Little Spoon, Meet Ello!

Ello is your child’s read-along companion who listens, teaches, and transforms them into an enthusiastic reader. For Kindergarten to 3rd Grade. Little Spoon customers get a 7-day free trial.

TRY ELLO
7-day free trial

Meet Ello, your child’s reading buddy

Powered by Adaptive Learn™ technology

Meet Ello, your child’s reading buddy

Powered by Adaptive Learn™ technology

Go fully digital, or add a monthly physical book set

Ello with E-books

  • The Ello reading coach app
  • Exclusive, decodable e-books
  • Adaptive Learn™ system
Free trial, then $14.99/mo
Start trial

Ello with Paperbacks

  • Everything in Ello with E-books plus:
  • A monthly box of 5 curated books, activities and prizes
$39.99/mo, plus free shipping
Sign up

Ello with E-books

  • The Ello reading coach app
  • Exclusive, decodable e-books
  • Adaptive Learn™ system
Free trial, then $14.99/mo
start trial

Ello with Paperbacks

  • Everything in Ello with E-books
    PLUS a monthly shipment of :
  • Five curated paperback books
  • Activities, prizes & more
$39.99/mo, free shipping
sign up

Ello is powered by Adaptive Learn™, our proprietary AI engine that understands, adapts and responds to your child like a 1:1 instructor.

Recommended by experts, loved by parents

Explore the Ello library

Books proven to build skills and a love of reading

Perfectly tailored to your child

Ello books are adapted to your child’s reading level and interests so that they learn more and love more.

Ello books are written using the Science of Reading

Unlike most children’s books out there, Ello books are ‘decodable’ - a type of writing that is proven to be best for children learning to read.

Ello also supports beloved paperbacks and children’s classics

Want to share beloved childhood stories and support your child’s literacy development with real, physical books? We’ll ship them to you, fully synced with Ello.

Every child deserves to maximize their unique potential

Millions of children aren’t getting the individualized literacy support they need during the critical early elementary years to succeed as learners. Ello is here to help.

#ReadWithEllo

The love is real

With Ello...

of 4th graders in the US are behind grade level in reading
of children read more than before
of children became more confident readers
of children improved their reading skills

As seen in

"Ello stands out for the design of its AI reading tutor, the selection of diverse and engaging books, and the positive ways the AI tutor motivates young, struggling readers."
- Common Sense Media
"Ello aims to eradicate childhood illiteracy"
- Techcrunch
"Ello can understand a child in a way technology has been unable to before."
- eSchool News

Awards

Goodbye Reading Fights

Remove the pressure of an adult watching over
Ello is patiently there by their side, helping at their pace
Step back and give your child the confidence to read

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is Ello?

There are two currently available versions of Ello.

  1. Ello with e-books: the fully digital experience is $14.99 per month.
  2. Ello with paperbacks: this is $39.99 per month.

*promotions and coupons vary so you may see a different amount.


If you're looking to start reading today without the AI coaching experience, check out our free public library with 700+ decodable e-books!

Discount access for EBT/SNAP participants?

Ello Access is our special discount program designed to support families who are part of government programs. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to become a confident reader, and Ello Access makes our digital reading experience more affordable.

Eligible customers will receive $12 off per month on the Ello Digital subscription, reducing the monthly cost from $14.99 to just $2.99.

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply for Ello Access, please follow these steps:

  1. Fill out the Ello Access form: Ello Access Form
  2. Upload proof of eligibility: You'll need to provide proof of your SNAP or EBT program participation (such as a photo of your EBT card).
  3. Review period: We will review your submission within 1 business day.
  4. Receive your discount: If approved, we'll email you a unique coupon code to get Ello at $2.99 per month (instead of the regular $14.99 per month)


You qualify if you have an EBT card, or are enrolled in programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), SNAP, Medicaid, Direct Express Debit Card (DE), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC), Tribal assistance eligibility letter (TTANF), or Puerto Rico's Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP).

What’s included in my membership?

Ello with E-books:

  • Full App access with digital coaching powered by Adaptive Learn Technology
  • Ello’s library of decodable books
  • Digital prizes for your child’s progress


Ello with paperbacks:

  • All of the above benefits of the fully digital version
  • 5 perfectly leveled books per month shipped to your home to read with the app
  • Physical prize for meeting the previous month’s in-app star goal

How many children can I add to a subscription?

You can add up to 3 reader profiles.

What age range is Ello designed for?

