For parents of struggling readers

If your child doesn't like to read, you're not alone.

BuddyBooks helps struggling readers build confidence, practice independently, and start reading more — one short turn at a time.

Help my child start reading Watch parent stories

BuddyBooks

Reading buddy

Live session

Dive to the Bottom of the World

Grade 4 · Chapter 3

BuddyBooks reads "Are you really Jacques Piccard?"

Marcus reads "Yes, and we'll be diving to the bottom of the ocean. It will be amazing."

💡 "Amazing" — tapped for help. Pronunciation played.

Session progress

62%

85% see improvement within 1 month

NSF-funded innovation

Does this sound like your child?

Parents tell us the same things, over and over.

He doesn't like to read. He doesn't like to try.

My son has dyslexia and he's hated reading.

Getting her to read is just not her thing.

He just stares at the page — not reading, just daydreaming.

That's exactly why BuddyBooks was created.

How it works

How BuddyBooks helps

Simple steps. No pressure. No battles.

Your child reads one short part

BuddyBooks gives your child a manageable sentence or passage to read aloud — never a wall of text, never overwhelming.

BuddyBooks reads with them

The program takes turns reading with your child — sentence by sentence, or paragraph by paragraph — so your child is supported instead of overwhelmed. They're never alone on a hard passage.

They practice and improve

BuddyBooks helps them review harder parts, build confidence, and keep going — session after session, at home, on their own.

Product demo

See BuddyBooks in action

Watch how BuddyBooks takes turns reading with your child, helps when they get stuck, and lets you see their progress.

How BuddyBooks works

See it in action

📖 Your child reads aloud, BuddyBooks reads with them, and harder sentences can be reviewed for extra practice.

See your child's progress

Parent Dashboard — Reading Progress Last 30 days

Reading now

Reading Progress — Last 30 Days

Fluency (WCPM) and Accuracy (%)

Fluency

Accuracy

Dive to the Bottom of the World · Book Progress

Adventure · Level 300 62% complete

Parents can track reading time, fluency trends, accuracy, and where their child may need more help.

Start helping my child read

From avoiding reading to reading on their own

Real parents. Real kids. Real change.

Reluctant reader

He doesn't like to read. He doesn't like to try… now he does it on his own.

Jessica — BuddyBooks parent

Big reading progress

He read 10 books over the summer.

Josh — BuddyBooks parent

Dyslexia support

My son has dyslexia and he's hated reading… now he's more interested in books.

Sarah — BuddyBooks parent

Why it works

Why parents choose BuddyBooks

✓
Gives children supported reading practice at home — without the struggle of going it alone
✓
Helps kids read without a parent sitting beside them the whole time
✓
Builds confidence through short, achievable reading turns
✓
Lets parents see progress through a simple dashboard
✓
Works with books children actually want to read

What parents say happens

Child reads more independently

88% of parents

Noticeable confidence improvement

85% of parents

Less resistance to reading practice

81% of parents

Child asks to use BuddyBooks again

76% of parents

Under the hood

How it actually works

Simple to start. Powerful in practice.

BuddyBooks is built on research into how struggling readers improve — here's what's driving those results.

📖

Choose a book from a huge library

Pick from hundreds of books matched to your child's reading level and interests — fiction, non-fiction, adventure, and more. Access to the Bookshare library included.

🔁

Alternating buddy-read sessions

Alternating turn reading means no single passage feels like a mountain. Review Mode lets them go back over harder parts, and comprehension support checks in along the way.

📊

Track progress in the parent dashboard

See reading time, fluency trends, and areas needing support. Know exactly how your child is doing — week by week.

Why it works

Built for kids who need a little extra support

BuddyBooks was designed from the ground up for struggling readers — including many children with dyslexia.

🔄

Alternating turn reading

BuddyBooks and your child take turns — sentence by sentence, or paragraph by paragraph. This keeps reading active, reduces fatigue, and mirrors what reading specialists recommend.

BuddyBooks reads ⇄ Your child reads

🤝

Help exactly when they need it

When decoding gets tough, BuddyBooks keeps your child moving. By sharing the reading back and forth, it supports understanding without the pressure — so they stay confident and engaged.

✓ No more "I hate reading" moments

📱

They practice on their own

Most kids use BuddyBooks independently after their first session. Structured reading support — without you having to sit beside them every time or fight them to open a book.

✓ Daily practice without daily battles

📈

Progress you can see and trust

The parent dashboard shows reading time, fluency growth, and accuracy over time — so you always know how your child is doing, without having to ask them.

