Read-a-roo Zoo is a research-backed online literacy game that teaches young learners to identify sounds in words. Identifying these beginning and ending sounds, or phonemes, is an important first step in learning how to read. Throughout the game, players explore different zoo habitats with their friendly guide, Read-a-roo. In each habitat, players are asked to match words with similar sounds.
Play the Game
Click below to start playing. There may be a short load time the first time you play, and you will be prompted to allow microphone access to allow speech recognition.
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Your feedback helps us improve the game for kids, parents and educators alike.
For the best experience, please follow these steps:
Use Chrome or Safari browser.
When prompted, allow microphone access to enable speech recognition. It may take a few moments for the prompt to appear.
If you accidentally block microphone access and want to try again, you’ll need to manually enable microphone permissions in your device settings, or open the game in a private/incognito browser window.
iPhone and iPad users may experience a sound increase during the first microphone prompt. This is a normal security feature for Apple products! To resolve, simply turn the volume back down to the desired level. There should be no issue for the rest of the gameplay.
Additional Troubleshooting Tips:
Make sure your device is running the latest operating system and you’re using the latest version of your browser.
Check that your device’s volume is turned on.
On iPhones, be sure your ringer switch is not set to silent. Even if the volume is up, this can affect audio.
If, for some reason, your microphone is not working or the game is not recognizing your voice when speaking, you can still play! The game will move on past the speaking prompts if it doesn’t receive feedback.
FAQ
How do I explore this game?
Read-a-roo Zoo has ten different zoo habitats that can be accessed at any time from the main map screen. Each habitat showcases three different phonemes (the sounds we use to form words).
Five environments feature phonemes at the beginnings of words: Desert, Ocean, Bamboo Forest, Grasslands and Café.
Five environments feature phonemes at the ends of words: Savanna, Arctic, Lakeside, African Plains and Creepy Crawly Kingdom.
Many children are more comfortable finding sounds at the beginning of words at first. Finding sounds at the ends of words is a next-level skill.
If you want to leave one part of the zoo and try another, you can always hit the back button: the arrow icon in the upper right corner.
What is the educational value of this game?
This game is informed by the Science of Reading research and aligns with the NC statewide literacy standards and NC early learning standards. Read-a-roo Zoo is rigorously reviewed by early literacy experts.
The skill-building in this game will help young learners develop the fundamental building blocks of speaking and reading the English language. You can repeat this kind of play anytime, anyplace, by helping kids to identify the sounds that make up the words in their world.
What devices can the game be played on?
Tablets, phones, laptops, desktops … anything with a screen, a web browser and an internet connection.
Can the game be downloaded and played offline?
Not yet! This current version is web-based and requires an internet connection.
Does this game track user profiles?
No! We take privacy very seriously at PBS North Carolina. This game does not collect personal information. There is no login and no ability for us to track personal data before, during or after gameplay. We do use Google Analytics to provide data on game usage, and that information is completely anonymous.
Producer and Project Manager: Caitlin Dutton-Reaver
Writer: Benjamin Weiner
Voice of Read-a-roo: Izzy Daniels-Connor
Advisors and Subject Matter Experts:
Kathryn Leech, Ph.D., UNC-Chapel Hill
Melissa Thibault, Ph.D., PBS North Carolina
Kristi Maida, Ph.D., NC Child
Special thanks to our colleagues at PBS Wisconsin and Nebraska Public Media Labs for help throughout the playtesting process, and to the PBS NC Rootle team for their assistance in imagining Read-a-roo's newest adventure.
With the support of our partners, we deliver powerful resources designed to support effective teaching and meaningful learning for all North Carolinians from birth to adult.
