General questions
Here are some quick answers to help you understand how REED works, who it’s for, and how it supports shared reading between caregivers and children.
REED (read, engage, explore, discuss) is a reading companion app designed to help caregivers turn everyday storytime into meaningful, language-rich conversations.
As you read a physical book with your child, REED listens along and suggests developmentally appropriate, open-ended questions at just the right moments. These prompts are designed to help children engage more deeply with the story—supporting language development, comprehension, and a love of reading.
REED is currently designed for reading with children ages 3–5, a critical window for language and early literacy development. We are actively exploring expansion to additional age ranges in the future.
REED works with a growing library of supported children’s books (see our currently supported books here).
REED is NOT an e-book platform. You’ll browse and select a book within the app, then read from your own physical (or digital) copy at home. REED provides prompts tailored to that specific book.
We are continuously expanding our catalog through partnerships with publishers.
REED requires an internet connection to browse and download book guides. Once a guide is downloaded, you can use REED during reading without an active internet connection, making it easy to use anywhere.
Our goal is to keep REED as accessible as possible.
REED is currently being offered through partner organizations (such as libraries, schools, and literacy programs), which often provide access to families at no cost.
As we expand, we plan to introduce additional access options. Join our mailing list to find out when REED is available!
REED’s prompts are based on decades of research in early literacy and child development. These prompts are designed to:
- Encourage open-ended thinking
- Build vocabulary and comprehension
- Prompt meaningful back-and-forth conversation
Our system generates and reviews prompts to ensure they are developmentally appropriate and aligned with best practices.
Most reading apps are designed for children to use independently on a screen. REED is different—it’s designed to support caregivers during shared reading with physical books. Instead of replacing books or interaction, REED:
- Keeps the focus on the real book
- Encourages conversation
- Supports proven, research-based reading practices
Early language and literacy skills are strong predictors of later academic success and life outcomes. REED is designed to make high-quality, research-backed reading practices accessible to more families—helping turn everyday moments into meaningful learning opportunities.
Using the app
These are the basics of REED. We've designed the app very intentionally to enhance (not replace) the parent-child reading experience.
REED is designed to enhance your reading experience. We've designed the prompts so that they are:
- Short and easy to glance at
- Timed to natural pauses in the story
- Optional—you decide when and whether to use them
Many caregivers find that REED actually makes reading feel more engaging and interactive, without adding pressure.
That’s completely okay. REED is meant to be flexible—you can:
- Use as many or as few prompts as you’d like
- Skip prompts anytime
- Follow your child’s lead
Even using just a few prompts can meaningfully increase engagement.
No training is required. REED is designed to feel intuitive and easy to use from the start. The prompts guide you naturally, so you don’t need to learn specific techniques in advance.
That’s normal—and completely okay.
Children engage in different ways. Even if they don’t respond right away, hearing questions and conversation helps build understanding over time. You can even answer the questions yourself to model for your child!
REED is about creating opportunities for interaction, not expecting perfect responses.
Yes. REED is designed to work in a variety of settings, including:
- Homes
- Classrooms
- Libraries
- Literacy programs
We partner with organizations to support shared reading at scale.
Even short reading sessions can make a difference. REED is designed to fit into everyday routines—just a few minutes of interactive reading can support language development.
Privacy and safety
At COG Learning, your privacy and safety is our top concern. We commit to not selling your personal data, and REED does not record or store audio of your reading session.
REED is designed with privacy in mind.
We collect only the minimal data needed to improve the experience and understand overall usage patterns. Any data used for research or improvement is aggregated and anonymized.
We do not sell your personal data.
No. REED does not record or store audio of you or your child.
When you tap “start reading,” your device may temporarily convert speech to text to help the app follow along with the story. This process happens in real time and is not stored or saved.
Yes. REED is a tool for adults to use with children during shared reading.
- No in-app purchases for children
- No unmoderated content
REED aligns with recommendations that technology should support—not replace—human interaction:
Stay in touch with us
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