A
Aditi
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
I've always looked for an avenue like this, wherein my children can learn from enthusiastic young students who love a subject and can instill that love in the kids ❤️❤️
9:18 AM
1:1 Online Reading Classes Where Kids Think, Talk and Write About Books
Live on Google Meet with a college mentor who feels like a cool elder sibling, not a teacher.
What is Bookstaken?
One child. One mentor. One book at a time.
The Joy of Reading, Live
Real moments from real sessions with our mentors.
Character interview
A thoughtful idea
Loved by Parents, Enjoyed by Kids 💛
across the world
H
Himani
(Nagpur)Mother of 7 years old
Thankyou so much for this report It is so thorough and well drafted Smahi is enjoying her reading session too
2:36 PM
K
Kavita
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
Thanks for such wonderful sessions and hope kids continue it 🤞 specially Oorjit....he get bore very quickly...so I always afraid to admit him for any classes 😄
6:47 PM
A
Aditi
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
I've always looked for an avenue like this, wherein my children can learn from enthusiastic young students who love a subject and can instill that love in the kids ❤️❤️
9:18 AM
H
Himani
(Nagpur)Mother of 7 years old
Thankyou so much for this report It is so thorough and well drafted Smahi is enjoying her reading session too
2:36 PM
K
Kavita
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
Thanks for such wonderful sessions and hope kids continue it 🤞 specially Oorjit....he get bore very quickly...so I always afraid to admit him for any classes 😄
6:47 PM
A
Aditi
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
I've always looked for an avenue like this, wherein my children can learn from enthusiastic young students who love a subject and can instill that love in the kids ❤️❤️
9:18 AM
H
Himani
(Nagpur)Mother of 7 years old
Thankyou so much for this report It is so thorough and well drafted Smahi is enjoying her reading session too
2:36 PM
K
Kavita
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
Thanks for such wonderful sessions and hope kids continue it 🤞 specially Oorjit....he get bore very quickly...so I always afraid to admit him for any classes 😄
6:47 PM
A
Aditi
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
I've always looked for an avenue like this, wherein my children can learn from enthusiastic young students who love a subject and can instill that love in the kids ❤️❤️
9:18 AM
H
Himani
(Nagpur)Mother of 7 years old
Thankyou so much for this report It is so thorough and well drafted Smahi is enjoying her reading session too
2:36 PM
K
Kavita
(Nagpur)Mother of 10 years old
Thanks for such wonderful sessions and hope kids continue it 🤞 specially Oorjit....he get bore very quickly...so I always afraid to admit him for any classes 😄
6:47 PM
"Reading enough?" isn't the real question."Reading enough?" isn't the real question.
Can your child disagree without shouting?
Can your child explain what they think?
Can your child imagine being someone else?
Watch them grow more curious, more confident — every day.Watch them grow more curious, more confident — every day.That's the Bookstaken difference.That's the Bookstaken difference.
Not a Tutor.A Role Model.
We pick the top 1% of college students: debaters, student leaders and toppers. They're the cool big sibling your child actually wants to impress.
Mansa
IGDTU
Soham
VNIT, Nagpur
Aditi
VNIT, Nagpur
Devyani
VNIT, Nagpur
Divya
Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu
Thujitha
VNIT, Nagpur
Sanvi
St. Xavier's, Mumbai
What Your Child Actually Gains
Your child came for the story. Here's what they leave with.
A journey, not just sessions.
A clear structure, built around your child.
- 1 · Matched with their mentor
A college mentor chosen for your child's age, reading level and interests.
✓ Not the right fit? We switch within 48 hours
- 2 · Structured 1:1 sessions
60 minutes on Google Meet: ice-breaking, book discussion, review, writing and closure.
✓ Once a week or more. Pause anytime
- 3 · Books, read in depth
Chosen for them and discussed one book at a time.
- 4 · Their own stories
They write their own stories, compiled into their digital story journal.
- 5 · A report after every session
On WhatsApp: what they read, discussed and wrote, and how they're growing.
Your first session is free. No payment details needed.
Kids say "Fine." Our reports say the rest.
After every session you get a report: what they read, what they talked about, and how they're growing.
