What is Pickatale?
Pickatale is an online reading platform that helps children aged 4-11 to read for pleasure and become better readers.
The app allows children to read at school and at home. With over 2,000 diverse books that support curriculum topics, big brands such as Disney and Marvel, Sherlock Holmes, Jane Austin, Marcus Rashford, fiction, non-fiction, phonics and decodable readers, there is something for every child to enjoy.
The app is highly engaging and keeps track of how much time children have been reading, quiz results, and which books they've read. It is motivating for children and gets them reading more for pleasure.
When students log in, they can choose whatever book they'd like to read based on their interests, and either read-along or have the book read to them.
There are poems, 25 categories to choose from across 8 stages, and shields to collect. Students will enjoy reading in class or at home and monitoring their own progress as they learn phonics skills and reading comprehension.
Once your students start reading in the Pickatale app, teachers can track their reading performance with the teacher dashboard. Your dashboard is automatically updated with quiz results, when students were last logged in, how much they’ve read and more!
Educational Impact
 Company | Business Name: Pickatale HQ Location: Norway Founded: 2014 |
| Age Range | 0-4, 5-7, 8-10, 11-13 |
 Features | QuizzesProgress TrackingOne On One LessonWhole Class ReadingInteractive BooksPhonicsDecodable ReadersAligned To The National CurriculumCertificatesRewardsText HighlightingReading Statistics1700 BooksDisney BooksMarvel BooksHuman Narration EnglishTeacher Dashboard |
 Languages | English, Norwegian, Danish |
 Accessibility | Moderate features |
 Policies |  Terms of ServicePrivacy PolicyGDPR |
 Requirements | Internet - Low BandwidthInternet - High BandwidthMobile - iPhoneMobile - iPadMobile - Android |
 Set Up | 3 minutes |
 Training | In PersonLive OnlineWebinarsDocumentationVideos |
 Support | EmailFAQs/ForumKnowledge BasePhone Support |
| Home Learning | Parent Access Anyone can create the account. We deliver online training for parents |
 Tags | readingreading for pleasureappandroidbookscurriculumiOSChromebook |
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Pickatale PricingPricing Plans Free TrialPaid Subscription Pickatale pricing starts from £6 / per-pupil Pickatale is priced per pupil per year. Subscriptions are annual and priced per pupil, with whole-school subscriptions offering the greatest value. Multi-year subscriptions are also available for additional savings. We also offer discounts for school clusters and MATs  Optimised for a quick response | |
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Pickatale Reviews
from 29 Verified Reviews
User rating
Country
Jan 2023
We use it as a way of showing reading for pleasure
Mrs found Pickatale:
- Slightly saves school money“Children have a wider selection of books to read”
- Significantly improves parent engagement“Children use Pickatale predominantly when they are with their parents”
- Moderately builds student knowledge“Reading non-fiction books”
Nov 2022
Its easy, accessible, a wide range, children as well as teachers can choose books
Kensington found Pickatale:
- Significantly saves school money“School does not need to replace books and children can have access to new books”
- Significantly improves parent engagement“Parents have shared how happy they are with the stories online and it is easy to use online.”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“There are a wide variety of topics and children can go online in class to carry out research”
Nov 2022
The children are enthused to read it and can't wait to get on.
Longridge found Pickatale:
- Slightly saves school money“Children are eager to read their books online, thus, saving time on going to the school library and loosing books. Therefore cost effective in that sense.”
- Slightly improves parent engagement“One EAL child reads with parent”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“A child recently could explain a non-fiction text clearly.”
Nov 2022
It has a good user interface and the children enjoy listening to books
Micklehurst found Pickatale:
- Significantly saves school money
- Moderately improves parent engagement“Parents are encouraging children to use it at home”
- Slightly builds student knowledge“Broadens their knowledge of non fiction texts”
Nov 2022
I like the pickatale idea but it is quite difficult for children to access and confusing to get the children set up.
All found Pickatale:
- Slightly saves school money
- Moderately improves parent engagement“Children are able to share books with their families.”
- Moderately builds student knowledge“It gives children chance to answer questions about what they have read.”
