An online library of free books for beginning readers of all ages and adapted books for special education.
Monarch Reader: Digital Books for Beginning Readers of All Ages
Educators often discuss how challenging it is to find books for older beginning readers. This can be related to the content of the books as well as age respectfulness. Monarch Reader is a solution for that need since it provides accessible and adapted books for beginning readers. Additionally, Monarch Reader serves as a platform for adults who advocate for age-respectful reading materials to create digital books for their personal use or to share with others for free.
Continuing the rich legacy of Tar Heel Reader, the Monarch Reader book-sharing platform offers a vast digital library of thousands of accessible and adapted books specifically tailored for beginning readers of all ages. Whether you are a special educator, a beginning reader, a parent, or literacy advocate, Monarch Reader is a resource for shared reading and independent reading. It is also a place where adults can create accessible and adapted books that engage and delight beginning readers.
Benefits of Using Monarch Reader
Access Age-Respectful, Easy Readers
Many books on Monarch Reader are intentionally crafted to be both engaging for older readers and accessible, making them ideal for learners with developing literacy and language skills.
Build Reader Confidence and Engagement
These books build confidence in beginning readers as they engage with texts that are easy to read but still offer the depth and richness needed to capture their interest.
Organize Favorite Books
With a growing collection of over 19,000 digital books, users can create their own bookshelf to easily reference favorite selections.
Discover Collections of Books to Align with Curriculum and DLM
To quickly locate books of interest, users can search to access collections of books related to specific subjects including curriculum themes and books related to the DLM.
Create Your Own Digital Books
Monarch Reader isn’t just about consuming content; it’s about creating it too. Adult users can take an active role in the literacy experience by publishing their own written creations.
Privacy Controls
While users do create a login, they can create books under their own non-identifiable selected username and readers can access books with or without logging in.
Features and Supports within Monarch Reader
Books by Many Authors
This is an open-source library of books created by many authors who usually keep simplicity in mind using clear language and straightforward sentence structures.
Books on Many Subjects
Monarch Reader’s library includes stories that span a wide range of subjects including animals, travel, space and history, to offer readers books that spark their imagination. Adults who don’t find a book on a subject they are looking for can log in to create their own.
Multiple Accessibility Interfaces
Not all learners interact with text in the same way, so books on this platform can be accessed through a variety of methods, including:
- Mouse
- Touch Screens
- Alternative pointing device
- Digital AAC device
- Switch Interfaces (up to three)
- Eye-Gaze Interfaces
Text-to-Speech Books
Monarch Reader goes beyond traditional reading by offering a text-to-speech feature that converts written words into spoken language. This feature is a game-changer for individuals who may have visual impairments or who benefit from reading along with spoken text.
Image Supports for Authors
This platform allows users to craft custom books using a vast array of images available in Creative Commons or their own personal photo libraries that have been uploaded to Flickr.
Why Choose Monarch Reader?
Monarch Reader is more than just a digital library; it’s a reading exploration platform designed to meet the needs of beginning readers of all ages and the adults who support them. It continues the rich legacy of Tar Heel Reader and offers:
- Inclusivity: With multiple access methods, Monarch Reader is accessible to all, ensuring that every learner can find and enjoy age-respectful, easy-to-read books.
- Versatility: Monarch Reader’s text-to-speech feature and user-created content options provide a versatile platform that adapts to the needs of its users, offering a rich and varied reading experience.
- Customization: Whether you’re an educator, a parent, or any idividual who supports learners, Monarch Reader’s user-created content feature allows you create custom reading experiences specific to the needs and interests of the beginning readers you work with or that other beginning readers would enjoy.
- Engagement: With thousands of books to choose from and the ability to create your own, Monarch Reader keeps readers engaged and excited about learning.
Join the Monarch Reader Community Today
Monarch Reader is your gateway to a world of accessible, engaging, and age-respectful digital books. Whether you’re supporting a beginning reader or looking for resources to enhance your educational toolkit, Monarch Reader has everything you need to make reading an enjoyable and inclusive experience for all. Sign up today and discover how Monarch Reader can transform the way you engage with books.
Don Johnston
CEO, Building Wings
CEO, Building Wings
“We at Building Wings are very excited to manage and develop the future of Tar Heel Reader. We have been working with Karen (Erickson) to re-build Tar Heel for a long-term future. Karen and I have shared a vision for over 30 years that ALL students can learn to read and write. When I was a beginning reader it was impossible for me to find things to read that I found interesting and could help me build a successful reading experience. The opportunity to deliver this comprehensive library of books that students find engaging and interesting is very exciting for us at Building Wings.”
FAQs
To create your Monarch Reader account, start by providing your email address and setting a password. Once registered, you’ll be directed to the login page where you’ll complete a brief series of questions. These questions are designed to tailor your user experience better and ensure you receive the most relevant supports. Best of all, Monarch Reader is completely free to use. Enjoy exploring and discovering new reads!
Monarch Reader offers a wide variety of book topics, including books about animals, food, holidays, music, science, and sports. If you don’t see what you are looking for, create an account by entering your email, and write a book about your favorite topic. Our library is growing by the day and we would be thrilled to have you contribute.
Anyone over the age of 18 who is a logged-in member, can write a book and submit it for publishing. These books can also be kept in a draft format for personal use.
Yes, all books that have been published and approved are visible to all users. You can explore and access the full range of available titles through Monarch Reader.
Yes, anyone can access digital books for free, and adults who sign up for a free membership can author books.
- How to Connect Your Tar Heel Reader Account with Monarch Reader
- Finding Books with Topic Search
- Accessible Book Viewing Options – How to Select
- How to Find Your Books – Navigating Published and Unreviewed Books
- How to Create Your Own Bookshelf
- Sharing a Draft Book with Others
- How to Download a Book from Monarch Reader
- Adding Your Own Images to a Monarch Reader Book
- How to Find and Explore DLM Book Collections