You can find answers to your questions about Lestori here. If you don't find what you're looking for, please contact us.
đź§App Navigation & The Reading Experience
How do I navigate through the book?
You can navigate pages in several ways:
Click the arrow buttons on the left and right sides of the page to go to the previous or next page
Click on thumbnails to jump to a specific page
If you turn on autoplay in settings, it will automatically play the next page after the current page is finished
How do I play the audio narration?
Click the large play button in the center of the page to start audio playback
Click the pause button to pause the audio
Click the restart button to restart the current page's audio
What is Autoplay?
Autoplay automatically plays the next page when the current page's audio finishes. You can toggle this feature on or off by tapping the Autoplay button in the Settings panel.
How do I access the Settings panel?
Click the settings icon (gear/cog) in the top right corner of the page
How do I change the narrator?
Some books have multiple narrators!
Open the Settings panel by tapping
In the "Narrator" section, you'll see profile pictures of available narrators
Click on a narrator's picture to select them
The audio will switch to that narrator's version
How do I adjust the playback speed?
Open the Settings panel
In the "Playback speed" section, you'll see three speed options
Click on speed (slowest), speed (normal), or speed (fastest)
The audio will play at your selected speed
What is Pinyin and how do I use it?
Pinyin displays pronunciation guides for Chinese characters. This feature is only available for Chinese books.
Open the Settings panel
In the "Pronunciation" section, toggle between "Off" and "Pinyin On"
When enabled, pinyin will appear above Chinese characters
How do I show or hide the text (Karaoke)?
Karaoke mode displays the text of the page and highlights words as they're being spoken in the audio. This helps you follow along with the narration.
To turn it on or off, you can tap "show text" at the bottom of the screen, and the text panel will slide up
Alternatively
Open the Settings panel
Toggle the "Show text" setting on or off
How do I change the text size?
To change the text size, first click on Show text, then click the text size button to toggle between three sizes of text.
Or, you can
Open the Settings panel
In the "Text size" section, choose from three size options
A dictionary dialog will appear showing the word's definition and translation
Swipe left or right on the dictionary dialog to navigate through multiple definitions if available
Can I view the page in fullscreen?
Yes! You can view pages in fullscreen mode. In fullscreen mode, the text of the book is broken into fragments. You can play back the audio for each fragment, or even translate the text to your preferred language.
Make sure you have karaoke mode enabled, by choosing Show Text from the Settings menu
Tap on the words in the text popup to enter full screen mode. Or press the fullscreen button
Tap back to exit fullscreen mode
I can't hear any audio?
Make sure your device's volume is turned up
Make sure your device is not in silent mode
Try clicking the play button again or refreshing the page
Occasionally you may need to turn off your device and turn it back on again
Does the book remember where I left off?
Yes! The book automatically saves your progress and will return you to the last page you were reading when you come back.
How do I report a problem with a page?
Click settings
Click help
Click Report an Issue
Complete the form
This helps the team identify and fix issues
How do the guided reading questions at the end of a book work?
At the end of each book, Lestori may show guided reading questions to help spark conversation and deepen comprehension.
They are designed as open-ended prompts (not tests), so there is usually no single "correct" answer. You can discuss them in any order, skip questions, or revisit them later.
These prompts are meant to support critical thinking, language development, and parent-child or teacher-student discussion after reading.`
🔬About Lestori & The Science
Why is reading with my child specifically important for brain development?
Reading isn't just about literacy; it’s about brain architecture. In the first five years, the brain forms one million neural connections per second. Shared reading, especially when paired with a familiar voice, activates the visual association cortex more powerfully than a stranger's voice, creating an emotional "tag" that helps store information in long-term memory.
What is the "Goldilocks Effect" mentioned in your research?
It refers to the "just right" level of stimulation for a child's brain. Research from Cincinnati Children's Hospital shows that while animated videos "collapse" brain connectivity and audio-only can strain it, the combination of static illustrations + audio (the Lestori format) creates the strongest integration across language, attention, and self-reflection networks.
What is Lestori?
Lestori is a screen-free educational ecosystem that transforms physical books into multisensory learning experiences. By adding audio interpretations and guided discussion tools to real books, we help children develop deep comprehension, emotional regulation, and original thinking skills.
Who is Lestori for?
Lestori is designed for children at various stages of development, including early readers building foundational literacy, multi-lingual families, and students with visual impairments or dyslexia who benefit from high-quality audio and specially formatted read-along text.
How does Lestori help with "Deep Comprehension"?
Unlike mechanical reading, deep comprehension requires connecting language, imagery, memory, and inference simultaneously. Lestori’s format uses static illustrations paired with audio to engage the brain’s self-reflection networks, giving children the "cognitive space" to form their own mental images and process meaning rather than just decoding words.
