One of our favorite resources to use at Van Meter is Novel Effect. Novel Effect brings read alouds to life through their amazing soundscapes for hundreds of wonderful books our readers love. We have Novel Effect in our library and the teachers use it in their classrooms too. We even have a Novel Effect Pop-Up Library and catalog the books in Destiny so teachers can find what we have in our collection.
In my recent post, Take Fundraising to the Next Reading Level: A Guide to Literati Book Fairs Profit Rewards, I shared details about Literati Partner Credits, a special feature of the Literati Book Fair rewards program. Novel Effect is just one of the amazing partners available through the program, alongside innovative educational companies like Capstone and Ozobot. These partnerships give schools even more ways to turn book fair rewards into meaningful resources that support reading, learning, and creativity.
This week I sat down with Haley Crosgrove, the Director of Sale at Novel Effect. In her role, Haley works with schools and communities to help them bring engaging, interactive read-aloud experiences to students, whether that's in classrooms, libraries, or at home. His role is a special one at Capstone as he helps get their books into the hands of more kids through trade, speciality, retails, and partner channels like Literati.
Haley shared, I first discovered Novel Effect through a colleague when I was still in the classroom and used it with my own students. The very first soundscape I read was Last Stop on Market Street, and seeing my class light up during the story is a moment I'll never forget.
That is what I love about Novel Effect too! They bring so many special stories to life for our readers. It's always so much fun to watch their faces as we share the read-aloud with the Novel Effect soundscape.
That is why I am so excited about Novel Effect being one of the Literati Partners. For those who don't know about Novel Effect, tell me about Novel Effect to start.
Novel Effect responds to your read-aloud with interactive music, sounds, and characters voices. It turns every book into a can’t miss experience kids crave and educators rely on.
Our students get so excited when we read books with Novel Effect. How does Novel Effect support the love of reading and our literacy goals?
One of the things we love hearing most from librarians and educators is that students get excited when it's time for a Novel Effect read-aloud. That excitement isn't just fun; it's the beginning of positive reading experiences that students want to come back to again and again.
Our goal is simple: to help every read-aloud become a memorable learning experience. When students are engaged, they're more likely to listen closely, participate, and connect with the story. By keeping students immersed from the first page to the last, Novel Effect makes it easier to maintain focus and keep learning at the center of every read-aloud.
Perhaps our favorite part is how Novel Effect brings people together. Whether it's a classroom full of students, a library storytime, or a family reading at home, shared laughter, curiosity, and conversation create joyful reading experiences that inspire a lifelong love of books.
Oh, I know something that our readers will want to know. How are the books selected for Novel Effect soundscapes?
Many of our soundscapes begin with requests from the educators, librarians, and families who use Novel Effect every day. Readers can use the Make a Suggestion feature in the app, and those requests are reviewed by Novel Effect's staff librarian, who works closely with the content team to prioritize which books become future soundscapes. Every title is thoughtfully selected to reflect a wide range of readers, interests, themes, and curriculum connections, so there's always something new for classrooms, libraries, and families to discover.
How are the soundscapes created?
Every Novel Effect soundscape is custom-designed by our content team to complement the story, not compete with it. We start by closely reading the book and identifying the moments where music, sound effects, and character voices can enhance the reading experience. Our composers, sound designers, and voice actors then create original audio that's carefully timed to the story, making each page feel immersive while ensuring the reader and the book remain at the heart of the experience.
How many new soundscapes come out each month? Year?
We add one to two new soundscapes every week! Along with our ever-growing soundscape library, we're continually expanding our collection of in-app ebooks and Spanish-language titles, as well as our collection of book activities and resources, so there's always something new to discover.
What are some upcoming ones that you are most excited about?
'm attending a review on Friday for We Are Definitely Human. Before a soundscape is released, the Content Team holds a review session for a larger group of our team and ambassadors to provide feedback. I'm especially excited for this title because books with funny characters, like aliens and robots, often inspire hilarious character voices and lots of silly sounds!
I know we also have some other great ones lined up for back to school, but you’ll have to keep an eye out for those in-app!
Do you have a favorite soundscape?
It's hard to pick just a few favorites! The Big Cheese and the other Jory John Food Group books always make me laugh. The Scarecrow has such beautiful music that it always gets me in the feels. We also recently released Fireworks, and it's quickly become a new favorite.
What does this mean to Novel Effect to be part of the Literati Partners program with others like Ozobot, Capstone, Mrs. Nelson’s, etc?
We're thrilled to be part of the Literati Partners program because we share the same goal: helping children discover a lifelong love of reading. Joining the Literati Partners program allows us to work alongside organizations that also believe in the power of books to inspire curiosity, spark imagination, and build connections. We believe some of the most meaningful moments happen when people share stories, and we're honored to be part of those moments in classrooms, libraries, and homes.
What does Novel Effect have to offer Literati book fair customers (schools, libraries)? Tell us about the different subscription options.
Literati book fair credits can be used to purchase one of two Novel Effect School Plans, making it easy to bring interactive read-alouds to your entire school community.
Our School Staff Plan includes Premium access for all staff at your school: teachers, librarians, administrators, specialists, and paraprofessionals. Available on both mobile devices and the web, Novel Effect helps educators create engaging read-aloud experiences throughout the school day.
Schools can also choose our School Community Plan, which extends Premium access to all staff, students, and families at home. It's a wonderful way to strengthen the school-to-home connection and encourage shared reading beyond the classroom.
Both plans include unlimited access to Novel Effect's complete soundscape library, in-app ebooks, printable learning activities, and educator resources.
What does Novel Effect have to offer Literati book fair customers focusing on bringing more to their classrooms with book fair funds?
Every new book has the potential to become so much more than a single read-aloud. With Novel Effect, educators can transform book fair favorites into interactive literacy experiences that students want to revisit again and again. Combined with Novel Effect’s ready-to-use learning activities and educator resources, every book becomes a tool for building engagement, comprehension, and a lifelong love of reading. It's an investment that helps every book continue supporting literacy long after the book fair ends.
One of my favorite things about Novel Effect are the amazing educational resources that your teams creates. Tell us about these. Who creates them?
Our educational resources are designed to make planning easier for educators while helping students make deeper connections with the stories they read. They're developed by our Content and Curriculum Specialist, an experienced educator who brings years of classroom experience to every resource. From printable activities and discussion prompts to interactive bulletin boards and lesson extensions, each resource is thoughtfully designed to support literacy, STEM, social-emotional learning, and cross-curricular connections while keeping the joy of reading at the center.
What exciting things are coming up from Novel Effect?
Expect lots of new stories! Our content team is constantly creating new soundscapes, educational resources, and seasonal collections inspired by the books educators and families are reading most. With our expansion of Novel Effect Web in the last year, we're excited to keep growing alongside our community and building new ways to make reading together even more engaging.
Do you have anything else you would like to share, friend?
We'd simply like to thank the librarians, educators, and families who continue to share stories every day. You inspire everything we create. Whether it's a student laughing during a favorite picture book, a classroom making connections through a read-aloud, or a family reading together before bed, those moments matter. We're honored to play a small part in helping books create memories that last a lifetime.
Thank you, Haley. You are doing such amazing things for our libraries, classrooms, homes, and especially our readers. I love that this partnership will bring Novel Effect to even more readers too.
You can learn more about hosting a Literati Book Fair and book fair rewards here.
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