Frequently asked
questions

LESA is an Icelandic reading game for children — a mini-app that combines play and reading to boost reading fluency, comprehension, and the joy of reading. The idea is simple: to make reading just as enjoyable as any daily routine. A child reads a new story every day, answers light questions about the content, and earns reading minutes that they can spend in the Playground.

LESA is primarily designed for children in the youngest grades of primary school, grades 1–4, but also works well for older preschool children who are taking their first steps in reading. Parents, teachers, and schools have access to a dashboard where they can monitor each child's progress.

LESA is in Icelandic from day one. All content — stories, questions, interviews, guides, and so on — is written in Icelandic and reviewed by editors. Other language editions are planned once international expansion begins.

LESA is developed by Revera ehf., an Icelandic company headquartered in Reykjavík. The founder and CEO is Birgir Hrafn Birgisson, the CTO is Þórdís Jóna Ingigerðardóttir, and the Design Director is Bjarki Birgisson. The project is developed in collaboration with 14islands, the Centre for Education and School Services (MMS), Miðeind, and security experts at Ambaga. The Technology Development Fund (Rannís) has supported the project.

Go to lesa.app/waitlist and enter your email address. You'll receive a notification along the way, and when LESA opens to new users you'll be able to create an account for your child.

Three things set LESA apart from traditional reading books. First, LESA offers 365 stories a year at three difficulty levels — so children always get content that matches their level. Second, reading is gamified with a points system, characters, and a Playground that motivates children to practice daily. Third, LESA measures progress (reading fluency, comprehension, and reading appetite) and gives parents and teachers an overview that traditional books simply can't provide.

Not yet. The first version is designed for the Icelandic market and the Icelandic school system. International expansion is planned in stages — first to the Nordic countries, Estonia, and Poland, then to the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, and Singapore.

LESA is designed for children in grades 1–4, or roughly 6–10 years old. Older preschool children who are beginning to recognise letters and sounds can also enjoy the simplest stories. The difficulty levels are calibrated for ages 3–12, with a primary focus on ages 6–9.

Yes. Stories come in three difficulty levels, and the third level includes more complex sentence structures and longer texts, suited for children in grades 3–4 who want to build vocabulary and reading comprehension. You can also manually adjust the difficulty level for your child if the automatic setting feels too easy or too hard.

Yes, if the child has learned the basic letters and sounds. LESA picks up where apps like Graphogame leave off — it's designed for children who are ready to read full sentences and short stories. For younger children still working on letter recognition, Graphogame or Málhljóðavaktin is a better place to start.

Short and regular is better than long and infrequent. The goal is at least 15 minutes a day — that's the threshold that unlocks the Playground. Many parents find that 15–25 minutes is the sweet spot for keeping interest without overwhelming the child.

The child should know the basic letters and key sounds. LESA is not a reading primer — it's the next step after that. The easiest difficulty level is built on short, simple sentences, and helps the child connect sounds to letters.

365 stories are published throughout the year — one for every day — and each story is available at three difficulty levels. That makes 1,095 story editions in total, so children always have content matched to their level.

LESA's editorial team writes the story foundations — including characters, weekly themes, and daily topics for each day of the year. The editorial team also sets the learning objectives for each day (vocabulary, sounds, length, themes) in collaboration with MMS. An AI writing assistant then helps expand the stories from that outline, both technically and creatively. The AI also handles repeated proofreading passes — for example, reviewing length, appropriate content, and ethical considerations. Finally, the editorial team reviews all stories, images, and questions and gives final approval before a story reaches a child.

Yes. The stories are written in Icelandic, grounded in the Icelandic school curriculum from MMS, and the characters and storylines are tied to Icelandic days and culture — such as June 17th, Ash Wednesday, National Day, holidays, and seasonal traditions. This is a deliberate choice: international reading apps often have Icelandic stories but miss the Icelandic context. Children don't just get better at reading — they connect to the culture and heritage of Iceland.