What is "Vicarious Resilience"
Vicarious resilience is the ability to build emotional strength by observing a character’s struggles and triumphs from a safe distance. Lestori hand-selects books and provides guided questions to help children process these challenges, equipping them with the perspective needed to navigate real-life pressures.
Why is a parent's voice recording better than a professional narrator?
Neurological research shows that a parent’s voice boosts visual cortex activation and long-term memory encoding more powerfully than a stranger's voice. Even if your reading isn't "perfect," the emotional bond and familiar cadence significantly enhance your child’s learning and engagement.
What scientific studies underpin Lestori’s principles?
Lestori’s approach is grounded in a consistent body of research showing that early, high-quality reading experiences shape language, cognition, and emotional development. First, daily shared reading is associated with a major early vocabulary exposure advantage (often cited as a ~1.4 million word gap by age five), supporting Lestori’s emphasis on frequent early reading: Logan et al. (2019), Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.
Second, Lestori’s format choices (audio with static illustrations, child-led pacing, guided reflection) align with MRI-based findings that passive screen-heavy formats are less supportive of integrated comprehension networks, while reduced early screen burden is also linked to developmental risk considerations: Upstate KIDS Study, JAMA Pediatrics (2019) and related pediatric neuroimaging context such as Hutton et al., JAMA Pediatrics.
Third, Lestori’s “beyond literacy” claims (empathy, regulation, behavior, resilience) are supported by large-scale evidence that early reading for pleasure correlates with better cognitive performance, mental wellbeing, and favorable brain structure markers in adolescence: Cambridge University / NIH ABCD Study (2023).
🚀Getting Started
Which books are compatible with Lestori?
Lestori is designed to work with any physical book you already own. You can turn your child’s entire existing library into a brain-building ecosystem without needing to buy proprietary "smart books" or "smart pens" using our Tappi stickers.
Do I need to buy a special device or gadget?
No. Lestori is designed to be simple and accessible. It works with any smartphone or tablet. By using our Tappi technology, you link your voice recordings to specific physical books, allowing your child to lead their own reading experience using devices you already own.
What is a "Tappi"?
A Tappi is a patented Lestori smart sticker found on the cover or inside of a book. It acts as the digital bridge that allows the Lestori app to recognize the specific book and instantly play the associated audio recordings and educational content.
đź’łAccounts & Pricing
What is the difference between a Parent Account and a Student Account?
A Student/Child Account is a simplified, neuro-inclusive interface designed for your child to listen and follow along, focusing purely on the book without distracting "app" features. Your child may have already been given access to a Student account via their school.
A Parent Account is the "control center" where you can record stories, manage your kids reading and manage your family settings if you have multiple kids. If you don't yet have a Parent account, you can set one up by tapping the Settings button on any book, and then choosing "Parents Section".
I forgot my password. How can I reset it?
If you are having trouble logging in, you can request a password reset link by visiting the [Lestori Admin Password Reset page])(https://lestori.com/admin/forgot-password). Enter the email address associated with your account, and we will send you instructions to create a new password.
If you didn’t receive the password reset email, first, please check your spam or "Promotions" folder, as automated emails can sometimes be filtered there. If you still don't see it after a few minutes, ensure you are using the same email address you used to register for Lestori and try the reset process again.
🏫For Schools and Educators
How does Lestori support neurodiverse learners in a classroom?
Lestori was built with Neuro-Inclusive Design. For children with ADHD, autism, or dyslexia, the "shame barrier" often blocks learning. Lestori allows for child-led pacing, the audio stops and starts instantly as the child turns the page, removing the time pressure and judgment often found in group reading sessions.
Does Lestori support learners with dyslexia?
Yes. For older children or those with dyslexia, the Lestori app offers a "read-along" mode with specially formatted fonts and colors designed for easier reading. Users can also adjust reading speeds, font sizes, and toggle pronunciation guides like Pinyin for Mandarin.
How do I know if my child's school uses Lestori?
Many of our users receive their first Lestori-enabled books directly from their school library or classroom. You can check the "Check if your school has Lestori" section on our homepage, or ask your school administrator about Lestori.
What happens to my recordings if I change schools?
Your profile and all the recordings you have made for your child remain available to you as long as you maintain an active Lestori subscription, ensuring that your family’s library grows with your child.
📵Lestori Screen Free
How can you claim to be "Screen-Free" if I use a smartphone?
We advocate for "Eyes on books, Ears on Lestori." While a device facilitates the audio, the screen is not the focus. Our interface is designed to be "screen-passive," meaning once the audio starts, the child’s visual attention remains 100% on the physical pages, exercising the visual association cortex rather than overstimulating the brain's reward centers with animations. Our upcoming Lestori Screen Free stand makes it even easier to keep the child's attention on the book.
Is Lestori suitable for visually impaired children?
Yes. Lestori Screen-Free technology was initially developed to help children with visual or cognitive impairments access physical books. By augmenting the tactile experience of a book with high-quality audio narration, we help bridge the gap toward functional literacy for every child.