If your child doesn’t like Chinese books, SERIOUSLY, download the Ellabook app. It is so amazing to watch the books come to life, that I guarantee your children will show more interest in Chinese books after using it. It is that much fun!
The app is super easy to use and browse. You can find books easily as they are categorised by age:
- Pre K, age 4-5
- K, age 5-6
- 1st grade, age 6-7
- 2nd grade, age 7-8
- 3rd grade, age 8-9
- 4th grade, age 9-10
- 5th grade, age 10
In addition, within the search by topics category, there are over 30+ topics to choose from, such as character development, science, morals, classic Chinese tales. They even have the classic Journey to the West series!
You have the option of creating multiple reader profiles for your children. When you tap on their profile, you can see the number of books read, which book they have read, and the number of minutes read.
Narration of the books changes according to the nature and characters of each book, which may I add is absolutely delightful! A child character has a cutesy child voice, while a mother character has a slightly serious adult voice. It isn’t only one narrator or one voice throughout the book, but several characters with differing voices!
In addition to the awesome interactive picture books, as a VIP with Ellabook, you can also gain access to Chinese audiobooks. They currently have 700+ audiobooks 听书 available on the app. A good selection (61 books at the time of writing this post) are free to listen once you sign up for an account. Yippie to freebies!
Hi Jean,
Thanks for your amazing reviews of all these reading apps – they’re tremendously helpful. For Ellabook or other reading apps, do any have the option to click on words they don’t know to see the definition?
Hi Christy, there is unfortunately no such option for the Ella book app, however, you can have the option to click on new Chinese words and get definitions and pronunciations on the Wawayaya Joy Reader app which I have also done a blog post on.