MobiStories: Virtual Books for Kids

In a day and age when seemingly everything is going electronic it makes a certain amount of sense to steer that way in literature too. We've seen it happen years ago with books on tape, then on cds, and now you can download them for your iPod, or to read on your e-readers and computers. Mostly it's adults who have been able to benefit from the modern advancements (tapes and cds aside), but now that's all changing. Enter, MobiStories: Virtual Books for Kids.

Anytime - Anywhere Whether on the go or at home, MobiStories makes reading fun. With a library in your pocket, storytime is wherever and whenever your child wants it to be. Just load up your portable device with some of our great books and voila - you’ll never be without an entertaining story in the palm of your hand. And remember, when people ask why your child is so quiet, just say: "MobiStories!"

MobiStories bring books to life right before your eyes. With graphics, narrators, and read-along text, children from 1-10 can curl up with a book anywhere and anytime. Need a few minutes for a quick shower or to toss a load of laundry in? With MobiStories, your child can be entertained and mentally stimulated without sitting infront of the television or playing games online. Parents and their children can easily browse the great online books offered on MobiStories.com, preview a short snippet of each, and then quickly purchase their selections (for really reasonable prices) for immediate download. MobiStories are compatible for viewing on PCs, DVDs, iPods, iPhones, the iTouch, and more. With so many compatibility options, your child can view the stories whether at home or on the go.

As anyone will tell you, I'm a big proponant for print books. I love the convenience of e-books just like everyone else, but in giving up the bound and printed books for the techno style I feel that readers are missing out on so much of the experience that reading itself has to offer. So, when I heard about MobiStories my interest was piqued. Could this company really make a digital version be as fun and straightforward, without all the bells and whistles, as sitting down to read a hardcopy? The answer is, Yes!

I figured this would be something my 5 year old would enjoy, and I was right. She was hooked on the spot by the first book we "read" together, Good Mousekeeping. The stories come across like a blend of audio books and movies. Read by a narrator and coupled with fun musical accompaniment and sound effects, each book appears visually on the screen for young readers to watch and follow along with. The illustrations are fun and because the text appears on each page as it would without narration, the child can read along, outloud or silently, with the narrator. Even the pages realistically turn at the appropriate times. All in all, it's a pretty neat combo.

My daughter loved the interactive aspect of the books, and all four that we downloaded (Good Mousekeeping, Ella Elephant, The Squirrels' Thanksgiving, and Salsa for Kittens and Puppies) were a big hit. Naturally we had to "read" them all back to back, and she was immediately asking if we could download more. If that's not a stamp of approval I'm not sure what is!

And while I'd still never in a million years give up print books, I can say honestly that this new version is pretty cool. With several great age categories and titles to choose from, MobiStories is an awesome tool for parents, grandparents, and educators alike to use to continue to inspire the love of reading in the kids in their lives.

Would you like to try out MobiStories for yourself? Well, thanks to MobiStories and Mom Select I'm excited to tell you that you too can try MobiStories on for size. Through December 31st, 2008 ALL of my readers here at Ready Set Read Reviews can use coupon code BSM226A upon checkout at MobiStories.com to receive $10 in free downloads. Plus act now and you'll be able to score a bonus as Salsa for Kittens and Puppies is currently being offered for free too!

***Thanks again to the wonderful people at MobiStories and Mom Select for this great review opportunity!***