Frequently Asked Questions

Using Tales2go

What is Tales2go?

Tales2go is your partner in the fight for better literacy. Founded by committed entrepreneurs and former educators, the company believes that every student can achieve reading proficiency through repeated exposure to spoken sophisticated words. Many students lack such an exposure, which is the basis of vocabulary acquisition and retention. Word knowledge (i.e., vocabulary and fluency) is a key component of reading proficiency, which in turn is a critical driver of academic success. Tales2go makes it easy to add a listening component to reading instruction, in school and at home, by streaming over 10,000 high-interest audiobook titles from leading publishers to desktops, laptops and mobile devices.

Why is exposure to sophisticated spoken words so important?

Oral language drives vocabulary acquisition and retention, which is a key component of reading proficiency. Yet most students lack repeated exposure to sophisticated spoken words. As a result, most students do not have a large enough vocabulary to be proficient readers, which is why nearly two-thirds of all U.S. 4th graders struggle with reading.

How do I start listening to audio books on Tales2go?

Any new user can initiate a free 30-day trial on a desktop, laptop or mobile device. Please refer to the “Subscribe” section of our site to get more information about subscriptions at different levels (individual, school, and district.)

Where can I find the app and desktop player for Tales2go?

You can access Tales2go from the app store on most mobile devices (Apple and Android) or by using a browser on a laptop or desktop computer.

Apple App Store
If using an iPad, be sure to search within “iPhone apps” (NOT “iPad Only” apps)

Google Play Store

Desktop Player
You can also use a browser like Google Chrome, Safari or Internet Explorer to access the desktop player.

Can I listen to Tales2go without an Internet connection?

Yes. When you begin a story, Tales2go ‘caches’ or temporarily stores the story you’re listening to on the device. Begin listening to a story within a WiFi or carrier signal setting and if you turn off WiFi or lose signal, the portion that is cached will continue to play.

Can I listen to Tales2go on more than one device?

Yes, with an individual subscription to Tales2go, you can connect up to five devices to your account. Devices include desktops, laptops and mobile devices. Schools and districts interested in purchasing bulk licenses should email us here.

Why is my story not playing?

If there is a problem with a story, it’s most often because of a signal issue. Restarting or rebooting the app will often correct a problem. If not please email us or use the feedback email function from within the app itself (in the ‘More’ section).

How do I set or remove a bookmark or favorite?

Individuals: While playing a story you want to bookmark for later, pause it and click the bookmark or favorite button. You will see a bookmark or favorite button animation to confirm the bookmark or favorite has been set.

Schools: Bookmarks work the same way as individuals UNLESS you have activated student accounts. When logged in as a school using the generic school ID and password, clicking the bookmark button to save a story for later will prompt students to enter their ID and password. At home, students can use that student ID and password to login, set and retrieve bookmarks.

When you no longer need a bookmark or favorite story on a mobile device, simply view them on the bookmarks or favorites page and click the “X.” If removing bookmarks and favorites using a desktop or laptop, press “Remove Bookmark” or “Remove From Favorites.”

How do I play Tales2go over my car radio speakers?

Many cars have an auxiliary button on the car radio. Purchase an audio cable and plug one end into your phone or tablet and the other into the car audio jack and you’re in business. Tales2go will also connect via Bluetooth if it is available in your car. If your car does not have an audio jack or Bluetooth, you can purchase portable speakers or pass the phone or tablet back to your kids to use with headphones.

How do I switch devices?

A Tales2go license can be used on one device at a time, and can be moved from one device to another as needed. To change devices, simply use the Login/Logout function within the app. You will be asked to provide your account password.

Tales2go Titles

Does Tales2go provide the text to accompany the audio?

Tales2go does not have accompanying text because State standards raise ‘just listening’ to a skill equivalent to reading, writing and speaking. Taking away the burden of decoding allows students to access literature at a higher level, while developing critical vocabulary, comprehension and fluency skills. Pairing is but one instance of use for audio books, and principally an exercise in fluency. Try getting students to draw pictures or take notes while listening to a book on Tales2go. For the record, we’re not opposed to pairing with physical books from the library. We just want you to be aware of the State standards and greater efficacy of just listening.

Who reads the audio books on Tales2go?

Tales2go delivers content from leading publishers. All the titles on Tales2go are read by professional narrators and storytellers. This means all our titles are expressively and fluently read by qualified and skilled individuals and you’ll never hear a computerized or monotone voice!

What is the age range of titles on Tales2go?

Tales2go has thousands of audio books, stories and songs perfect for students in Pre-K through High School. There is also a wide selection of stories appropriate for the whole family. Tales2go even includes parenting titles for moms and dads. You can download all titles in an excel spreadsheet here.

Can I look for new stories while a current selection is playing?

On a mobile device, you can browse while you are still playing a previously loaded story.

What if I can't find the stories I want on Tales2go?

Tales2go works with many publishers and has thousands of titles to choose from. You can download the whole catalog broken down by grade levels here. If you can’t find the story you want on Tales2go, it’s likely we have a similar title, but feel free to put in a request or use the “email us” function from within the app itself (in the ‘More’ section).

Tales2go Subscriptions

How do I subscribe after the free trial period?

You will be prompted to subscribe to Tales2go after your initial 30-day free trial. You can purchase a subscription to Tales2go as an in-app purchase or on our website using PayPal. If you’re interested in a bulk purchase for a school or district, please visit the subscriptions section of our website or email us.

How do I manage a large group of users or an entire school on Tales2go?

Tales2go works with schools, districts and consortia around the country and offers bulk accounts and discounts. Please visit the subscriptions page of our website or email us if you’re interested in learning more.

Can I terminate my subscription and get a refund?

Tales2go does not offer refunds because all subscribers can initially sample the service for free for 30 days. You can however gift your remaining subscription to a friend or family member. If you are interested in gifting the remainder of your subscription please email us.

Does Tales2go offer discounts for bulk license purchases?

Tales2go offers bulk purchasing options for schools and districts including volume breaks on price and the ability to manage groups of devices on one account/email address. Contact us to learn more.

What types of subscriptions do you offer?

Tales2go offers multiple types of subscriptions to meet your school’s and district’s needs. Please find more information and get a quote on our Subscribe page.