My First Books

My First Books contains a series of digital picture books for young children. Each book contains pictures, animation, narration, and a “Record My Voice” option. From the home screen, users can tap the book that they wish to read. Next, users must decide if they want the app to read the book to them or read the book on their own. If the “Read it to me!” option is selected, the app will narrate the book’s text and users can follow along. While reading the book, users can tap the page so the illustration will become animated, and they can turn pages by tapping the “right” and “left” triangles.

Please note: Only two books are offered to users for free. Users will have to make in-app purchases to access the other books.

Instructional Ideas

1. Teachers can load a book for a student to read independently. Next, teachers can demonstrate the different ways that students can engage the text: by tapping it, listening to the book being read, turning pages, and touching the drawings to animate them. When ready, teachers can allow students to engage the book while they monitor.
2. Teachers can connect their device to a projector and have the app read a book to their entire class. Before the book is read, teachers can select a student to be the “Page Turner,” and that student can tap the picture on the page to animate it and he or she can turn pages. After the reading, teachers can facilitate a class discussion by asking the class: (1) What did you like about the book? (2) What was the book about? Can you retell to me what happened? (3) If you could change one thing about the story, what would it be?
3. When students are learning to read, they can use this app. To do so, they can choose the “Read it to me!” option, and have the app read the book page by page to them. After the app reads a page, students can reread each page to themselves to build their fluency.