AppVitamins

Smart Books

Picture books that read themselves aloud.

Every word lights up as it's spoken, the characters talk in their own voices, and each page has something to tap, count or find. Made for little ones to enjoy — with you, or on their own.

  • Narrated, word by wordRead-along highlighting builds early reading.
  • Tap-to-play pagesCount critters, find things, make choices.
  • First pages freeTry any book, then unlock it once and keep it. A series pass is a single one-time payment. No subscriptions, no ads.
Browse the books Try “Book 6B: Zara and the Singing Anchor” free
Illustration from Book 6B: Zara and the Singing Anchor
New: Book 6B: Zara and the Singing AnchorFirst 3 pages free

Meet the friends: watch the trailer

Meet the Friends of Marmalade MeadowThe Storyteller introduces each Marmalade Meadow friend, and each friend says hello in their own voice.

More videos for grown-ups4 short videos · how it works, what children learn, prices

See the Marmalade Meadow books →

Series

Follow the same friends from book to book — or unlock a whole series at once.

Choose an age

Pick a reader's age to see the books made for them — or browse everything below.

178 Smart Books

No books here yet.

We're illustrating and recording new Smart Books for every age.

How it works

No account and nothing to install.

  1. Read the free pages

    Open any book and tap start. The first pages are free to read and hear.

  2. Unlock the whole book once

    Enjoyed it? Pay once at checkout and get a licence key by email; the book is yours to keep. Want a whole series? Choose a one-time series pass.

  3. Read anywhere, even offline

    Enter the key inside the book on each phone, tablet or computer. Once loaded, the book works without a signal.

Smart Books vs ebooks

Smart Books

Interactive, narrated stories that play in the browser: voices, read-along highlighting, sound and things to tap on every page. Best for young readers.

eBooks

Books you download and read yourself as EPUB or PDF — guides and non-fiction for grown-ups. Browse eBooks in BookBay →

Questions parents ask

What is a Smart Book?

A picture book that reads itself aloud. Each word lights up as it is spoken, the characters talk in their own voices, and pages have things to tap, count and find. It runs in your web browser on a phone, tablet or computer — there is nothing to install.

How is a Smart Book different from an ebook?

An ebook is a file you read yourself in an e-reader app. A Smart Book is an interactive, narrated story that plays in the browser: read-along highlighting, voices, sound and little games on the page. Our ebooks live in BookBay; Smart Books live here.

Is it really free to try?

Yes. The first pages of every Smart Book are free to read and hear, with no sign-up. If your child enjoys it, you unlock the whole book with a one-time payment and keep it forever. To get every book in a series you can choose a one-time series pass; there are no subscriptions.

How do I unlock a book after buying it?

Checkout gives you a licence key by email. Enter it in the unlock box inside the book and every page opens on that device. You can use the same key on your other devices too.

Does it work offline?

Yes. After a book has loaded once it is saved on the device, so it keeps working in the car, on a plane or anywhere without a signal.

Are there ads or tracking?

No ads, and no account needed. Reading progress is stored only on your own device.