We are incredibly excited to announce the release of Reading Stars, a new reading app that makes reading fun and easy for kids!
For over 50 years, Cricket has delighted generations of children with stories that spark imagination and learning. Now we’re bringing our beloved Cricket content to young readers in a whole new way. Reading Stars was created in partnership with bekids to give young children a safe, fun-filled way to grow as learners with just 10 minutes of practice per day! Today, we’re giving our Cricket family an exclusive sneak peek into just what makes this app so special.
Gaining Confidence from Page One
Our team of Cricket editors have expertly curated thousands of mini “books” for Reading Stars. Each book is Lexile® level-matched and carefully selected to suit your child’s reading level. Whether a 4-year-old sounding out words for the first time or a 9-year-old already reading independently, our books will meet your children where they are and grow with them. For younger kids, we’ve included a Read-to-Me mode with word-by-word highlighting, while older kids can tackle books on their own. Quizzes evaluate kids’ knowledge of comprehension, vocabulary, and phonics. With progress visible from the very first book, you’ll feel confident knowing your child is developing essential reading skills as part of a smooth, stress-free reading routine.
A Rewarding Experience
What does it actually look like to use Reading Stars? From the moment kids open the app, they’re guided into a clear, engaging reading mission. That means no wandering through endless shelves or wondering where to begin. From there, it’s simple: read, quiz, play, reward, repeat!
Kids stay motivated to read new books and keep practicing their reading skills with our fun system of rewards. As kids continue to master reading challenges, they build up their own imaginary “city” within the game. Each achievement helps their city grow— alongside their reading skills! The app celebrates kids’ reading streaks by introducing new characters who come to live in the growing city. Meanwhile, stars earned through reading are used as currency to build, upgrade, and personalize the city. Readers can unlock new buildings, reveal hidden characters, and uncover all kinds of cool surprises!
Gamifying reading with fun virtual rewards helps kids build a reading habit that actually sticks. Still, we think reading is its own reward, and we believe that with a little practice, your kids will think so, too! Sometimes, kids just need a little push to start their journey to becoming lifelong readers.
Building a Love of Reading
Reading with Reading Stars isn’t just a dry textbook exercise. We choose only the highest-quality children’s literature from award-winning publications. Our thousands of original books are filled with enthralling stories, fascinating facts, and beautiful illustrations. The joy of reading is evident on every page— and every child’s face. Plus, our libraries are personalized for each reader based on age, interests, seasonal content, and more! Right now, our new back-to-school collection has launched and is ready to enjoy! With new books introduced every month, there’s always more to read and learn.
Child-Safe Reading on the Go
Just ten minutes of practice a day achieves big results with Reading Stars, and we’re designed to help your child fit in quality reading time wherever you go! Reading Stars is available on both the App Store and Google Play, with options for phone, tablet, or desktop. Even a short drive to school is enough to warm up kids’ brains for an exciting day of learning! Parents can rest assured that kids are safe reading independently with Reading Stars. Our 100% ad-free app is equipped with parental verification to enhance child safety. Once you’ve started your annual or monthly subscription, your child can freely explore and access all content within Reading Stars. That means no unexpected in-game charges!
From Page to Screen
The fun continues from the pages of our award-winning children’s magazines. Starting with the September/October issues of LADYBUG, SPIDER, and CRICKET Magazines, kids can scan QR codes next to select stories to find them within Reading Stars. There, they can enjoy read-aloud storytime, test their knowledge with quizzes, and play vocabulary games based on that story! Reading Stars is a great way to help kids engage on a deeper level with the stories they read in their favorite magazines.
Start your reading adventure today with Reading Stars!