Right now, Ello offers books on reading levels Kindergarten to 3rd grade. We are adding more books all the time so if your child is beyond this or a pre-reader, check back for more updates! Ello is not suited for pre-readers who are not yet decoding basic words.

Generally, Ello works best for children 4–8 years of age but it depends on their reading ability. If they can read the sentence “I am a cat,” they are ready for our earliest level of books! 

How many books does my child get?

At the start, your child will have access to an initial digital library with at least 16 books. As they progress through each quest, they’ll unlock an additional 3 to 5 books tailored to their reading level.

Each quest is like a classroom lesson: they give clear instructions, independent reading materials, and practice activities. With each quest, your child unlocks more engaging content to support their reading journey.

Does Ello have a referral program?

Yes! Ello subscribers have the opportunity to refer new customers to the app in exchange for rewards.

Here’s how it works:

  • Every customer receives a unique referral link when they sign up for Ello (it can be found in “My Account” on the Ello website or in the app)
  • Share that link with friends, family, teachers, or anyone else
  • When someone signs up using your unique link, you’ll be notified by email that someone has started a free trial with Ello
  • If that person finishes their free trial and becomes an Ello subscriber, they will get their first month free, and you will get a free month off your Ello subscription
  • The credit for your free month will be applied to your next monthly payment. If you are on an annual plan, your next bill will be reduced by $14.99
  • For every new customer you refer, you receive an additional free month. There is no limit to how many free months you can earn
Other questions?
Email support@ello.com or text (415) 214 8119
What is the return policy for gift boxes?

Returns can be made within 60 days of purchase for a full refund; return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer. Please email support@ello.com for our shipping address. 

Return packages must include:

Return details: full name; email and shipping address on original order; reason for return

Items in original packaging and in original condition. Tracking must be provided for lost package claims.

When will my gift box ship?

At checkout, you’ll see an estimated shipping window. We offer free shipping for our gift boxes, with an option to upgrade to priority shipping if you prefer.

Will I get a tracking number for my gift box?

We will email you with your tracking number as soon as your gift box ships from our warehouse.

How are the gift box books selected?

Our team of literacy experts hand-selected a set of five classic, beloved books that include a range of reading levels in each grade bundle.  

How will the Gift Card in the Ello gift box work with membership?

Each Gift Box will come with a physical gift card inside. Gift receivers will redeem their gift card via a special website (link to come) for three months off of an Ello with E-books monthly subscription. They will not only receive access to Ello’s coaching for the full library of over 800 decodable books, but also for the five physical books in their box!

Other questions?
Email support@ello.com or text (415) 214 8119
How does the Ello app work?

Ello helps early readers break down learning barriers by combining artificial intelligence and speech recognition technology to make Ello come to life. Ello is a revolutionary state-of-the-art interactive reading buddy who listens to your child read out loud. Ello provides support when your child needs help reading, gentle corrections when they make errors, and motivation to keep your child engaged. Appropriately leveled books will be automatically loaded into the app for you!

How does my child use Ello?

At the simplest level, Ello is just like a game they play on an iPad or other device. It’s designed to be easy for kids to use, and all they need to do is tap a book and start reading. When they get stuck on a word, they just tap it for help from Ello. As they complete quests, Ello will challenge them a little more each time, and they’ll unlock new, engaging content to keep them moving along their journey.

How does Ello keep my child engaged?

As your child reads, Ello brings the story to life, provides words of encouragement, and helps them if they get stuck so they don't get frustrated.

We use behavioral psychology and a growth mindset paradigm to keep your child encouraged, help their confidence soar, and build a love of reading. 

Ello offers a reward system as well. In this system, children collect stars and badges, leading up to a completion prize that is either delivered digitally, included in the next box, or both!

My child is reading the words wrong but Ello isn’t correcting them. What’s going on?

Since children can get easily discouraged, Ello leans on the lenient side. We recommend sitting with your child when they read and helping with some of these corrections yourself. 

Is Ello good for kids with dyslexia?

Ello’s instructional method was developed by reading specialists with backgrounds in dyslexia intervention and uses direct, explicit, and sequential phonics instruction. This is exactly what research shows works for helping children with dyslexia learn how to read. Ello is not a comprehensive curriculum or intervention model for dyslexia, it’s a great supplement and we have numerous children with dyslexia using Ello with great success.

What literacy strategies do you use to support my child?

