Reach Every Reader: FableVision and Harvard Collaborate on Early Learning Literacy Apps

It’s never too early for children to start developing their literacy skills! Turn everyday routines into learning opportunities with Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE)’s Reach Every Reader, a foundation literacy initiative comprising resources, assessment, intervention, and support to help all children become successful readers and learners. FableVision developed two apps—Photo Play and Animal Antics—to transform car rides, trips to the grocery store, and more into moments of engaging conversation. 

Created in partnership with the HGSE, Reach Every Reader is an initiative that aims to support high-level, equitable literacy achievement by creating opportunities for conversation between parents, caregivers, and children. Five years in the making, the project seeks to bridge the literacy gap by improving learning opportunities and word acquisition in low-income families. 

Photo Play gives young children and caregivers the opportunity to decorate and interact with their own photos using fun stickers, emojis, and “talk” balloons. The app uses conversation prompts to encourage free-flowing conversation, both while using the app and offline. By allowing players to personalize photos of themselves, children are more engaged in the activities and more open to discussions of the location of the picture, memories of the day the photos were taken, and hopes for future trips and activities.

In Animal Antics, imaginations run wild as children and caregivers play make-believe and create stories and dialogue for animals cast in 20 different scenarios. The app incorporates play-acting and conversation exercises, allowing children and caregivers to take on the role of animal characters and move through scenarios of their choosing. As players move through each scenario, they take turns recording their voices and choosing the emotion of their animal, shaping and building the story as they go.

Thorough research was conducted to create apps that not only fulfilled specific learning goals, but also kept children engaged and excited. Playtesting was conducted with a diverse group of families who reported learning easily implementable, effective new strategies as a result of the initiative. Research emphasizing the quality and diversity of words was also incorporated into the development of each app, as was research on the importance of intergenerational play in children’s early language development. 

FableVision is proud to join forces with Reach Every Reader to launch this project supporting early literacy development through early assessment, detection, and intervention for children across a range of socioeconomic status. The initiative furthers our mission to move the world to a better place through positive media that helps bridge learning gaps for children of different backgrounds and abilities.

Photo Play, Animal Antics, and a GBH-created app Small Wonders are available now on iOS, Google, and Android. Click here to play now!

FableVision Studios’ Five Core Design Principles

As a mission-based studio, FableVision is committed to creating positive, story-driven educational media that moves the world to a better place. As a part of that mission, we pride ourselves on our people-first design process, always thinking about the needs of our end-user, the context of their learning, and the impact of our product.

When we approach a new project, no matter the topic or goal, we always prioritize accessibility, engagement, and play. Whether we’re creating a game-based app, animation, museum interactive, website, Augmented Reality experience, or any other form of media, our core principles stay the same. 

Want to pick our brains about your next media project? Reach out! We’d love to chat. 

1. Education is for Everyone

First and foremost, FableVision believes that every person—no matter their age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status—has the right to a quality education. Therefore, the studio is committed to lowering barriers of access in educational communities, both in formal and informal learning spaces. Whether our end-user is an educator in Iowa, a preschooler in Maine, or a grandparent in Texas, we always ask ourselves three key design questions: Is this approachable? Is it relatable? Will it lead to learning, behavior change, or action?

2. Using Research-based Design to Create Safe Spaces to Learn, Explore, and Discover

Our design process and media are crafted to engage and impact audiences in all contexts—including consumer, classroom, family, and museum markets. We believe learning media should provide a safe space for learners to practice, experiment, fail, and grow from their mistakes. With the appropriate scaffolding, learners can reach their full potential, proving to their educators and themselves that anything is possible.

3. Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

FableVision Studios believes that representation matters. Whether a project uses human or non-human characters, takes place on Earth or an imaginary planet, or utilizes fantastical or magical elements as plot drivers, believable, relatable characters are critical. Media should present an accurate, inclusive reflection of the audience consuming it. In that spirit, FableVision takes pride in writing and designing diverse characters. We also take care to cast diverse voices when selecting talent for voice over.

4. “Designed for One, Beneficial for All”

In all our work, FableVision strives to maximize accessibility in ways that are seamless to the user experience. The studio has worked with The Perkins School for the Blind, the Helen Keller National Center, National Braille Press, and Bridge Multimedia, among many other partners committed to accessibility standards. In addition, we have incorporated Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in our work for many years, and we apply those principles in creative ways to ensure the interactive experience is appealing and engaging to a wide range of visitors.

5. Playful Learning for Any Content, Any Platform

No matter the learning area, engagement lies at the crossroads of vetted content and research-based design. We have created learning environments that teach social-emotional learning, literacy, STEM, financial literacy, substance use prevention, civics, and more. FableVision works to ensure that all learning experiences match the content, spark curiosity, and offer an open invitation to playful exploration.

Sharing the Love this World Read Aloud Day!

Here at FableVision, we believe in the power of stories. And with a mission to tell “stories that matter, stories that move,” it’s no surprise that storytelling, literacy-learning, and engaging people young and old in the joy of reading are close to our hearts.