Nov 2022
It is a great tool to increase reading for pleasure and encourage children to read.
Micklehurst found Pickatale:
- Significantly saves school money“Children are able to read a range of text types at a cheaper cost.”
- Moderately improves parent engagement“Parents have commented on how it is increasing their child's interest in reading.”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Some of our reluctant readers are finding books that they are excited to read and are learning new knowledge.”
Nov 2022
Pickatale is a great app for that children can access throughout the whole school. The range of books is excellent. As a reception teacher, I would love to see more decodable readers and blending books for children at the very beginning of their reading journey.
Evelyn found Pickatale:
- Significantly saves school money“Less money spent on books for children to take home Book that get spent home can sometimes go missing or get broken and school have to replace these, Pickatale reduces this.”
- Significantly improves parent engagement“Many parents have commented on the ease of Pickatale. They love having an education app that children can use on their iPads/tablets.”
- Slightly builds student knowledge
Nov 2022
Pickatale is a great resource/ bank of reading material where children can access a range of material to read freely, without the constraints of a levelled reading program.
Belvidere found Pickatale:
- Slightly saves school money“It has saved us having to constantly think of cost of new books for our free reading library”
- Slightly improves parent engagement“It has helped with some engagement from children to read at home, but they have needed regular reminders.”
- Moderately builds student knowledge“Those children that are engaged with reading, it has given them a range of interesting nonfiction to read.”
Nov 2022
enagaging for pupils and easy to use
Marston found Pickatale:
- Significantly saves school money“wide range of texts in the digital library”
- Moderately improves parent engagement“given access to a wider range of texts which may not have at home”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“range of inference and retrieval knowledge from the book quizzes”
Nov 2022
A great online, interactive tool which kids enjoy and have a access to a rage of books
Kensington found Pickatale:
- Significantly saves school money“A lot of book ranges are available online and don’t need to get physical copies”
- Slightly improves parent engagement“Children are able to read together with parents”
- Moderately builds student knowledge“Reading and comprehension has improved. Children with EAL are able to access texts. It builds vocabulary”
Nov 2022
Very useful tool for reading. Engages children as they enjoy the use of screens. Good questions and audio book options. They are developing to become more user friendly, taking on advice from teachers.
Good found Pickatale:
- Slightly saves school money
- Moderately improves parent engagement“parents reading with children weekly and asking their children about the books read”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“developing comprehensions skills”
Pear
Digital Leader/Teacher
Used Pickatale weekly for 7–12 months
Nov 2022
Not quite there yet with systems that work for teachers and schools. Content is great.
Pear found Pickatale:
- Slightly saves school money“We were paying a lot of money for our previous app.”
- Does not improve parent engagement
- Moderately builds student knowledge“EAL users are able to access text, having words read to them.”
Nov 2022
I think it is necessary as it provides those with children access to a plethora of good books that children can enjoy in the comfort of their homes. Children enjoy the use of technology for learning so in this regard, it would be popular with children are aware of its existence.
Good found Pickatale:
- Moderately saves school money“It gives access to a library of books, hence saving some money.”
- Slightly improves parent engagement“I think parents/carers are not properly versed on how to use it.”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Vocabulary; Pickatale stories enable students to learn the meaning of new words within books and add to their word banks which are promoted in class and at home.”
Nov 2022
Brilliant - just would like the Desktop version to work again for children who only have laptops or PCs.
Marston found Pickatale:
- Moderately saves school money“Fewer physical copies of books to be sent home, which can get lost and need to be replaced.”
- Significantly improves parent engagement“Parents get a clear idea of the expectations regarding home reading, due to the nature of the assignments.”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Range of texts, about a variety of topics from across the curriculum. Quizzes to assess whether this has been consolidated.”
Nov 2022
I think it’s an amazing resource to use, children have a range of texts that they can use at home and school
Kensington found Pickatale:
- Significantly saves school money“As we can use core texts online”
- Significantly improves parent engagement“Parents can read with children”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Children can hear the text so those that are eal benefit greatly”
Nov 2022
Great resource, children love it and great way for teachers to track children's reading
Kensington found Pickatale:
- Significantly saves school money“Lots more books available online, allows children to access them online rather than giving them books which are often damaged or lost”
- Moderately improves parent engagement“Parents can read/listen to books with their children”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Quizes are a good way to ensure children have understood what they have read”
Nov 2022
The children love it and really enjoy their reading.
