Here's what's wild: we're raising the first generation of kids who might genuinely prefer reading on screens to reading physical books. And that's... fine? The research shows that the format matters less than whether kids are actually engaging with text and developing comprehension skills. But (and this is a big but) not all digital reading is equal. Scrolling through TikTok captions doesn't build the same skills as sustained reading, even if it's technically "reading."

The right reading app can:

The wrong reading app can turn reading into a gamified chore that kills intrinsic motivation faster than mandatory summer reading lists.

Epic! is basically Netflix for kids' books, and honestly, it's pretty great. 40,000+ books, read-to-me options, and a solid algorithm that suggests books based on what your kid actually likes. The free version is limited, but the paid version ($10/month) is worth it if your kid will use it. The main concern? It can feel overwhelming with so many choices, and some kids just endlessly browse instead of actually reading.

Homer is more structured—it's designed to build early literacy skills through a personalized learning path. It's great for kids who need more scaffolding, but it feels more "educational" and less "fun library time" than Epic.

Teach Your Monster to Read is a UK import that's genuinely delightful. It teaches phonics through a game where kids create a monster and go on adventures. It's free on computers, cheap on tablets, and actually effective. My only gripe is that it's very focused on British English, so some words might feel unfamiliar to American kids.

Hooked on Phonics has been around forever, and the app version is... fine. It works, it's systematic, but it's not particularly exciting. If your kid needs structured phonics practice and responds well to rewards systems, it'll do the job.

Yeah, Epic! works for this age too—they've got chapter books, graphic novels, and nonfiction. But honestly, at this age, Libby becomes the MVP. It's the app for borrowing ebooks and audiobooks from your actual library, which means it's free and has a massive selection. The interface is clean, kids can manage their own holds and checkouts, and there's something really satisfying about "borrowing" a book digitally.

The only downside to Libby is that popular books have wait times, just like the physical library. But that's actually a good lesson in delayed gratification? (I'm trying to be positive here.)

Libby remains the best free option. For teens who tear through books, Kindle Unlimited ($12/month) can be worth it—unlimited access to over a million titles. The selection skews heavily toward romance, fantasy, and self-published stuff, which is either perfect or terrible depending on your teen's taste.

Libby has audiobooks! Did I mention Libby is free? For families who want more selection, Audible is the standard ($15/month for one credit = one audiobook). The question is whether audiobooks "count" as reading—and the answer is yes, they absolutely do. Audiobooks build vocabulary, comprehension, and expose kids to complex texts they might not tackle in print.

Let's talk about Raz-Kids, Reading Eggs, and their cousins. These are the apps your kid's school might use—leveled readers with comprehension quizzes. They're... fine for skill-building, but they're not exactly inspiring a love of reading. If your kid's school uses them, great, let them do their assignments. But don't expect these to be the apps your kid opens for fun on Saturday morning.

Accelerated Reader (AR) deserves its own mention because it's everywhere and deeply controversial. Kids read books, take quizzes, earn points. Some kids are motivated by the points system. Other kids learn to game the system by reading short, easy books for quick points. And some kids start to hate reading because it becomes all about the quiz. Your mileage will absolutely vary.

ABCmouse - It's fine for preschoolers, but it's not really a reading app—it's more of an everything-educational app, and the reading component isn't strong enough to justify the cost if reading is your main goal.

Any app that makes kids watch ads between books - Just no. If the free version is constantly interrupted, it's not worth the frustration.

Apps that are just digital flashcards - There are approximately ten thousand phonics apps that are basically flashcards with sound effects. They're not harmful, but they're not particularly effective either.

Ages 4-6: Focus on apps that build phonics and make reading feel playful. Teach Your Monster to Read and Homer are your best bets. Read-to-me features are great at this age.

Ages 7-9: Transition to apps that offer choice and independence. Epic! shines here. Introduce Libby and let them browse.

Ages 10-12: Give them agency. Let them choose between ebooks and audiobooks. Start conversations about what they're reading, not just that they're reading.

Ages 13+: Step back. Make sure they know how to use Libby, offer to set up Kindle Unlimited or Audible if it fits your budget, and trust them to find what they like. The goal at this age is to not kill their interest in reading by being too prescriptive.

Reading on screens is real reading. Full stop. Don't let anyone shame you or your kid for preferring digital books.

But also: blue light before bed is still a thing. If your kid is reading on a backlit device before sleep, consider e-ink readers like Kindle or using night mode. Or just accept that reading before bed on an iPad is still better than doomscrolling TikTok.

Free options are genuinely good. Libby is free and amazing. Your public library is a miracle of modern society. Use it.

Audiobooks count, but so does decoding practice. If your kid only does audiobooks, they're missing out on building decoding skills. A mix is ideal, especially for younger readers.

Gamification can backfire. Some kids are motivated by badges and points. Others start to see reading as a transaction—"I only read to get rewards." Pay attention to whether the app is building intrinsic motivation or just creating another system to game.

The best reading app is the one your kid will actually use. For most families, that's going to be Libby (free, huge selection, works for all ages) plus one other app depending on your kid's age and needs—Epic! for younger kids, Kindle Unlimited or Audible for voracious teen readers.

Don't overthink it. The goal is to make reading accessible and appealing, not to find the perfect app that magically transforms your kid into a bookworm. And remember: a kid reading graphic novels on an iPad is doing better than a kid not reading at all.