Why Bookstaken Is Different: A Smarter Way to Build a Reading Habit in Children
Learn what makes Bookstaken different: 1:1 reading mentorship, personalized book matching, and simple routines that help children build a consistent reading habit without pressure.
Most reading apps make it easy to access books.
But many parents are not struggling with access.
They are struggling with something simpler and harder:
“My child still doesn’t enjoy reading.”
If you have tried a library app, an audiobook subscription, or a reward-based tracker, you are not alone. Plenty of families start strong, then the excitement fades and reading goes back to feeling like homework.
This is exactly the gap Bookstaken is built for.
The problem most reading platforms don’t actually solve
A lot of platforms offer some version of:
big digital libraries
reading apps and trackers
audiobooks
games, badges, and streaks
Those tools can help, but they often miss the key ingredient that creates a real habit: emotional engagement.
Reading sticks when a child feels curious, connected, and proud of their progress, not when they are simply told to “read for 20 minutes.” Research on reading motivation shows that engagement and meaning matter more than sheer availability of books (Guthrie & Wigfield, 2000).
So if your child has books but still avoids reading, it is not a willpower problem.
It is an experience problem.
What makes Bookstaken fundamentally different
Bookstaken is not “more books on a screen.”
It is a guided reading experience designed to help children build a reading habit they can sustain.
Instead of asking children to read alone, Bookstaken creates a structured journey where children:
discover books that match their interests
talk about stories (so reading feels alive)
build curiosity through questions and conversation
stay consistent with a routine that feels doable
At the center of Bookstaken is a simple belief:
Children don’t build reading habits because they are told to read. They build habits when reading becomes something they look forward to.
The core difference: from “reading alone” to “reading with mentors”
Most reading platforms assume independent reading is the starting point.
For many kids, it is not.
1:1 personalized online reading sessions for children
With Bookstaken, every child is paired with a top college student mentor who becomes their reading companion.
Your child’s mentor:
learns what your child actually likes (topics, characters, humor, pace)
recommends books based on those interests
reads and discusses stories with your child
asks thoughtful questions that keep the child involved
This turns reading from a solo task into a human experience.
Guided reading and discussion are strongly linked to better engagement and comprehension (Whitehurst & Lonigan, 1998). And when a child feels understood and supported, showing up gets easier.
Bookstaken vs other platforms (a simple comparison)
Here is the clearest way to think about it.
Traditional reading apps
What you usually get:
digital books
reading trackers
badges and rewards
Where it often breaks:
There is no real interaction. A child may try it for a week, then lose interest because it feels like yet another screen activity.
Audiobook platforms
What you usually get:
great narration
easy listening during travel or downtime
Where it often breaks:
Audiobooks can be helpful, but they are mostly passive. They do not consistently build active reading skills or help a child learn to stay with text.
School-based reading
What you usually get:
assigned books
comprehension questions
pressure to perform
Where it often breaks:
Reading becomes tied to evaluation, not enjoyment.
Bookstaken
What you get:
mentor-led, 1:1 reading sessions
book discovery based on interests
interactive discussions that build curiosity
a habit-building routine
The outcome:
Children start to look forward to reading because it becomes personal, social, and fun.
Why Bookstaken works (supported by research)
Bookstaken’s approach lines up with three well-established learning principles.
1) Intrinsic motivation beats pressure
Kids engage more when an activity feels enjoyable and self-driven (Ryan & Deci, 2000). Bookstaken focuses on curiosity and confidence instead of forcing “discipline.”
2) Social learning increases engagement
Children learn better through interaction and conversation. A mentor helps a child think, react, and stay present with the story.
3) Consistency is how habits form
Habits form through repeated, small actions over time (Lally et al., 2010). Bookstaken makes consistency easier by providing a clear structure and recurring sessions.
Beyond reading skills: what children actually gain
Most platforms promise “better reading.” Bookstaken builds skills that show up everywhere.
Thinking skills
asking “why” and “what if”
predicting outcomes
noticing patterns in stories
Communication skills
explaining ideas clearly
learning to disagree respectfully
building storytelling confidence
Emotional intelligence
recognizing emotions in characters
building empathy
understanding different perspectives
Creativity
imagining alternate endings
inventing new characters
writing their own stories
What a Bookstaken session looks like
A typical session is not a quiet “read this and report back.” It is interactive.
The mentor introduces an exciting story
Your child explores the book and reacts in real time
The mentor asks engaging questions to keep attention high
The discussion builds curiosity and connection
The session ends at a point that makes your child want more
That cliffhanger is intentional. It creates a natural pull:
“I want to know what happens next.”
That is the start of a habit.
Why parents notice real change
Families often tell us they see:
children asking for books on their own
less reliance on screens for entertainment
better attention and focus
improved storytelling and confidence
genuine excitement around reading
It happens because Bookstaken does not treat reading as a task.
It turns reading into an experience.
Who Bookstaken is best for
Bookstaken is a great fit for:
children who do not like reading (yet)
children distracted by screens
children who struggle with consistency
parents who want support but cannot guide reading daily
Bookstaken acts as a bridge between books and your child’s curiosity.
Final thoughts
Most platforms solve access.
But access is not the same as a habit.
Children do not need more books.
They need a reason to care about stories.
Bookstaken builds that reason through mentorship, conversation, and a routine that makes reading feel exciting.
Ready to help your child fall in love with reading?
Bookstaken is more than an app.
It is a guided reading journey that helps children become confident readers and thoughtful storytellers.