Carry your kids' library on your iPad

As more families discover the convenience of reading children's books on smart devices, apps are springing up to meet this need. Last summer, "Reading Rainbow" arrived in iTunes as one of the first apps to provide a library inside of an app. This summer, there are several newcomers to the pocket library space.

All of the book collection apps discussed in this column offer a little of their content for free; but they unlock their riches when you purchase a monthly subscription. They vary in the size of the library, cost and how they deliver their content. They all focus on presenting a large collection of kids' books that can be accessed on the go, but differ greatly on the use of technology in that delivery. Some use animation and interactivity to enhance the storytelling experience; others simply present a static book. These library apps also vary on whether words are highlighted when read, a process that can help kids learn to read.

Here's a look at some of the better book collection apps. Unfortunately, none is yet on iPhone or Android, but many are considering those platforms in the future.

Reading Rainbow

Reading Rainbow, best for ages 3-9, first five books are free, then $9.99/mo. or $29.99/6 mos., iPad

Rating 3.5 stars (out of 4)

The first great innovator of library apps, "Reading Rainbow" has more than 300 books read by top-notch narrators. It also has more than 50 field-trip videos ? many featuring the beloved LeVar Burton, the host of the TV show upon which the app is based. Its floating islands, with themes that kids like, draw readers into exploring new books.

The app allows a family to set up five accounts, where each child's virtual backpack can hold five downloaded books. You need to be connected to the Internet for downloading; but once the books are in your backpack, you can read them anytime. The stories are of high quality, including some Caldecott winners; and most feature a little animation and interactivity. The app keeps track of the minutes of reading and shares that information with parents.

Why choose this book service? "Reading Rainbow" has consummate storyteller LeVar Burton at its helm, and he is dedicated to presenting exciting stories with professional narration. The service has a large number of high-quality books and does a good job of suggesting books by interest and age. Its negatives are that it is more expensive than others; the words don't highlight as they're read aloud; and it is limited to only five books at a time to read offline.

With a library of more than 150 books, "Speakaboos" offers some books with multiple modes for reading, including the Read and Play mode in "The Tortoise and the Hare" book where when you touch the characters, they speak.(Photo: Speakaboos)

Speakaboos ? Read Along, Sing Along Stories for Kids

Speakaboos, best for ages 2-6, first three books are free, then $4.99/mo., $24.99/6 mos., or $39.99/year, iPad

Rating: 3.5 stars

New to iTunes in July, "Speakaboos" launched with a library of 150 books. Featuring a main menu that looks like a pop-up book, the app lets kids find books by exploring 10 categories, including princesses, vehicles, music, monsters, sports, bugs and more.

This service varies its delivery of the books. Some read without highlighted words but with full animation; others read with highlighting and animation; and a few offer the full interactive experience with animation, word highlighting plus repeats and hotspots where touching makes things happen or causes characters to talk.

Just as "Reading Rainbow" has LeVar Burton to help curate its books, "Speakaboos" has Alice Wilder, the producer of Blues Clues and the co-creator of Super WHY! The quality of these books fluctuates, but the fairy tales are carefully sanitized and there are even some cute songs, including a hilarious one with live actors singing about the differences between a pirate and a parrot.

Why choose this book service? There is no limit to the number of books that you can download for reading offline. This service costs $4.99 for a month; so it is about half of the cost of "Reading Rainbow." The overall book quality isn't as consistent as that on "Reading Rainbow," but most have highlighted words, and the ones with interactivity are very well done. There is no parental report yet, but one is in the works.

"My Story World" rises above other library collection apps because it presents familiar books that kids love, along with opportunities to interact and learn with the characters they love, including Sid the Science Kid.(Photo: Mindshapes)

My Story World ? Top Kids Stories

Mindshapes, best for ages 3-8, free for six books and then $5.99 for a 6-month All-Access Pass, iPad

Rating: 4 stars

"My Story World" stands out in this roundup because its books offer a rich experience of animation and interactivity that is carefully tied into the storytelling. Each book offers a combination of reading aloud and questions geared toward involving the child in the storytelling. Every few pages, kids will be asked to select an answer to a reading comprehension question from choices displayed at the bottom of the page. At the end of each story, kids can create a drawing, using a scene from the book as a backdrop.

The library in "My Story World" is currently 51 books, with more books being added every week. While smaller than the other collections reviewed in this column, these books are better known to kids and include popular brands, such as Winnie the Witch, Elmer the Patchwork Elephant and Sid the Science Kid.

Why choose this book service? It is the least-expensive app in this roundup and yet offers the richest reading experience. The story presentations contain animation, videos and interactivity. They incorporate questions and activities. Before downloading a book, parents can read a summary, see the suggested age and discover its educational category. This service creates a deep learning experience built around children's classic literature. It's one kids will want to return to time and again.

Kids find a world of stories to explore in the "Children's Books -- FarFaria Stories" app that presents its 450 books in terms of regions -- including this FairyTale Forest.(Photo: Intuary)

Children's Books ? FarFaria Stories

Intuary, best for ages 2-9, One free story every day, with unlimited reading costing $3.99/mo., $39.99/year, iPad

Rating: 3 stars

This once-upon-a-time library houses a whopping 450 books, with more being added every week. "FarFaria" encourages kids to read by presenting faraway places such as FairyTale Forest and Fable Hills. In addition to themes, the books are also categorized by five levels of reading ability from pre-readers up to fluent readers. After finishing a book, the service recommends others.

The books in this collection are all read aloud, but they have no other tech flourishes. However, the service is adding word highlighting, starting in September.

Why choose this book service? "FarFaria" has the most books at a low cost. You can carry 40 downloaded books at a time. The books are sorted by reading level and interest, which is helpful in finding the right book for your child. Many of the books feature diverse characters. However, these books don't come with any bells and whistles ? this is a collection of static books that read to your child. It most closely mirrors checking books out of a library, and even identifies the ones that are most popular and newest.

Jinny Gudmundsen is the author of the new book: iPad Apps for Kids, part of the For Dummies series. Contact her at techcomments@usatoday.com. Follow her @JinnyGudmundsen.

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