Highlights Storybooks – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Highlights Storybooks

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

app2019

84%

WISE Score

3.3

App Store

The magazine your dentist had in the waiting room, now in app form—3,120 wholesome stories with audio, but only if your school ponies up.

Highlights Storybooks

app

4+, 2019

84%

WISE Score

3.3

App Store

The magazine your dentist had in the waiting room, now in app form—3,120 wholesome stories with audio, but only if your school ponies up.

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Where to Find

App Store

Google Play

Screenwise Verdict

Highlights Storybooks (technically called Highlights Library) is the digital version of that magazine you flipped through while waiting for your dentist appointment—wholesome, educational, and utterly safe. With nearly 3,120 stories, all with audio, it's a solid literacy-building tool for early elementary readers.

The problem? You can't actually get it unless your school or library subscribes. That's a huge barrier for families who want a trustworthy, ad-free reading app at home. If you do have access through an institution, it's a no-brainer for building reading confidence without worrying about ads, in-app purchases, or sketchy content.

The trade-off is that it's not particularly flashy or gamified. Kids raised on Roblox and YouTube may find the Highlights vibe a bit... earnest. But if your goal is focused, high-quality reading practice in a safe environment, this is about as good as it gets. Just wish more families could access it without needing a school subscription.

Age Fit

Best for ages 6–10 who are building reading fluency and confidence. Younger kids (3–5) should check out Highlights Monster Day instead. Older kids may find the content too earnest or simplistic compared to chapter books or more interactive apps.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Highlights has a 75-year legacy of 'Fun with a Purpose' editorial standards. The content is curated by the same team that produces the magazine, emphasizing kindness, cooperation, and age-appropriate themes. Ad-free environment with no third-party content means kids encounter only vetted, emotionally healthy material.

Imaginative

The app offers nearly 3,120 stories across varied topics that kids can choose from, plus Hidden Pictures puzzles and videos. However, it's primarily a consumption platform—reading and puzzle-solving—rather than one that invites open-ended creation or building. The daily-gift model in the broader Highlights Every Day app encourages exploration, but this Library app is more about literacy reinforcement than sparking original creative expression.

Safe

Completely ad-free with no in-app purchases or third-party content. Currently only available through school or library subscriptions, which adds an institutional safety layer. Kids mode is available. No user-generated content, comments, or social features. The Highlights brand is synonymous with parent-approved, safe content. Only minor deduction for the fact that institutional subscription might create access barriers, but from a safety standpoint, it's nearly bulletproof.

Enriching

Designed specifically to build literacy, reading confidence, and comprehension. All 3,120 stories include audio support, making it accessible for emerging readers. The learning management system allows teachers to customize content, suggesting genuine educational scaffolding. The mix of fiction, non-fiction, puzzles, and videos provides cognitive skill-building across multiple domains. Strong enrichment value, though entertainment factor may vary—some kids find the Highlights style a bit earnest compared to flashier apps.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Nearly 3,120 high-quality stories with audio support—perfect for building reading confidence in emerging readers
Zero ads, zero in-app purchases, zero sketchy content. The Highlights editorial team has been vetting kid content since 1946
Hidden Pictures puzzles and topic choice give kids agency and variety within a safe, structured environment
Learning management system lets teachers (or librarians) customize content to individual reading levels
Daily content model in the broader Highlights ecosystem encourages short, focused screen sessions instead of endless scrolling

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What to Watch For

Only available through school or library subscriptions—you can't just download it for home use, which is frustrating for families who want it
The UI and content style can feel earnest and a bit dated compared to flashier apps like Epic! or Homer
Best suited for kids who are already reading at an elementary level (roughly ages 6–10); younger kids may need the Monster Day app instead
The 'daily gift' cadence may feel repetitive for older or more advanced readers who want deeper interactivity

Conversation Starters

"Which Hidden Pictures puzzle was the hardest to solve today? Can you show me?"
"What topic did you pick to read about? Why does that interest you?"
"Did you listen to the story or read it yourself? Which do you like better?"
"If you could write a story for Highlights, what would it be about?"

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