reader 8-Book series. These book packs have everything a child needs to enjoy a unique reading experience. In the Disney Junior set, readers can join Minnie, Mickie, Fancy Nancy, and other well-loved Disney characters on new adventures.

Children who like adventure stories may prefer to follow Spider-Man on his web-slinging escapades. Each Electronic Me Reader 8-Book Library contains an electronic reader that reads aloud the printed text. It's suitable for beginner readers, and the clear narration strengthens reading comprehension.

But Pi Kids offers more than sound books to young readers. Its wide range of products also includes board books that teach children below the age of three about letters, shapes, colors, and numbers.

Whether a child wants to read about Paw Patrol characters, brightly colored Trolls, or "The World of Eric Carle," Pi Kids has them covered.

Speechify

Text to speech (TTS) apps like Speechify are another way children can explore reading. 

Speechify is easy to use and relies on artificial intelligence algorithms and machine learning to generate audio versions of printed or digital text. It's great for studying, working, boosting productivity, and mastering reading and literacy skills. 

The app uses OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology to process images, detect readable text, and create an accompanying audio version of physical documents as well.

Speechify supports over 20 languages, including English, French, and Spanish, and offers an impressive selection of natural-sounding voices. Try it for free today and see how it can help your child become an avid reader. You can upgrade to a Premium subscription at any time. 

FAQ

What are the benefits of reading along to stories?

Reading along to stories develops literacy skills, stimulates curiosity, and sparks imagination. 

How can I help my child develop their reading skills?

Try building a reading routine and see which topics your child enjoys the most. Also, remember that all children are different and that it may take your child a little longer to master reading.