App for iOS & Android: The Little Reader (Carlsen)

2019 | Kindergarten and Preschool | Nominees

Here’s what media educators say: Reading and having stories read aloud are important prerequisites for children’s language and communication development. But adults don’t always have time when children want to engage with a book. That’s why there are digital books that read stories aloud to them. Carlsen Verlag offers a special version: On a tablet, the digital book—which reads the text aloud—appears alongside the physical book. These stories are identical to the printed book, and the narration voices are well chosen. It’s a good approach to bringing analog and digital media together. Although an adult must first download the book, children can then listen on their own to stories they can’t yet read. Thanks to the intuitive interface, children can engage with it independently.