Comparison

First Book Community vs READ WITH MALCOLM

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

First Book Community

Access free educational resources, connect with fellow educators, and discover opportunities for books and supplies. This app empowers those working with children and teens in low-income communities to foster learning and growth.

Highlights
  • Free book recommendations
  • Virtual field trips and events
  • Professional development for educators
  • Research and toolkits
  • Giveaways and funding opportunities
  • Community collaboration and discussion
Features
Read full description

Level the Educational Playing Field with First Book Educators: feel equipped and energized as a member of the First Book Community! Access tons of quality free resources (for your learners of all ages – and yourself) and connect with other educators, program staff, professionals, and volunteers who are passionate about eliminating barriers to a quality education for children and teens in low-income communities. The First Book Community offers FREE: + Book recommendations on relevant topics to inspire lifelong readers + Virtual field trips, streamed arts performances, author talks, and interactive events for your learners + Professional development and best practices from industry-leading partners for educators in many community settings and learning environments + Research and peer-informed toolkits, videos, and discussion guides from the First Book Accelerator + Giveaways and funding opportunities for books, activities, supplies, and more! Join our powerful community to collaborate with like-minded educators and community leaders working in a variety of educational settings across the US. Share your challenges, wins, and best practices while staying updated on new resources, funding opportunities, and book recommendations from First Book and our partners. Engage with resources, discussions, and events on in-demand themes like STEM, SEL, literacy, choosing titles to encourage a love of reading, family engagement, and early childhood. Who should join: Anyone and everyone working with kids or teens ages 0-18 in low-income communities across the US! Teachers, librarians, school administrators, social workers, and staff or volunteers at: faith-based community programs, afterschool programs, shelters, early childhood centers, and any community organization supporting families in need. The First Book Community is your hub for resources and collaboration to grow as a caring adult in the lives of students in need. Together, we’re ensuring every child has the tools they deserve to learn and thrive.

About

READ WITH MALCOLM

This app connects educators passionate about literacy, offering a private network to share resources, best practices, and collaborate on literacy initiatives. It provides tools and community support to inspire young readers and transform literacy outcomes in classrooms.

Highlights
  • Private educator network
  • Literacy resources and programs
  • Topic-based discussion feeds
  • Group chats and collaboration tools
  • Grade-level specific spaces
  • Access to events and symposiums
  • Achievement badges
Read full description

READ WITH MALCOLM is the official app of Share the Magic Foundation, created by Super Bowl champion and literacy advocate Malcolm Mitchell. This powerful community is designed for educators who are passionate about literacy, equity, and creating lifelong readers—starting in their classrooms. This private educator network brings together a growing community of over 25,000+ engaged teachers to connect, collaborate, and access free reading resources. Inside, you’ll find topic-based discussion feeds, group chats, and tools to help educators share what’s working—from the READBowl to the READMarathon and everything in between. The app supports Share the Magic Foundation’s mission to inspire young people to read by providing their educators with a space to build relationships, exchange best practices, and get early access to curriculum tools. Whether you're working with elementary, middle, or high school students, you'll find a space dedicated to your classroom level, plus upcoming events like the annual READUniversity virtual symposium. Download READ WITH MALCOLM to: Access exclusive literacy resources and programs like READBowl Join chats and discussions with fellow educators around the world Collaborate by grade level or initiative Stay up-to-date with READUniversity events and symposiums Celebrate achievements and earn badges Be part of a movement transforming literacy outcomes READ WITH MALCOLM is a private, distraction-free space that puts the power of literacy in the hands of passionate educators—no ads, just impact.

Screenshots

First Book Community4 screens
READ WITH MALCOLM4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: First Book Community at every 9 days against READ WITH MALCOLM's monthly. First Book Community also leads on device support. READ WITH MALCOLM's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for First Book Community against 5.0 for READ WITH MALCOLM. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

First Book Community ships an update every 9 days, READ WITH MALCOLM monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
First Book Community versus READ WITH MALCOLM: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFirst Book CommunityREAD WITH MALCOLM
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterMonthly
AdsYes—
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — better—
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB137 MB
Age rating9+9+
DeveloperFirst bookShare the Magic Foundation, Inc.

In-app purchases

None

First Book Community

No in-app purchases

None

READ WITH MALCOLM

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is First Book Community free?
First Book Community is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is READ WITH MALCOLM free?
READ WITH MALCOLM is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, First Book Community or READ WITH MALCOLM?
First Book Community and READ WITH MALCOLM are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.
Which is updated more often, First Book Community or READ WITH MALCOLM?
First Book Community ships an update every 9 days, and READ WITH MALCOLM monthly. Most recently, First Book Community was updated on October 7, 2026 and READ WITH MALCOLM on October 1, 2026.

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