At StoryBox, we're all about making reading fun, exciting, and, of course, educational for kids. But have you ever wondered why we remove the original text from our story pages? Well, here’s the scoop! 

Bringing Stories to Life

We’re passionate about bringing stories to life in ways that spark kids’ imaginations and engage them with the visuals, characters, and plot. By removing text, we give children the freedom to fully immerse themselves in the story, letting them feel the adventure alongside the storyteller, rather than just reading or hearing it. Our aim is to create an experience where kids connect with the story on a deeper level, using their imagination to explore every detail.

The Power of Captions ✨

While text-free stories are a big part of our approach, we also know that reading is an essential skill. That’s where captions come in! Research shows that adding captions to videos can boost reading skills by helping kids improve their reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. By connecting spoken words with written text, captions make it easier for children to decode unfamiliar words and get more out of the story.

That’s why we’re excited to introduce two special Read-Alongs. Firstly, our Big Summer Read title, Daddy's Embarrassing Exploding Farty Shorts, written and read by comedian Ed Kavalee! This hilarious story (think exploding shorts and lots of giggles) is now also available with a Read-Along feature, where kids can follow the story with both their eyes and ears. As they listen to the fun narration, they’ll see the words appear on screen, helping them make the connection between spoken and written words.

Secondly, In the Rockpool, written by Andrea Rowe, illustrated by Hannah Sommerville and read by Kuda Mapeza. This story lends itself perfectly for the read-aloud format and is ideal for beginner readers. 


So Why Remove Text?

Great question! While text in books is crucial for linking words to images and guiding the flow of a story, we’re all about creating an exciting, immersive experience through a different medium—the screen. By removing text, we give children the freedom to dive into the original illustrations and connect with the story and characters without distractions. We keep the artwork authentic, with gentle movement, so the focus remains on the powerful visuals and storytelling. This creates a richer, more engaging experience where kids can explore the story in their own way.

Unlike books, where readers can pause and reflect, films have a fixed sequence that builds emotion through visuals, sound effects, and music. These elements capture kids' attention and spark their imaginations, but too much stimulation can sometimes feel overwhelming. By focusing on sound and vibrant imagery, we keep things simple, helping kids stay engaged and follow the story more easily.

Three Versions, Endless Fun!

We believe there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to reading. Some kids might prefer a captioned version to help with their reading journey, while others might love the chance to just enjoy the story with no words getting in the way. That’s why at StoryBox, we are exploring opportunities to offer multiple versions to support kids at different stages of their reading development:

  • Original version (captions off): Pure oral and visual immersion—perfect for kids who want to dive straight into the story.

  • Read-Along version: An interactive tool that supports early literacy, guiding kids to follow along as the story is read aloud.

  • Original version (captions on): A written transcription of the entire video, helping kids connect the spoken words with the text (accessible via the video control panel).

The Big Summer Read is a great opportunity for us to offer a special Read-Along version of Daddy’s Embarrassing Exploding Farty Shorts, so get ready for a whole lot of laughs as Ed Kavalee takes your little ones on a quirky, hilarious adventure!

Wrapping Up

We hope this gives you a clearer picture of why we remove text, why captions are so powerful, and how we’re supporting children’s reading skills in fun, new ways. Whether you're enjoying a Read-Along feature or exploring a text-free adventure, we can’t wait for you to dive into the StoryBox world and discover a whole new way of experiencing stories!

P.S. We’d love to hear what you think of our Read-Alongs so get in touch here.