Novel Effect: Read Aloud Books

We used to love this app, but now that they charge a membership, we can’t afford it. Won’t let us use the 5 monthly free reads.

En español

I hold up a book. The kids say we read that…or I have that at home… and I just smile and connect the Bluetooth speaker…annnnd cue sound effects and I know I have them!!! I can see them sitting up, some standing up to actively listen to all the sounds and words and pictures this book has. They never knew…heck!!!I never knew reading could be like this! It is the best app I have ever used for reading. It’s still me with all my silly voices and timing, but leveled up with your own orchestra pit and foley artist. I encourage you to read one book and watch your mesmerized audience. That’s what they become. Mesmerized lovers of books. Forever they will be changed for the better! Bravo!!!

I have tried to get access to my account for over a month. I purchased this and never received an activation email and have been in contact with customer service several times. Each time they have stated that it should work and is still not working. I’m sure it is a great app. Their activation process is why I’m giving it a low review. I’m excited for the app all my library friends have said how wonderful this is to use in a school library. I can’t wait to see what it can do.

We started using Novel Effect for our Expanded Learning Program. It makes it so much for exciting and brings the books to life. Thank you Novel Effect 💗

Novel Effect’s audio background effects are so fun in this book! So much excitement and expression! We ❤️ Novel Effect! 📚 🎤 🎶

We started using Novel Effect for our Expanded Learning Program. It makes it so much for exciting and brings the books to life. Thank you Novel Effect 💗

So my title sums it up. This app is a novelty- big on gimmick, short on usefulness. I did have a chance to dig into some of the learning PDF’s and they are fun, coloring pages and fine motor activities, but they aren’t any better than things that can be found on Teachers Pay Teachers. The biggest reason I don’t think this app is worth the steep annual fee are the soundscapes themselves. They are distracting and take away from kids hearing fluency and prosody modeled for them. I have a book worm toddler who has been read to since newborn days. She was more distracted than anything and wasn’t “wowed” by the sounds and kept trying to look at the phone which we normally wouldn’t have present and out during our reading time. The technology is super - following your voice so sound effect timing is nearly flawless, even allowing for questions and feedback from the child and the sound effects stop and pick back up when reading resumes. That part is neat, and I could see kids who were raised on screens more than books liking the sound effects since simple reading could feel “boring” to kids in that category. But if you have a strong foundation of reading time in your house, I think this is a skip because it’s an unnecessary extra layer.

I am an elementary Library Media Tech and my students love the sound effects. It really brings the books to life!! The classroom behaviors have improved drastically and the kids are excited each week to find out what book I am going to read!! Love love this app!!!

I’m a teacher and a mom and this makes me the star of story time at school and with my kid’s, they just can’t get enough.