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
An Online Reading Tutor Your Child Will Look Forward To
Live 1:1 sessions for kids 6–14 with a trained college mentor, matched to your child. They talk through a real book together, then your child writes their own stories.
Character interview
A thoughtful idea
What is Bookstaken?
One child. One mentor. One book at a time.
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
Is a reading tutor right for your child?
Sound like your child? Here's what changes.
“Can read, but avoids books”
A book picked for what they already love.
“Reads the words but misses the meaning”
They talk it through, so the meaning sticks.
“Starts books and doesn't finish them”
A book picked for them, at a pace they can keep up with.
“Loves reading and wants someone to talk books with”
A mentor to talk every chapter through with.
Look elsewhere if your child is still learning letter sounds (phonics), needs specialist dyslexia support or needs exam or grammar prep.
What happens in every session
60 minutes, 1:1, on Google Meet.
- Stop 1Ice-breakingA riddle or a quick chat to settle in.
- Stop 2Book discussionIllustrated slides on what they read, talked through together.
- Stop 3ReviewTheir verdict on the book so far.
- Stop 4WritingTheir own story, chapter by chapter.
- Stop 5ClosureA recap to end on, and your report on WhatsApp.
See a sample book conversation
Here is a made-up scene to show the kinds of questions a mentor can ask. In a session, the conversation follows your child's book and their answers.
Leela found a red umbrella on the bus. It had stopped raining, and her stop was next. She stayed in her seat, watching the door for someone to come back.
Retell: What did Leela find, and what did she do next?
Look for clues: Why might Leela have waited? Which detail in the scene makes you think that?
Give an opinion: Would you have made the same choice? Tell me why.
Imagine: What if nobody came back? How would you continue the story?
The aim is to hear their thinking and help them explain it. These are example prompts, not a test or a fixed script.
Who the tutors are
Our tutors, called Bookbuddies, are college students from DU, the IITs, NITs, SRCC and more. They aren't certified teachers. They're close enough in age to feel like an older sibling, and that's what gets a quiet reader talking.
- Interviewed before selection
- Trained before assignment
Every Bookbuddy starts with an application. We screen applications, conduct interviews and provide training before assigning a mentor to a child.
Mansa
IGDTU
Soham
VNIT, Nagpur
Aditi
VNIT, Nagpur
Devyani
VNIT, Nagpur
Divya
Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu
Thujitha
VNIT, Nagpur
Sanvi
St. Xavier's, Mumbai
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
Illustrative report: the names, book and figures are examples. Your child's report reflects their own session.
A note from their mentor
A few warm lines on their best moments.
Their story journal
Every chapter they write, collected in one place.
Sit in on the first session
See how it works before you decide anything.
What your child walks away with
How we compare with other 1:1 tutors.
- Up to 2.4× more time
Time with a tutor, every session
Bookstaken
60 min
Other online 1:1 tutors
25–45 min
Lesson lengths from other online 1:1 reading programmes' own pages, October 2026.
Bookstaken
- 60 minutes, 1:1
- — a session
- Pause anytime
A book they finished, and loved
Stories of their own, kept in a journal
A report after every session
The confidence to say why
What it costs
Free
Your first session.
No card needed.
Then, the more you book, the less each costs
- 4sessions— each
- 12sessions— each
- 24sessions— each
Book as many a week as you like, and pause anytime.
Your local prices are loading. Each step shows the average per session when you buy that pack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does an online reading tutor cost?
Your first 60-minute, 1:1 Bookstaken session is free, with no payment details needed to book it. Paid prices depend on your family's billing country and the session pack you choose. The Pricing page shows your currency, the full pack price and the average price per session. Paid sessions have no expiry.
The Pricing page shows the available packs in your billing currency.
See your plansQ: Are the tutors certified teachers?
No. Our tutors, called Bookbuddies, are college students rather than certified teachers. We screen applications, conduct interviews and provide training before assigning a mentor to a child. They work with children who can already read, focusing on book discussions and writing their own stories.
Q: Can a reading tutor help with reading comprehension?
Yes. Every session talks through what your child read, with illustrated slides and open questions, so they explain the story in their own words. That's how understanding grows, not just reading the words. More on our reading comprehension classes.
Q: Do you teach phonics or help with dyslexia?
No. We work with children who can already read. If your child is still learning letter sounds, or needs dyslexia support, a phonics teacher or a dyslexia specialist is the right choice.
Q: How often should my child see their tutor?
As often as suits your family: once a week or more. You can pause anytime, for exams or holidays.
See all 7 questions
Q: What if my child doesn't get on with their tutor?
Tell us and we'll switch them to a new tutor within 48 hours. You're also welcome to sit in on the first session.
Q: Do you tutor children outside India?
Yes. Families in any country join online. Sessions are booked in your own time zone, and prices are shown in your local currency.
The first session's on us.
60 minutes, 1:1, with a tutor matched to your child.