This year, we’re joining long-time partner and leader in publishing and education Scholastic in celebrating World Read Aloud Day. Founded by nonprofit LitWorld in 2010, World Read Aloud Day is all about the power of reading and sharing stories. You can visit Scholastic’s website for more information on the holiday, literary resources for parents and teachers to support their children’s love of reading, and artwork by FableVision founder and award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds. The site also features four quick and easy steps to join in on the World Read Aloud Day celebrations:

1. Select a book

2. Find a buddy

3. Read aloud

4. Share your favorite read-aloud moments on social media with #WorldReadAloudDay, and tag @Scholastic, @LitWorldSays, and three friends so they can join, too!

In honor of World Read Aloud Day and the month of love, we’re sending valentines to some incredible organizations doing important work promoting literacy, many of whom we’ve been lucky to partner with on literacy-based projects. Here’s who we’re crushing on this month:

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Scholastic

Our first love letter is, of course, for Scholastic. Scholastic is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books, including FableVision founder Peter H. Reynolds’ collections! Scholastic provides a number of resources for educators and caregivers, including Scholastic Literacy, which combines incisive standards-informed instruction with access to quality, culturally relevant books and texts “to engage readers, support social-emotional development, and help students become lifelong independent thinkers, readers, and writers,” according to their site. The studio has collaborated with Scholastic on a number of projects, most recently on film adaptations of Peter’s books, such as The Dot, Ish, and The North Star.

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Jumpstart

Next up is our next-door neighbor and shared-kitchen companion: Jumpstart! Jumpstart is an early education organization that trains college students and other community volunteers to help children develop key skills to succeed in kindergarten. With a focus on language, literacy, and social-emotional programming for preschoolers from under-resourced communities, Jumpstart promotes accessibility in learning, specifically early learning, with the hope that every child in America will be able to enter kindergarten ready to succeed. And their Read for the Record celebration is a staff favorite.

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Classroom, Inc.

We’re also sending a lil love note to Classroom, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to helping students develop literacy and leadership skills through digital learning games and curriculum. Classroom, Inc. connects academics to the professional world through research-based digital learning games and curriculum that encourage literacy-learning and leadership skill development in an authentic work environment. FableVision partnered with Classroom, Inc. to develop three literacy learning games as part of the Read to Lead series. The three games After the Storm, Community in Crisis, and Vital Signs use real-world simulations—leading a daily news website, running a community center, and managing a community-based family clinic—to put players in a leadership position where they’ll acquire and apply literacy skills.

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Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Our fourth letter is for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a book-gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they begin school, regardless of family income. The program has launched in five countries—the United States, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Canada, and Australia—mailing millions of books to kids around the world. The library began as Dolly’s way to honor her father’s memory and pursue her mission of inspiring children to love to read.

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Reading Is Fundamental

Last but certainly not least is Reading Is Fundamental, the nation’s largest children’s literacy nonprofit. Reading is Fundamental provides access to books and quality content that helps children learn to read and obtain the fundamental building blocks needed to succeed and reach their full potential. Their work aims to directly impact and engage communities to inspire a passion for reading among children across the United States. FableVision partnered with Reading Is Fundamental to create two literacy projects: Our Book By Us!, an app comprised of six minibooks featuring an original Peter H. Reynolds character, and Water Wonders, an ebook app that introduces readers to themes of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM).

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But the celebrations don’t have to end after today. Reading and telling stories are important to everyday development and fun, for people of any age every day of the year! Check out our portfolio for more FableVision-developed literacy and other educational projects, and keep sharing your stories and love of reading with the people you love.

FableVision hops on a buggy with NCFL in new financial literacy app

Buckle up and put the pedal to the shopping-cart metal! The only license required to play Renegade Buggies is a fast and furious desire to understand the power of budgeting and responsible purchase-making.

Working with the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, FableVision developed a 3D mobile app that aims to foster financial and mathematical literacy for players of all ages. Newly released and developed in Unity, this endless runner game combines fast-paced gaming with basic budgeting to encourage financial responsibility.

Renegade Buggies has four levels that focus on a particular consumer skill: comparing unit prices, buying in bulk, calculating coupons, and utilizing promos. By advancing levels, you become a smarter consumer – all while increasing your Overall Money Saved and having fun!

How do you play? It’s easy! Hop on the back of a shopping cart, or buggy, and drive down a street collecting money and items, taking care to avoid cones, rolling tires, and puddles in your path. Then, with your items collected and cash stashed, cross the finish line and enter the checkout phase of the game, where you'll choose the most budget-friendly items out of the stock you grabbed.

Any saved money is your reward, letting you purchase power-ups and accessories for your buggy in the Virtual Auto Body Shop.  Being budget-conscious definitely has its perks – why wouldn’t you want to trick out your buggy with some epic glow lights or don your avatar with a flashy stunt suit?? 

Renegade Buggies is now available for free on Google Play and the iTunes app store. Check out the microsite FableVision developed too. What are you waiting for? Start your engines and save, save, save!