New CBeebies Storytime App library now available

Senior Content Producer at BBC Children's Elizabeth Leadbeatter writes about the latest update to the popular CBeebies Storytime App.

Nearly two years ago BBC Children’s launched its first app, CBeebies Playtime. The app was incredibly successful and led to us launching the CBeebies Storytime app in August 2014. To date, the CBeebies family of apps have been downloaded 5 million times in the UK. We’re all incredibly proud of that achievement.

Children love stories: listening to them; reading them; inventing them. Storytelling excites children’s imaginations. We wanted to bring the BBC’s long-held tradition of storytelling, promoting reading amongst young children and, importantly, providing an opportunity for families to enjoy reading together.

Today, I am thrilled to announce that we have launched another significant update to the CBeebies Storytime app, one which we hope will excite parents and children alike: Storytime now has its very own library.

The new library feature allows families to choose their favourite CBeebies stories to download (for free) and save in the app. Just like a real library, you can return any story you want, or download a new one. Refresh the app whenever they like and see what's available. 

The new download feature also allows you to select stories that reflect your child’s reading level. It creates a personalised experience too, giving children the freedom to select their favourite characters and stories. In this way children are able to make the app feel like their own.

Through the new Storytime feature, parents and children can visit the library regularly, keeping up to date with the latest stories as they become available (we’ll be launching regularly throughout the year).

With CBeebies Storytime we have created something unique: a complex concept for a child, not only easy-to-use but beautiful, fun and rewarding.

The CBeebies Storytime app was created, designed and built by the BBC’s in-house team here in Media City UK. I’m particularly proud of the way we have worked closely with children, parents and carers to help shape the design and content of the app.

The existing CBeebies Storytime app currently features eight interactive storybooks and provides a safe, fun and enjoyable way for children to access stories, featuring much-loved CBeebies characters. From today, we’re adding six brand new stories including CBeebies Fairytales – Cinderella, Tee and Mo – Who did the Footprints? and Swashbuckle – A Band of Naughty Pirates, featuring some familiar voices such as Lauren Laverne and Maxine Peake. We'll continue to release new stories regularly throughout the summer, so watch this space.

The relationship we have with you and your children is key. Over the last ten months we've been delighted to receive feedback and comments from parents, teachers and children that has helped us refine and CBeebies Storytime app.

For example, when the app launched originally launched it came with six CBeebies branded stories, it was fantastic to hear that children and parents were asking for more. It had always been our plan to release more stories, but when we recognised there was an appetite for them, we decided to speed up production to satisfy the demand. While we were working on the new download feature we released an update in December 2014, adding two new stories: Peter Rabbit and Sarah and Duck. Since then, we’ve been working to create a library of stories meaning we could launch the new library with a varied mix of stories.

A foundation stage teacher suggested that a change to the order of our ‘grown-ups tips’ would help each child follow a recognisable developmental path. This, too, was important to us. We recognised that the teacher was passionate about promoting a love of reading first, laying a strong foundation with which to explore the sounds and meanings of words when children are prepared and ready. So, we have developed the grown-up tips’ so they provide support to parents and carers in aiding a child’s reading development.

Parents also told us that the way in which the ‘red arrow’ buttons currently worked within the storybook attracted the attention of very young children and distracted them from the story. Our designers reviewed this and looked for ways of improving the way in which these navigation buttons work, making it easier now for children and parents to simply focus on enjoying the story.

We also heard from a lot of parents who explained how they felt about the download feature. They wanted us to ensure that we continued to provide a safe environment within the app. For them, a safe environment allowed children to explore and discover the joy of reading in a way that parents felt comfortable with. This latest update creates what we hope is the right balance.

We’re really pleased about the latest update. As ever, I’d love to hear what you think about it. We are always interested in your thoughts, suggestions and ideas. So, please do get in touch, leaving a comment below.

Elizabeth Leadbeater is Senior Content Producer, BBC Children’s

• The CBeebies Storytime app is available on mobile and tablet devices and you can find more information via our CBeebies website. 
• Read more about the Library update to the CBeebies Storytime app on the Media Centre website. 
• The CBeebies Storytime app is available to download for free within the UK via the Apple iTunes, Google Play and the Amazon app store.