Teach Your Monster to Read
A phonics adventure game from a subsidiary of the Usborne Foundation charity. Kids build a monster and teach it to read across three games covering the first two years of reading. Free on computers; $8.99 one-time on phones and tablets.
What is Teach Your Monster to Read?
Teach Your Monster to Read is a phonics game for children who are just starting to read. Your child designs a monster and then "teaches" it to read by playing letter-sound and word games across a colorful island adventure.
It's made by Teach Your Monster Ltd., a subsidiary of the Usborne Foundation. That charity was founded by Peter Usborne, who started the Usborne children's books publisher. Academic partners at the University of Roehampton helped develop it. The game is free on computers, and paid app sales help keep it that way.
How it works
Children play on their own in short sessions. Each game is a sequence of mini-games: catching the right letter, blending sounds into words, reading tricky words and, later, reading sentences and tiny books. Correct answers earn outfits, prizes and new places to explore.
A typical session for a kindergartner:
- Open the game and pick up where they left off.
- Play a few mini-games on a new letter sound.
- Blend and read short words with that sound.
- Spend rewards dressing up their monster.
Ten to twenty minutes is enough. Parents can set up a free home account to track progress and use Practice Mode to review weak sounds.
What it covers
| Game | What it teaches |
|---|---|
| First Steps | First 31 letter-sound pairs, blending and segmenting simple words, first 6 tricky words |
| Fun with Words | 18 more letter-sound pairs, longer words with consonant blends, 30 more tricky words, reading sentences |
| Champion Reader | Alternative spellings and pronunciations, more tricky words, reading for meaning in short books |
The developer says the games are built to work alongside whatever phonics program a school uses. Together, they cover about the first two years of reading.
Who it's best for
It's ideal for preschoolers, kindergartners and 1st graders who need lots of engaging phonics practice, and for families who want something free and ad-free. Older beginning readers and kids who struggle often enjoy it too.
It's not a full curriculum, and it doesn't teach letter names. For a step-by-step program with parent guidance, look at All About Reading or Hooked on Phonics.
Pricing at a glance
The computer version is free. The iOS and Android app costs $8.99 one time on the US App Store as of October 2026, with no subscription, ads or in-app purchases. Try it free in a browser first, then buy the app if your child wants to play on a tablet.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Most families won't need to, since the web version is free. If you buy the app, a one-time educational software purchase may be allowable in some education savings account programs, but each program decides and some only reimburse approved vendors. For bigger reading purchases, save them to your Edulist wishlist and check the scholarships available in your state.
How it compares
- Starfall covers phonics and early math for $35 a year, with a simpler look.
- Reading Eggs is a paid, structured program with a placement test and books up to age 13.
- Duolingo ABC is another bite-sized phonics app for early readers.
- Khan Academy Kids covers more subjects for preschool and early elementary.
Browse more phonics programs, free reading options and the best reading apps for kids.
Who Teach Your Monster to Read is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Preschoolers and kindergartners learning letter sounds
- Families who want free, ad-free phonics practice
- Kids who love games and customizing characters
- Classrooms and homeschool co-ops with shared computers
Look elsewhere if
- Children already reading fluently past 1st-grade level
- Families who want a full, parent-led reading curriculum
- Kids who need American pronunciation throughout
Teach Your Monster to Read pros and cons
Pros
- Free on computers; one-time $8.99 app with no ads
- Clear phonics sequence from first sounds to short books
- Highly motivating monster-building rewards
- Stats tracker shows strongest and weakest letter sounds
- Backed by a charity with university academic partners
Cons
- Some UK pronunciations differ from American speech
- Doesn't teach letter names alongside sounds
- Kids can move ahead without fully mastering earlier sounds
- Ends around the end of 1st grade
What’s included
- Three games: First Steps, Fun with Words and Champion Reader
- Covers letter-sound pairs, blending, segmenting and 'tricky' words
- Moves from single words to sentences and short books
- Free on any computer through the website
- One-time app purchase with no ads or in-app purchases
- Parent and teacher accounts with a grapheme stats tracker and Practice Mode
How much does Teach Your Monster to Read cost?
All three Teach Your Monster to Read games are free to play on a computer at teachyourmonster.org. The mobile app costs $8.99 as a one-time purchase on the US App Store, and the developer says it has no in-app purchases, hidden costs or ads. Paid app sales and the Usborne Foundation keep the computer version free.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web version on a computer | Free | One-time | Free |
| iOS or Android app, one-time purchase | $8.99 | One-time | — |
Free trial: Not needed; the full game is free on computers, so you can try it before buying the app.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
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View wishlistWhat parents say
A summary of public parent feedback we read on forums, app stores and review sites. It is not a set of Edulist family reviews.
App Store reviews are positive, averaging 4.5 stars from about 30,000 ratings. Parents describe kids progressing from simple words to sentences and staying motivated. Complaints focus on missing letter names, British pronunciations and kids skipping ahead.
Common praise
- Fast progress from CVC words to sentences
- Helps struggling early readers enjoy reading
- Monster rewards keep kids playing independently
Common complaints
- Letter names aren't taught with letter sounds
- Some UK pronunciations confuse American kids
- Kids can advance before mastering material
Sources: apps.apple.com · id828392046
Teach Your Monster to Read family reviews
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Teach Your Monster to Read FAQs
Is Teach Your Monster to Read free?
Yes on computers. All three games are free to play in a web browser at teachyourmonster.org. The iPhone, iPad and Android app costs $8.99 one time in the US, with no subscription or in-app purchases.
Why is Teach Your Monster to Read free?
It's made by Teach Your Monster Ltd., a subsidiary of the Usborne Foundation, a charity founded by children's publisher Peter Usborne. The foundation and paid app sales fund the free computer version.
What age is Teach Your Monster to Read for?
The App Store description says the games suit ages 3 to 6. They cover roughly the first two years of learning to read, so most kids use them from preschool to the end of 1st grade.
What are the three Teach Your Monster to Read games?
First Steps covers the first 31 letter-sound pairs, blending and the first tricky words. Fun with Words adds 18 more sound pairs, longer words and sentences. Champion Reader introduces alternative spellings and reading for meaning in short books.
Does Teach Your Monster to Read use American or British pronunciation?
It was made in the UK, and some App Store reviewers note British pronunciations of certain words. Most sounds are the same, but if your child is confused, model the American pronunciation when you read together.
Can I track my child's progress?
Yes. A free home or school account lets you manage players, see a stats tracker for strongest and weakest letter sounds, and use Practice Mode for targeted review.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: