For struggling readers in grades 2–12

Help your child read with real confidence

BuddyBooks gives your child the guided reading practice they need to grow — at home, on their own, in just 20 minutes a day.

See Plans & Get Started See how it works

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

The BuddyBooks difference

What changes when your child has a reading buddy

Without BuddyBooks	✓ With BuddyBooks
😩Reading feels like a battle — avoidance, shutdowns, tears	😊Reading feels manageable — BuddyBooks carries half the load
🧑‍🏫You sit beside them, unsure how to help	📱They read independently — you check the dashboard later
❓Progress is invisible — you're guessing	📈Fluency, accuracy & reading time tracked — week by week
😳Mistakes feel embarrassing — confidence drops	💪Mistakes are quiet moments — confidence builds session by session

"Every day, after school, she jumps into her BuddyBooks reading. Her little sister likes to help." Priya — BuddyBooks parent

How it works

Simple to start.
Powerful in practice.

BuddyBooks makes reading practice feel manageable — for your child and for you.

📖

Choose a book

Pick from a large library matched to your child's reading level and interests — fiction, non-fiction, and more.

🔁

Buddy-read together

Your child and BuddyBooks take turns reading sentence by sentence. When they struggle, BuddyBooks steps in with support — not judgment.

📊

See progress

Track reading time, fluency trends, and areas needing support through the parent dashboard.

See it in action

📖 Watch a real buddy reading session — see how BuddyBooks takes turns with your child, steps in with help, and keeps them moving forward.

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

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

Sentence-by-sentence turns keep reading active and prevent fatigue — the way reading specialists recommend.

🤝

Built-in support when they struggle

Pronunciation help, word definitions, and gentle guidance — so your child never gets stuck or embarrassed.

📱

Independent practice

Most kids use BuddyBooks on their own after getting started. You get structured reading support without sitting beside them every session.

📈

Parent progress dashboard

See exactly how your child is doing — reading time, fluency growth, and where they may need extra support.

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. There's something engaging for every age and interest.

Why this works

Because BuddyBooks reads every other line, your child carries half the cognitive load of solo reading. That means 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

Hear it from the families themselves.

Real parents, real kids, real progress — 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

$19.99

per month · cancel anytime

Full library access
Unlimited buddy reading sessions
Parent progress dashboard
NSF-funded research

Start Monthly

Save $41 — Best value

Annual

$199/yr

just $16.58/month · billed once a year

Everything in Monthly
2 months free vs. monthly
Best for consistent improvement
Approved for ESA voucher funds

Start Annual — Save $41

🏫 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.

Help your child read with real confidence

What changes when your child has a reading buddy

Simple to start.Powerful in practice.

Choose a book

Buddy-read together

See progress

Built for kids who need a little extra support

Alternating turn reading

Built-in support when they struggle

Independent practice

Parent progress dashboard

Hundreds of books they actually want to read

Hear it from the families themselves.

Choose the plan that fits your family

Questions parents ask

Start your child's reading transformation today

Simple to start.
Powerful in practice.