Developed with academics at Roehampton University, this free game turns early phonics practice into an alien-rescue adventure, and it's completely free on desktop and laptop. Parents like it as a no-cost way to reinforce letter sounds, but it's a game for practice, not a full teaching sequence.
Parents love
Completely free
Genuinely fun for kids
Built on a recognized phonics framework
Common complaints
Practice and reinforcement, not full instruction
Mobile app has in-app purchases
Best for the earliest reading stages
Who it fits
Best for
Not yet reading.
Just starting (letter sounds). Free game teaching letter and vowel sounds
Online. Runs online
Minimal: independent practice. Fully self-directed free game
A little rusty. Lessons teach the phonics for you
Anxious about it. The program does the teaching
Less suited for
Fluent, wants enrichment.
Mostly offline. Screen-based
These come straight from the scoring rules the quiz uses.
Similar programs
StarfallNonprofit early-reading website and app with phonics games and songs
ABCmouseBroad early-learning app covering reading as one part of many subjects
Reading EggsGamified app teaching phonics through short lessons and a big leveled e-book library
Questions parents ask
Is Teach Your Monster to Read a full reading curriculum?
No. We list Teach Your Monster to Read as a supplement: it's extra practice or motivation to use alongside a core program, not a full reading curriculum on its own.
What grades does Teach Your Monster to Read cover?
Teach Your Monster to Read covers grades PreK–1.
How much does Teach Your Monster to Read cost?
Free to play on desktop and laptop (all three games in the series).
Is Teach Your Monster to Read Christian or secular?
Teach Your Monster to Read is secular: it has no religious content.
Is Teach Your Monster to Read online?
Online. The program does the teaching.
Is Teach Your Monster to Read good for dyslexia or a suspected reading difficulty?
Teach Your Monster to Read isn't built specifically around dyslexia intervention, though it can still work for some kids with reading difficulties.