Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Kemper
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Superior subscription-audio-book service paired with app.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Learning Ally Audiobooks
What's It About?
To use LEARNING ALLY AUDIOBOOKS, parents must purchase a subscription and submit documentation (such as an IEP, a 504, or a document provided by the website and signed by a qualifying clinician). Audiobooks are selected from a Web browser and added to a user's bookshelf. Kids then can access and download books from their mobile devices. Each book file provides a table of contents, which kids can click through. Once a page is selected, the narration will start automatically. Kids can pause, skip forward, or go back using buttons at the bottom of the screen. They also can adjust the size of the text or reading rate by tapping the corresponding icon. Each click and swipe results in a tonal response for visually impaired kids. Text is highlighted as a human or computer voice reads each phrase or paragraph. Kids can insert a bookmark to hold their place, and the book will begin there when the app is opened again.
Is It Any Good?
Learning Ally Audiobooks provides an opportunity for readers with visual impairments or dyslexia to gain access to all types of reading material. More than an ereader, this app highlights text as it's read to help readers develop fluency skills and offers features that allow kids to personalize by adjusting the reading rate and text size. Learning Ally Audiobooks provides content for all grade levels (including textbooks), so younger kids may need adult supervision before adding books to their bookshelves. There are some books that have the computerized voice and phrasing, but most books are read by a human and help reinforce good reading skills (rate, porosity, phonics, and so on).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the books kids have been reading: What character do you most identify with? Does this character overcome a challenge or stick with something he or she finds challenging? What happens as a result?
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android , Chromebook
- Subjects : Language & Reading : letter or word recognition , reading , reading comprehension , storytelling
- Skills : Self-Direction : academic development
- Pricing structure : Free to try , Free
- Release date : April 9, 2014
- Genre : Education
- Publisher : Learning Ally, Inc.
- Version : 4.3.2
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 11.0 or later; Android 5.0 and up
- Last updated : January 22, 2021
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