New Read-Along Books for Kids Offer Built-In Audio Along with Page-Turning Fun!

Posted on April 25, 2023 at 6:00 am

By Sheri Boggs

With summer just around the corner, many families are looking for convenient, inexpensive ways to keep the kids entertained and engaged. That’s why we’re excited to share the launch of a new collection that ticks all the boxes.

Read-Along books (or simply, Read-Alongs) are regular hardcover children’s books with a sturdy audio player permanently attached. They are as easy-to-use as they are fun.

The Read-Along format lets readers listen as they read. This feature is especially beneficial for emerging readers, kids with dyslexia or vision impairments, English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) students, or anyone who wants a little more fun from their reading.

The audio recordings are crisp, professionally produced, and sometimes feature celebrity narrators such as Danny DeVito, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Read-Alongs are an immersive experience, incorporating music, sound effects, and even a turn-the-page chime on the books for younger readers. Some even feature “sing-along” titles or include “learning mode,” where the audio player asks open-ended questions designed for reflection and comprehension.

Our collection includes Read-Along picture books, easy readers, children’s nonfiction, and even chapter books for older kids (ages 8–12).

Kids can listen with the built-in speaker or attach their own headphones. This option makes them great for family road trips, especially when each child might want to listen to their own book.

Best of all, the controls mimic the look of other standard electronic audio devices, making them familiar so that a child can operate a Read-Along with minimal parental involvement. The Read-Along controls have buttons to turn the audio on/off, play/pause, go forward/back, and to adjust the volume.

Each Read-Along book is self-contained. There are no CDs, tapes, batteries, or pieces to manage. You don’t need to use Wi-Fi internet or mobile data. In most cases, you won’t even need electricity. However, Read-Along books can be recharged with a standard micro-USB cable if they lose their charge after leaving the library.

Here are some of our recent Read-Along arrivals:

• Big Nate Blasts Off, by Lincoln Peirce
• How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food, by Jane Yolen
• Duck on a Tractor, by David Shannon
• Frog and Toad Are Friends, by Arnold Lobel
• Pete the Cat’s Groovy Imagination, by Kim Dean
• Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea, by Ben Clanton
• The Adventures of Captain Underpants, by Dav Pilkey
• Pax, by Sara Pennypacker
• Ocean: Waves for All, by Stacy McAnulty
• Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth, by Barbara Park

Along with this list of titles, you’ll find hundreds more to choose from in our collection.

I hope you stop by the library to take a look at and check out a Read-Along book from our shelves!

Sheri Boggs is the Youth Collection Development Librarian for Spokane County Library District. In her free time, she’s most likely writing stories, drinking wine, knitting sweaters for her dogs, or some combination of those three.

Tags: audio, audiobook, booklists, books, caregivers, Child, childcare, childrens, kids, parents, read-along books, read-alongs, reading, teachers, tweens