 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Reading Rainbow
Common Sense Media says
Classic reborn as e-library with great selection, high fees.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Reading Rainbow offers a library of books to users, themed according to a child's interests (action adventures, magical tales, etc.). Kids can choose to have a book read aloud to them or to read the book themselves. To access more than one book, however, you'll have to subscribe to the app -- a $10 recurring monthly fee or $30 for six months.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn about the joys of reading -- in an encouraging and nurturing environment. Reading Rainbow offers a wide selection of books to appeal to a variety of interests as well as videos that will also appeal to a wide audience. There are imperfections (such as the app not highlighting words as they're read aloud by the narrator), but those can be corrected. All in all, we've never before seen as diverse a library offered up in a single app.
What's it about?
Children can select up to five ebooks at any time from a library of more than 150 titles to keep in their app's backpack. Like with most ebooks, kids can read the books themselves or have them read by a narrator. Books are categorized by a series of floating mountains, which have a sliding list of titles. Finishing a book earns kids a sticker reward. Reading Rainbow also features mini-films covering a wide range of educational topics, and has a dashboard to help parents track what their kid is reading (and the time spent on each book).
Is it any good?
Reading Rainbow is a nostalgic touchstone for many of today's parents, so there's bound to be some concerns that the app can't live up to the landmark television program. In this case, those fears are unfounded, as it keeps the focus strictly on education and the joy of learning. Host LeVar Burton returns as a guide through the app, but lets the books and the users be the star. And the promised future enhancements, such as the "book report" feature that played heavily in the show, are another reason to get excited. Stickers help keep kids motivated, and parents can monitor how often their kids use the app.
A few improvements would make the app truly sing. First, the monthly subscription fee is steep. Given the large collection of books available, it's not unreasonable, but it will be a deterrence to some. Second, we'd like to see more interest areas to choose from when setting up profiles -- some kids will struggle to select three of the presented topics. And finally, we'd like to see the narration highlight words as they're read, but that's a minor quibble.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn about the joys of reading -- in an encouraging and nurturing environment. Reading Rainbow offers a wide selection of books to appeal to a variety of interests as well as videos that will also appeal to a wide audience. There are imperfections (such as the app not highlighting words as they're read aloud by the narrator), but those can be corrected. All in all, we've never before seen as diverse a library offered up in a single app.
Subjects
- Language & Reading: reading
- Math:
- Science:
- Social Studies:
- Arts:
- Hobbies:
How kids will learn
Reading Rainbow teaches kids about the imaginative worlds that can be found in books -- as well as the lessons they can learn about the world around them. The library of titles covers a wide range of topics, spanning from holidays to music to historical figures. (Books can either be read by kids or narrated.) And the additional library of video clips from the show furthers that education. The app empowers kids to manage their own library of books, making selections based on their interests.
How parents can help
- Parents can talk about the different subjects of each episode -- and use them as launching points for trips to the library or real-world locations.
- Ask kids which stories they enjoy most, and find out why. Does the app make them more interested in reading?
- Check out Reading Rainbow DVDs at your local library.
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| Category: | Books |
| Platforms: | iPad |
| Price: | Free |
| Size: | 105.00 MB |
| Publisher: | Reading Rainbow |
| Version: | 1.01 |
| Release date: | June 19, 2012 |
| Minimum software requirements: | iOS 5.0 or later |
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