Reading Train app review: free kids' songs, games, and books 2021

Introduction

Reading Train: Free Children's Books, Songs and Games is an iPad and iPhone learning to read app that practices reading with your child.

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There are several free books to choose from in the free section of this learning to read app, and then you can select whether to have your child read to by the narrator, or to have your child read independently.

Fore more details on this top learning to read app for iPhone and iPad, check out our Reading Train app review below.

Read to, or Read to Self

Reading Train allows your child to choose whether to be read to, or to read to themselves. This also means that if your child wants to, after having the book read to them, they can try to read the book a second time independently. This is great for new readers trying to master a skill.

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I also like that the voice is so clear and articulate. It is done in an American accent, rather than the British accents some other books use, so if you are British, be aware of this.

At the end of the story, the new words are presented along with information about each. Your child simply clicks in the new word, an information bubble appears, and if he or she wants it read out loud, taps the bubble.

The app also contains great instructions for using the app. They're not too long that your child would get tired of listening, but they do use a pointer finger to indicate what is being talked about prior to speaking the instruction.

For example, the pointer finger points to the elephant with the headphones and says that the elephant button will begin a read-aloud session.

What Could Be Improved

Reading Train is overall a great app for kids to get excited about reading and to start learning some sight words. What I would like to see is some sort of pointer, highlight, or underline to indicate which word was being read aloud for kids to follow along.

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I encourage my daughter to point to the words as she reads to reinforce learning, however it is difficult when you don't know what word is being read.  After a few reads through this was easier for her because she was beginning to recognize the words, but initially it would have been helpful.

What I do like is that there is a report area to indicate how your child is doing, and that there are three different levels of reading, A, B, and C. This means that your child can start out with the most basic knowledge and move to reading independently and not outgrow the app. This is great!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Free samples
• Three levels of reading
• Read aloud or read to self
• Child progress tracking

Cons

• No highlighting of the word being read

Final Thoughts

Reading Train: Free Children's Books, Songs and Games is an iPad and iPhone app that will help your child learn to read. This is a great app for starting from the beginner reader and moving up to independence.

Once users have mastered level C, they are read for more complex picture books versus school readers. Overall, this is a great learning app with many free books for your child to try. Well done.