Thursday, April 10, 2008

TumbleReadables

We have just subscribed to a new database that complements our TumbleBook Library of animated and narrated picture books for children. It is called TumbleReadables and can be found on the Online Resources page under "Reading and Libraries".

"The core of the TumbleReadable collection are the books that combine online text with complete narration. Sentences are highlighted as they are being read and pages turn automatically. They can be viewed in 3 different text sizes. These are our Read-Alongs for elementary, middle school, and high school students.

There are currently 125 read-alongs and 100 large print online books in this expanding collection found in 8 separate categories:

Picture Books, Early Readers, Chapter Books, Middle School Readers, YA/Teen, Children’s Classics, Classics, and Shakespeare.

The collection includes popular sports themed books by Matt Christopher, titles from the popular Judy Moody , Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, and Sleepover Squad series, and classic children’s literature such as Black Beauty and Call of the Wild."

There are 3 types of books in the collection -

(Read-Along): Online books complete with large print text and complete narration. You can choose from 3 text sizes. Sentences are highlighted as they are read and pages turn automatically.

(2 in 1): Online classics that include adjustable text and complete unabridged audio.

No Brackets: Large print online books with adjustable text. These have no audio. Many will be converted to read-alongs in the next year.

I suggest that you sit down with a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit and have a play with them.

My tip is to click on the tab that says "Index" on the TumbleReadables webpage so that you get an idea of the breadth of the collection and then try clicking on each of the different types of books ("Read-Along" , "2 in 1", ordinary title) to see what each does.
Enjoy!

Cheers, Paul.

PS: The books can not be downloaded to an MP3 player or iPod they can only be viewed or listened to on a computer.

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