Fluency this month

↑ 23% growth · 128 → 158 WCPM

The library

Hundreds of books they actually want to read

From early chapter books to young adult novels — fiction, non-fiction, adventure, mystery, biography, and more.

Why this matters

Because of alternating turn reading, your child carries half the cognitive load of solo reading. A struggling 5th grader can tackle a book written for 5th graders — at their interest level, not their reading skill level. No more "kiddie books" that kill motivation.

From the BuddyBooks library

Vast library across grades 2–12 — new books added regularly.

Genres in the library

Adventure Mystery Fantasy Realistic fiction Science fiction Biography History Nature & science Humor Sports Classic literature Graphic novels

Parent stories

Other parents have been where you are.

Hear it from the families themselves — in their own words.

With my 11 year old, I can see that he's getting the reading done, and he's really enjoying it.

👩

Stefanie

Mom of a 2nd and 4th grader

Confidence transformation

"With my 11 year old, I can see that he's getting the reading done, and he's really enjoying it."

Stefanie — Mom of a 2nd and 4th grader

Confidence

"Now he volunteers to read aloud in class!"

Lilia — Mom of a 14-year-old

Grade-level jump

"My oldest jumped from a 1st to 3rd grade reading level in the first year with BuddyBooks."

Latosha — Mom of a 2nd and 5th grader

Loves reading now

"I'm so proud of her — and now she asks to read with BuddyBooks!"

Megan — Mom of a 10-year-old

Confidence & comfort

"His speech has improved tremendously since he started using BuddyBooks."

Josh — Dad of a 9-year-old

Speech improvement

★★★★★

"He was excited about reading right away. He went through it super fast — and was really proud of himself at the end because he knew he had read all of that."

Tori · Mom of a 7-year-old

★★★★★

"BuddyBooks doesn't make her feel embarrassed when she struggles. That's everything."

Diane · Mom of an 11-year-old

★★★★★

"I especially loved it over the summer and Christmas break — it just keeps her reading every day."

Marcus Sr. · Dad of a 13-year-old

Simple pricing

Choose the plan that fits your family

No hidden fees. Cancel anytime. Start seeing results within weeks.

Monthly

$10

per month · cancel anytime

Full library access
Unlimited sessions
Parent dashboard
Feedback and guidance

Start Monthly

Best value

Annual

$99/yr

billed once a year

Everything in Monthly
Best value
One simple payment

Start Annual

🏫 Approved in many states for purchase using ESA "voucher" funds. Learn more

FAQ

Questions parents ask

What ages or grades is BuddyBooks best for? ›

BuddyBooks is designed for struggling readers in grades 2–12 and beyond. It's especially helpful for children who are behind in reading, have lost confidence, or need more supported practice to make steady progress.

How often should my child use it? ›

For best results, we recommend about 20 minutes a day, 3 times per week. Consistent practice is what helps reading feel easier, builds confidence, and leads to stronger progress over time.

Does it help kids with dyslexia? ›

Yes. BuddyBooks was designed for struggling readers, including many children with dyslexia. For children with dyslexia, we recommend using BuddyBooks as guided reading practice between sessions with a reading specialist — so your child gets more consistent reinforcement of the skills they're learning.

Does my child need me sitting beside them every time? ›

Usually not. Many children are able to use BuddyBooks on their own after getting started — meaning your child gets structured reading support without you needing to be right beside them for every session.

Can I cancel anytime? ›

Yes. You can cancel the monthly plan anytime. It's an easy way to get started and see whether BuddyBooks is the right fit for your child — with no commitment required.

What are the computer requirements? ›

BuddyBooks requires a laptop/computer or iOS device. An internet connection is required. Readers will need a device with a microphone and speaker or a headset.

If your child doesn't like to read, you're not alone.

Does this sound like your child?

How BuddyBooks helps

Your child reads one short part

BuddyBooks reads with them

They practice and improve

See BuddyBooks in action

From avoiding reading to reading on their own

Why parents choose BuddyBooks

Reading practice shouldn't feel like a punishment.

Simple to start. Powerful in practice.

Choose a book from a huge library

Alternating buddy-read sessions

Track progress in the parent dashboard

Built for kids who need a little extra support

Alternating turn reading

Help exactly when they need it

They practice on their own

Progress you can see and trust

Hundreds of books they actually want to read

Other parents have been where you are.

Choose the plan that fits your family

Questions parents ask

Help your child build confidence with reading.