A reading coach for the books you already own · ages 4–8

Your child's favourite books can become reading practice.

Point a camera at any book on your shelf. bucoo listens as your child reads it aloud, hears the word they get stuck on, helps them get it themselves — then goes quiet again.

No download, no signup. Works in your browser with a camera & mic.

Science of reading Private by design Australian-made
A young girl reads a Gumnut storybook under a gum tree at golden hour with her friendly bucoo reading coach, a kookaburra and a kangaroo, Sydney Harbour behind.
Watch it work

It actually understands what your child is reading.

A real book off your own shelf. Your child reads aloud. On the word they stumble on, bucoo steps in — and the moment they've got it, it goes quiet again.

How bucoo works: a child reads a physical picture book aloud while a webcam scans the page; on screen bucoo highlights each word, breaks 'butterfly' into but-ter-fly, sounds it out and blends it, following a patient decode-first help ladder, and the coach cheers 'Great reading — let's keep going'.
1

Open the book they chose

Any picture book or reader already in the house. Point the camera — bucoo finds the words on the page.

2

Your child hits a hard word

bucoo hears the pause, breaks the word into sounds and waits — it never just says the word for them.

3

They get it, and read on

The help stops the second it isn't needed. That's the moment reading practice stops being a fight.

Learning to read is the hardest thing we ask of a small child.

And no parent can sit beside them for every word, every night — sounding it out, waiting, quietly encouraging.

That patient, one-to-one time is what bucoo gives back.

Grounded in the science of reading — Decoding Phonics Fluency Vocabulary Comprehension
Why families love it

It feels like a kind teacher who never runs out of patience.

Other reading apps ask your child to come into their world. bucoo brings the coaching to yours — the books, the shelf and the bedtime routine you already have.

The books already on your shelf

Point the camera at any page. bucoo shows the words on screen and highlights each one as your child reads it aloud — like karaoke for reading.

  • No new library to buy into — use the books they already love
  • Word-perfect highlighting keeps little eyes on track
On screen
Come along now, said the wombat, we shall follow the creek all the way home.

It hears every word

When a word gets tricky, bucoo notices the hesitation and gently steps in — breaking it into syllables and sounds, never just handing over the answer.

  • On-device listening — your child's voice stays on your device
  • The instant your child reads on, bucoo goes quiet
Listening
hopped

Parents & teachers see real progress

A calm dashboard shows what's improving and what needs a little more love — reading minutes, accuracy, new words, and a gentle trend over time.

  • Report cards in plain language
  • Assign books & see class progress (schools)
This week
18
min / day
94%
read well
+12
new words

Start with a book they already love.

Free in your browser — no app, no signup. Pick a book off the shelf and point the camera.

Try bucoo free
Trust & privacy

Built for young children — so privacy comes first.

A reading coach that watches the page and listens to your child has to earn your trust. Here's how bucoo is built, in plain language.

Parents switch it on

The camera and microphone only turn on after a parent gives verifiable consent — never before.

On-device first

We prefer to process the page and your child's voice on your device. Raw photos and recordings aren't kept by default.

No ads, no data sales

We never sell family data or show targeted ads to children — aligned with COPPA and the Australian Privacy Act.

Read our plain-language privacy policy

Pricing

Simple plans for growing readers.

Start free with Sprout — no card, no trial to remember. Upgrade any time as your reader grows, and cancel whenever you like.

Sprout

Free
to get started
1 child profile 20 minutes of reading a day Karaoke highlighting + basic coaching One companion voice
Try bucoo free
Most popular

Reader

A$99 /year
A$8.25/mo billed yearly · save 36% · or A$12.99/mo
Unlimited reading Full coaching ladder + all reading modes Voice library + a voice per book, speed & syllables Report cards in plain language Story illustrations & reward shop (coming soon) Up to 4 children
Start with Reader

Family+

A$149 /year
A$12.42/mo billed yearly · save 38% · or A$19.99/mo
Everything in Reader Up to 5 children Advanced progress analytics Priority new voices & companions Bigger reward-shop tooling (coming soon)
Choose Family+

Prices in AUD, GST included. Yearly plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee — cancel any time, and your statutory rights under the Australian Consumer Law are unaffected. Schools & classrooms — request school access for per-student licensing.

What's next

More on the way for your reader.

bucoo works free today — here's what we're building next.

bucoo Reading Cam

A clip-on camera that scans any page so bucoo can read along hands-free.

Coming soon

Decodable book packs

Matched to what your child can sound out, with the right next step.

Coming soon

Reward gifts

A parent-approved gift shop unlocked with points earned reading.

Coming soon
FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Everything parents ask us about learning to read with bucoo.

How does bucoo work?

Point a camera at any real book. bucoo reads the page, listens as your child reads aloud, highlights each word in time like karaoke, shows the syllables, illustrates tricky words, and steps in with gentle help only when needed.

Do I need special books?

No. bucoo works with the physical books you already own, and suggests a good next book when your child is ready.

What ages is bucoo for?

bucoo is designed for early readers, roughly ages 4–8 — from first sounds to confident independent reading. Coaching is pitched to each child's reading stage, and parents can fine-tune how much help it gives.

What do I need to use bucoo?

A device with a camera, a microphone and a modern web browser — a laptop, desktop or tablet works well. There's nothing to download: bucoo runs in the browser. The clip-on bucoo Reading Cam (coming soon) makes page scanning even easier.

Is bucoo based on the science of reading?

Yes. bucoo uses systematic phonics and guided oral reading — the evidence-based methods now mandated in classrooms — with a deterministic coaching policy designed for young children.

How much does bucoo cost?

bucoo starts free with the Sprout plan — one reader and 20 minutes of reading a day, with no card and no trial to remember. The Reader plan is A$99/year (or A$12.99/month) for unlimited reading and up to 4 children, and Family+ is A$149/year (or A$19.99/month) for up to 5. Yearly plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can cancel any time. Schools can request per-student licensing.

Is bucoo safe and private for children?

Yes. bucoo is built privacy-first for children's data, with verifiable parental consent, on-device processing preferred, no ads, and no selling of family data — aligned with COPPA and the Australian Privacy Act. Read the full privacy policy.

How is bucoo different from other reading apps?

Most reading apps ask your child to come into their world — their levels, their characters, their library. bucoo brings the coaching into yours: the physical books already in your house. A camera reads the page, your child reads aloud, and bucoo listens, highlights and helps only when needed — so screen time turns into book time. See how bucoo compares with Reading Eggs, Ello and ABCmouse.

Can schools and teachers use bucoo?

Yes — bucoo offers per-student licensing for schools and classrooms. Email support@bucoo.ai and we'll get you set up.

Bolt, bucoo's reading buddy
Coming soon: the bucoo Reading Cam

A clip-on camera for hands-free reading.

bucoo already works free in your browser today. Join the waitlist to hear first when the Reading Cam — our clip-on camera for hands-free page scanning — ships.

Almost there — check your email and click the link to confirm.

Can't wait? Try bucoo free