Micklehurst found Pickatale:
- Slightly saves school money“Don’t have to buy as many books as there is a large variety on the app”
- Moderately improves parent engagement“Parents are encouraging their children to read at home and children are enjoying sharing with their parents”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“Children are able to read a variety of non-fiction books where they learn lots of facts”
Nov 2022
Brilliant and engaging app
Micklehurst found Pickatale:
- Significantly saves school money“Less money spent on new books”
- Moderately improves parent engagement“It helps parents who may not have access to books at home”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“There are lots of non fiction texts to choose from”
Nov 2022
Pickatale is attractive, highly engaging and easy to setup and use, the children love it!
Micklehurst found Pickatale:
- Moderately saves school money“It provides our children with access to a greater range of non-fiction texts that we are unable to provide.”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload
- Moderately improves parent engagement“It’s a great tool to recommend parents access at home when they enquire about how they can support their children,”
- Moderately improves attainment“We found that it particularly helped to develop children’s vocab use and understanding of non-fiction text features.”
- Significantly builds student knowledge“The non-fiction texts are especially packed with facts and information”
Nov 2022
A great way to explore books
Siddington found Pickatale:
- Significantly saves school money“Not having to regularly buy text books for termly topics”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“NA”
- Moderately improves parent engagement“Children willing to read on an electronic device”
- Moderately improves attainment“Read aloud options helps children to become more familiar with words”
- Moderately builds student knowledge“Children learn a lot from the information that is provided in the books”
Nov 2022
Good tool to use for older children
Kensington found Pickatale:
- Slightly saves school money“Digital, so saves on having to buy physical books”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“Able to set reading challenges etc rather than send out homework”
- Moderately improves parent engagement“Parents are eager to help children read as the process is digital and more interactive.”
- Slightly improves attainment“Children develop a love for reading as technology excited them”
- Slightly builds student knowledge“Children are able to see different book genres”
Nov 2022
Great to have a range of books that can be shared on the screen and that can be assigned to children.
Fairmeadows found Pickatale:
- Slightly saves school money“Not having to buy certain books”
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“Ready made questions”
- Significantly improves parent engagement“Sharing reads through Seesaw”
- Moderately improves attainment“Wider range of books for some children who do not have any.”
- Moderately builds student knowledge“Helping with their reading comprehension”
Nov 2022
The children in class enjoy using pickatale and the range of texts it has to offer. Children like the accessibility aspect it offers in that it reads the text out too them as this has helped a few of our reluctant readers to engage more with books. The children in class particularly like the factual books and often share facts and things they have found out with both myself and other staff alike.
Fairmeadows found Pickatale:
- Moderately saves school money“Range of books accessible online that don't then need to be replicated as a physical copy in the library.”
- Slightly reduces teacher workload“It still uses the same amount of time in class as a normal read would - just makes it easier to monitor and assign books.”
- Does not significantly improve parent engagement“Our parents aren't too keen on using pickatale and quite a lot prefer just using a physical book at home to read.”
- Slightly improves attainment“Yet to see any clear progress as it hasn't been in place in our class for a full academic year as yet.”
- Moderately builds student knowledge“It is a valuable tool for extending childrens learning of given topics. This has been particularly evident with our theme work whereby children have used Pickatale to extend their knowledge/learning further by finding appropriate texts about said topic.”
Nov 2022
Wide variety of texts and genres. I love that they read the books to the children as well.
Harworth found Pickatale:
- Moderately saves school money“We have a variety of online books”
- Moderately reduces teacher workload“Children use this during reading sessions”
- Slightly improves parent engagement
- Slightly improves attainment
- Moderately builds student knowledge“Wide variety of texts”
Nov 2022
Great and easy to use
Warren found Pickatale:
- Slightly saves school money
- Moderately reduces teacher workload
- Slightly improves parent engagement
- Slightly improves attainment
- Slightly builds student knowledge
