Common Sense Media Review
By Mieke VanderBorght
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Impressive AI reading tutor needs better structure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Amira and the StoryCraft
Privacy Rating Warning
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
What's It About?
Parents start AMIRA AND THE STORYCRAFT by signing in and granting access to their device's microphone. Then, kids meet Amira, their virtual reading tutor. After kids read a few words out loud to test the microphone, Amira asks them to choose three genres, such as nature, make believe, or silly stories. She then introduces a story and kids see small sections of text on the screen. As kids read aloud, the text highlights. When they finish, a new section appears. If kids hesitate or make a mistake, Amira jumps in to assist. She may help them sound out the word, give other pronunciation hints, show pictures to demonstrate what the word means, or just tell them how to say the word. Occasionally, she interrupts to present a multiple-choice comprehension or vocabulary-related question. Kids earn stickers as they complete sections of the story. When they finish a whole story, the move on to another story world and choose another genre.
Is It Any Good?
This personal virtual reading tutor successfully uses artificial intelligence technology, but needs a better overall presentation to really shine. It's great to have a patient, consistent guide like the one in Amira and the StoryCraft to help kids through those early years of slow reading and struggling through new words. And though sometimes the app is slow and lags a bit in responding, the feedback actually works pretty well. Amira pinpoints where kids have trouble and gently helps them along. Surprisingly, it's the rest of the app that seems to need more attention to detail. There's a points system, but it's not clear what the points are for. Also, it's not easy to gauge kids' progress through the app, and though the app description promises parent reports, there are none to be found in the app. Navigation through Amira and the StoryCraft is also so limited as to be frustrating. And, though it's nice that the app's algorithms choose the "just right" story, it would be also nice to at least see a library of available upcoming stories or a log of stories already read. With some basic improvements, Amira and the StoryCraft has potential for being a powerful tool.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it's like to read with Amira and the StoryCraft. Do you feel like Amira responds well to you? Does she offer helpful feedback?
Ask kids about what they're reading with Amira, Have them summarize the story plots for you and tell you what new words they learned.
When you read books with your kids, take turns reading to them and having them read to you.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Subjects : Language & Reading : letter or word recognition , reading , reading comprehension , vocabulary
- Skills : Self-Direction : personal growth , work to achieve goals , Tech Skills : using and applying technology
- Pricing structure : Free to try (30-day free trial, then $7.99/mo.)
- Release date : February 25, 2021
- Genre : Education
- Publisher : Amira Learning
- Version : 2.0.2
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 11.0 or later
- Last updated : August 9, 2021
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