Item: Teach Your Monster to Read
Rating: 95
Author: Dinsun

Dinsun Review

I’m usually the first to complain about 'edutainment' being neither educational nor entertaining, but this monster game is doing something right. It actually has a sense of world-building and character that most of its competitors lack. The monster customization is a smart hook—it gives the child 'ownership' of the experience. From a mechanical standpoint, it’s basically a collection of minigames, but they are tightly integrated into the phonics curriculum.

As a conservative gamer, I appreciate that it doesn't rely on flashy, distracting gimmicks. It’s focused. The difficulty curve is well-managed, ensuring the child isn't bored or overwhelmed. It’s also one of the few educational apps that feels like a 'premium' product rather than a cheap asset flip. If you're looking for a tool to help a kid with literacy, this is the gold standard. It's a bit simple for my tastes, obviously, but for its intended audience, it's nearly flawless.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Scientifically backed phonics curriculum
Engaging monster customization
High production values

Limited replayability once reading goals are met
Requires parental setup
Relatively simple minigame variety

Technical Report

Performance: Flawless performance on iPad; clear, high-quality voice acting.

Accessibility:

Clear audio instructions
Visual cues for sounds

Audience Fit

Buy if: You want the most effective and engaging app available for teaching early reading skills.

Skip if: Your child is already a proficient reader or you want a purely entertainment-focused game.

Similar Games:

Reading Eggs
Endless Reader
Hooked on Phonics

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun
Hardware: iPad (9th Gen)
Playtime: 12 hours
Status: Observed through all 3 stages

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

828392046

$8.99 4+★4.5 25940 reviews

Author : Teach Your Monster

Pubish Date : Mon Jul 02 2018

Last Update Date : Wed Sep 03 2025

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 5.4.2Wed Sep 03 2025

Bug fixes, small updates for the latest OS, and now new users will sign up before jumping in - this helps us protect your progress, offer cross-device play, and give better support if you need it. A few other small improvements too. Love the game? Please leave a review — we read them all!
Requires iOS 12.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Welcome to Teach Your Monster to Read, the award-winning app that makes learning to read fun and engaging! Our educational phonics and reading games have helped millions of children build essential literacy skills. Create your own monster and embark on a magical journey through interactive games designed for home and school use. With a safe, trusted, and highly recommended approach, Teach Your Monster to Read offers phonics-based reading games for all levels. Teaching through play is what we do best—download today and start your child’s reading adventure!
TEACH YOUR MONSTER TO READ FEATURES
INTERACTIVE KIDS READING GAMES
• Take your custom-designed monster through educational games that are suitable for ages 3-6.
• Improve letter sound recognition with reading games
• Explore a world of phonics and educational games that teach your child to read sentences
• Easily track their player’s progress to identify areas where their reader may need extra support
PHONICS & READING GAMES DESIGNED BY EXPERTS
• Designed in collaboration with Roehampton University and leading game designers
• Phonics tools and educational games that complement phases 2-5 of UK Government-approved Letters and Sounds and other major systematic synthetic phonics programmes
• 3 reading games designed for those in preschool, primary school, kindergarten, and first grade
EDUCATIONAL PLAY AT NO ADDITIONAL COST
• Teach Your Monster to Read is available on iPad and iPhone
• Explore phonics and educational games without in-app purchases, hidden costs, or in-game adverts
• Teach Your Monster to Read supports your child through every step of their reading journey
HEAR FROM TEACHERS AND PARENTS WHO USE OUR READING GAMES
"This game is the absolute best quality phonics game I have come across for educational and fun value."
Marie Lewis, Rochdale
“My class have reaped loads of benefits from using the programme and the difference in some of their reading skills has been dramatic."
Maria Andrews, Foundation Phase Teacher
"This is a fabulous game. I'm not kidding when I say that my daughter essentially learned all her letter sounds using First steps, with relatively minimal input from me! Great for parents to practise their letter sounds too."
Eleanor Jones
PART OF THE USBORNE FOUNDATION CHARITY
Teach Your Monster to Read has been created by Teach Monster Games Ltd. which is a subsidiary of The Usborne Foundation. The Usborne Foundation is a charity founded by children’s publisher, Peter Usborne MBE. Harnessing research, design and technology, we create playful media addressing issues from literacy to health.
Teach a monster today when you download our educational app!
Teach Monster Games Ltd is a subsidiary of The Usborne Foundation, a registered charity in England and Wales, charity number 1121957.

Ratings & Reviews

4.5 out of 5 with 25940 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 4+

Teach Your Monster to Read is a groundbreaking educational game that has helped millions of children learn to read. Developed in collaboration with leading academics, the game guides a custom-built monster through a series of islands, each focusing on specific phonemes, sight words, and reading skills. It covers the first two years of the reading journey, from matching letters and sounds to enjoying complete books. The game is aligned with school curricula and provides a safe, fun, and highly effective environment for young learners.