9:41
Aarav's session report
Week 8 · The Jungle Book
Speaking time
AaravRiya
52%
48%
A note from Riya
Aarav came in bursting with questions about Mowgli leaving the jungle. He argued Bagheera was the real hero, and backed it up with two moments from the book. He's reading with his head and his heart now.
Session snapshot
91%Engagement+4%
86%Vocabulary+3%
90%Understanding+5%
84%Fluency+3%
Session timeline
AaravRiya
0 min60 min
0–15 min
Jungle riddles
15–45 min
Who's the real hero?
45–60 min
A new last page
A note from their mentor
A few warm lines on their best moments.
Skills you can watch grow
Engagement, vocabulary, understanding and fluency, scored every session.
The whole session, mapped
Who spoke when, what they explored, and what's next.
Childhood doesn't pause.
The best time to give them a mentor was yesterday. The second best time is now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Bookstaken?
Bookstaken is a live, 1-on-1 online reading program for children aged 6–14. Your child is paired with a college mentor, called a Bookbuddy, who reads with them, talks about the book, and gets them sharing their own ideas. The goal is a reading habit that lasts, plus the thinking and confidence that come with it.
Q: What age group is Bookstaken for?
Children aged 6 to 14, roughly Grades 1 to 8. Books, conversations, and activities are matched to your child's age and reading level, so a 7-year-old just starting chapter books and a 13-year-old reading novels both get something that fits.
Q: Is this a reading class, a reading tutor or a book club?
A bit of all three, built around one child. Like a class, every session follows a set structure. Like a reading tutor, it's 1-on-1 with the same mentor each time. Like a book club, it's about real books and real conversations, not grammar drills or exam prep.
Q: My child doesn't like reading. Will this work?
Yes. Children who say they hate reading are exactly who we built this for. Most of them don't dislike reading; they dislike books that bore them. We pick books around your child's interests, and the session feels like chatting with a cool older sibling, not like homework.
Q: What happens in a 1-on-1 reading session?
Each session is 60 minutes on Google Meet. It opens with a check-in on your child's week and where they've reached in their own copy of the book. Then comes a riddle and illustrated slides on what they read, which they talk through with their mentor. When they finish a book, they give it their verdict and it goes on their shelf. Then they write the next chapter of their own story. You get a report on WhatsApp after every session.
See all 14 questions
Q: Will my child actually finish books?
Yes. Most children finish a book in 4 to 6 sessions. A short reading quest between sessions keeps the book going, and they read their own physical copy, not a screen.
Q: How can I build a reading habit in my child?
Start with books they actually want to read, keep a regular reading time, and give them someone to talk to about the story. That's what our sessions do. Our free book hunt also suggests books by age and interest.
Q: Who are the mentors, and how is my child matched?
Our mentors, called Bookbuddies, are college students from DU, the IITs, NITs, SRCC and more. About 1 in 100 applicants make it, and each one is trained before their first session. We match your child by age, reading level, interests and personality. If the fit isn't right, we switch mentors within 48 hours.
Q: How do you keep my child safe online?
Every mentor's college ID and identity proof are verified, and we interview each one ourselves. Sessions run on Google Meet and are recorded. You're welcome to sit in on the first session, and you get a report on WhatsApp after every one.
Q: Will it improve my child's reading comprehension, English and confidence?
That's what most parents see. Your child spends every session reading, explaining their thoughts, and answering open-ended questions out loud, which builds vocabulary, reading comprehension, fluency, and confidence in speaking. Writing their own story, chapter by chapter, builds creative writing too.
Q: How will I know my child is making progress?
You get a report on WhatsApp after every session: what your child read, what they talked about and how they're growing. Everything they write is collected in their digital story journal, so you can watch their writing grow.
Q: Are sessions only in English?
Most sessions are in English, but we also have mentors who speak Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, Spanish, and Arabic. Tell us what your child is comfortable with and we'll match them with a mentor who speaks it.
Q: Do you offer online reading classes outside India?
Yes. Families in the US, UK, Singapore, the UAE, Australia, Spain and elsewhere join online, and any country is welcome. Sessions are booked in your own time zone, and prices are shown in your local currency.
Q: How much does it cost, and is there a free trial?
Yes. Every child gets a free 1-on-1 trial session, and you don't need payment details to book it. After that, plans start at $80 for 4 sessions a month, and there's a better-value 24-session plan. See the Pricing page for the details.