Ello uses proven, phonics-based reading strategies to help your child decode words and develop fluency. 

What device is required for Ello?

The Ello app works on iPhones and iPads running iOS 14 and newer. For a complete list, click here. Please note that Ello does not currently work on laptops or desktop computers.

Other questions?
Email support@ello.com or text (415) 214 8119
What kind of books are in the app?

Our digital library has different types of books that are based on the Science of Reading to support your child’s literacy development.

  1. Decodable books. These are books designed to help phonetic skills, encouraging independent reading, reinforcing phonics rules, and building confidence.
  2. Turn-taking books. These books turn reading into a partner activity, with Ello reading a piece then your child taking a turn. It creates a fun and interactive experience that boosts listening skills, comprehension, and vocabulary.
  3. Storytime books. All about fun! Unleash your child’s creativity by crafting their own stories. Ello will read their creations aloud, giving your kid a chance to tackle challenging words and see their progress in action.
  4. Physical books. We have a collection of physical books, including beloved classics, that are synced to the Ello app, and available for an additional fee.
Where do your books come from?

Our physical books are mostly favorite classics. We get them from publishers and you might even already own some of them.

Our e-books in the Ello app come from a special team of authors who specialize in reading education. They are created with the science of reading in mind.

What types of physical books do you send?

Every box of books has to meet three criteria:

  1. Highly engaging
  2. Just the right level for your child’s reading ability
  3. Match common age-based interests

We believe that fantastic books create enthusiastic readers and we work with reading specialists to source classic beloved books and new undiscovered gems. The best part is that we take the guesswork out of finding books that are "just right" for your child – ones that are not too easy and not too hard.

How do you determine my child's reading level?

It’s easy! We’ll ask you a short series of questions after you sign up, and use the answers to estimate your child’s reading level. As they make their way through the program, Ello will automatically adjust to match their level.

If you ever feel the books are too easy or too hard, you can update your child's reading level here.

What does it mean that a book is ‘just right’ for my child? ‍

If a child is reading on the appropriate level, they should make 1-10 mistakes per book. Any more than this and we find they get frustrated and overwhelmed. Less mistakes and we find they get bored and aren’t engaged.

By answering a few short questions, we can help determine your child’s appropriate developmental reading level. We are also happy to set the reading level to whatever they are reading at school, as determined by their teacher.

The books are too hard or too easy. How do I change the reading level for my child?

No problem! We want each child to have the best experience possible. This means making sure they are reading at the right level for their abilities. You can change your child's reading level here. If you have any trouble, feel free to text Customer Support for assistance.

When I unlock new books, will we still be able to read the old ones?

Yes! The books will stay available in the app so you can enjoy them over and over again.

Other questions?
Email support@ello.com or text (415) 214 8119
What data do you collect?

If you choose to allow it, we process the audio of your child reading so that Ello can provide real-time support and motivation, and so your child can access certain features of the app, such as listening to themselves read. Separately, you can opt-in to give us access to this data so that we can improve Ello.

We also collect data of your child's progress to provide the service (for example the rewards).

Finally, we collect anonymous and aggregated usage data. See our privacy policy for full details.

What do you do with the data you collect?

It is up to you on what data we collect - it is optional. You will be asked if you would like to opt-in to data collection after downloading the app.

All data is anonymous and aggregated and used to improve the product.

Do you sell the data that you collect?

No. Never.

Do you have ads in the app?

No. Never.

How secure is the data you collect?

It's very secure. We use industry-leading encryption and security.

Other questions?
Email support@ello.com or text (415) 214 8119
When does the box ship?

In most cases, your first Ello box will ship the business day after your order or monthly renewal. Occasionally, we may have some questions about your child’s reading level or your shipping address. If that is the case, we will reach out by email. We will also send an email confirmation with a tracking link so you can watch the shipment of your box. Once sent, you should receive your box within 2-8 business days via USPS Media Mail.

Other questions?
Email support@ello.com or text (415) 214 8119

Designed by experts to maximize your child’s reading potential

We did all the research so you don’t have to. Ello is designed by a team of experts, academics, researchers, and child psychologists to make sure it is exactly what your child needs and loves.
Dr. Elizabeth Adams
Clinical Child Psychologist and expert in child behaviour
Lauren Sittel
MS in Reading Education, 15-year educator, Orton-Gillingham trained
Nick Haber
Professor of Education and Computer Science @ Stanford
Michael Auli
Lead speech scientist @ Meta