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The parent guide
A guide to creating stories, reading together and using the Reading Journey.
Choose a character, setting or adventure with your child. You can also choose a real topic they want to explore.
Type your idea or use the microphone where voice input is available. Stories are currently available in English.
Choose your child's age and reading stage, then create the story. The length and illustration options depend on the age group and story type.
It opens like a real book. Turn the pages, use narration if you want it, and talk about the story afterwards.
Stories and reading practice
A story from their ideas
Choose a story idea together and create a personalised book.
“A penguin who learns to fly”
The Reading Journey
Follow a series of phonics lessons with guidance for you and reading cards for your child. A personalised story can accompany the lesson.
“Let's practise the /s/ sound.”
Create a story when you want to read together. Open the Reading Journey when you want to work through a phonics lesson.
Use the page arrows to move forwards and backwards through the book.
Tap play and Mama Bear or Papa Bear reads the page aloud, with the words lighting up one by one.
Where available, Auto-play continues the narration from one page to the next.
Use the sound controls to turn background audio on or off.
Look for vocabulary notes in the book. Where provided, they explain an unfamiliar word.
Ask your child what happened, which part they liked or what they think might happen next.
Narration and highlighting
Choose your narrator: Mama Bear, warm and gentle, or Papa Bear, deeper and playful.
As the narrator reads, each word lights up in turn. That helps your child:
You can pause the narration at any time to talk about the story or let your child try a sentence.
The Reading Journey has 55 lessons covering letter sounds and blending. Follow the guidance, read the lesson cards together and record how your child gets on.
See the lesson focus and read the guidance before you begin.
Help your child practise the lesson cards. Give them time to say the sounds and blend the words.
Create a personalised story to enjoy alongside the lesson. The lesson cards remain the focus of the phonics practice.
Record what your child found easy or difficult. Repeat the lesson if they need more practice, or continue when they are ready.
55 lessons
Example: 18 / 55
One spine for every lesson
Blending lessons give your child practice joining sounds to read words. Children progress at different rates; completing the sequence does not guarantee independent reading.
Children who already read independently can create longer stories and discuss them with you.
Your observations help you choose what to practise next.
Go to the Reading JourneyOpen My library to find your child's saved books. Select a book to read it again.
Choose a familiar book when your child wants to return to a favourite character or practise a passage again.
If you have more than one child profile, use the child selector to switch between their libraries.
There is no need to choose a new book every time. Enjoy a favourite again.
Your library shows the books you have saved. It is a collection to return to, not a measure of reading ability.
Write your idea in English, or use voice input where available.
Read aloud, take turns or listen as your child reads.
You can discuss the characters and events in the language you use at home.
For bilingual families
Stories and the Reading Journey are currently available in English. Other story languages are not available at this time.
A short, repeatable session is easier to sustain than a long one. Attach it to something you already do: after dinner, before bed.
Invite your child to choose a character or story idea that interests them.
Point at the words as they light up. “What sound does this word start with?”
Every sound practised, every word attempted, every book finished.
“What was your favourite part?” “What happens next?” Give your child time to explain their answer.
Sit beside your child and read the digital book together. Pause to talk or take a break whenever they need one.
A word on safety
Automated checks screen generated story text for unsuitable content. These checks can miss mistakes.
Review the words and pictures before sharing a book with your child.
Ready to start?
Page 1 of 6
Turn the page using the arrows or click a page corner.