Yes. The concept is a "story of the day" — a new story and new images appear every morning, fresh and dated. This is how a daily reading habit takes hold.

In the first release, a parent or teacher sets the difficulty manually based on the child's ability (three levels: easy, medium, hard). The app then adapts automatically over time based on how the child reads and answers comprehension questions.

Yes. Inside the parent dashboard it's possible to change each child's difficulty level, raise or lower it as the child progresses.

The child can rate the story at the end. This "reading appetite" score is reviewed by LESA's editorial team across many stories and helps fine-tune the selection or swap out stories that children don't connect with. You can also send feedback directly to support@lesa.app.

The child opens the app, sees the story of the day, and reads through it. At one-third and two-thirds of the way through, the text is paused with a comprehension question. At the end of the story, the child rates how much fun it was. Every minute the child spends reading counts — after 15 minutes, the Playground opens where the child can spend their earned minutes on characters, outfits, and items.

These are light questions that appear at three points within the story (after 33%, 66%, and 100%). They check whether the child has understood the text and keep the reader engaged throughout. The questions are designed to support reading, not to test — mistakes are fine.

At the end of every story the child is asked to rate it — how much fun it was. These ratings build a profile of the child's individual preferences and help LESA's editorial team identify stories that work well and those that need improving. Parents and teachers will see an enjoyment trend over time.

The Story Engine is the heart of LESA. It combines a content database (vocabulary, sounds, length) with an AI writing assistant to handle story generation and the editorial workflow. The engine ensures children always have a bottomless supply of quality stories at three difficulty levels — stories that follow MMS guidelines and are reviewed by Icelandic language experts before they go live.

Yes. Push notifications are off by default. You can turn them on — or off — inside the parent dashboard or in the device's system settings.

The Playground is LESA's built-in reward system. Children collect reading minutes by reading, and can spend them on characters, outfits, and items for their Playground. The goal is to make reading feel like a daily habit — just like saving up for something at the cinema.

No. Reading minutes and items that children earn in the Playground have no monetary value. They cannot be exchanged for money, transferred between accounts, or used outside of LESA. Minutes cannot be purchased with real money — children have to read to earn them.

In the first release there are no in-app purchases tied to the Playground. If LESA later adds optional purchases (e.g. seasonal limited items), they will be governed by the same rules and general guidelines: parents are responsible, purchases are visible at checkout, and children cannot buy anything on their own.

When a subscription ends, all reading minutes and Playground items are frozen — they cannot be exchanged for money or transferred elsewhere. This is standard practice for in-app reward systems.

LESA is primarily designed for tablets (79% of parents use tablets as their main device). It also works on smartphones as a secondary option. Both iOS and Android are supported. A desktop version (web) is not on the roadmap for the first release.

Yes, in the first release an internet connection is required — stories load and are rendered in real time from the server. Future versions will aim to support limited offline reading for use during travel and in cars.

The minimum version is available in the App Store and Google Play at launch. Generally, we recommend the latest two iOS versions and Android 10 or newer.

Not in the first release. LESA launches as a mobile app for iOS and Android. A web version is a possible future addition.

Close the app and reopen it. If the problem persists, close and restart the device and check whether an update is available in the App Store or Google Play. If nothing works, send us a message at support@lesa.app — remember to include your device type and operating system version.

Pricing is confirmed at launch and will be listed inside the app and on the App Store / Google Play. Subscriptions are available on a monthly and annual basis. Schools get a separate school pricing tier.

Yes, a free trial is offered at launch. The length and terms are shown clearly when you sign up. The trial converts automatically to a subscription at the end of the trial period unless you cancel beforehand.

You can set up to three child accounts under one parent account at no extra cost. Each child gets their own LESA login.

If you subscribed through the App Store or Google Play, cancel through the settings on Apple or Google — LESA cannot cancel the subscription on your behalf. If you subscribed directly through LESA, cancel inside the parent dashboard or by email at support@lesa.app. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.

The subscription is charged upfront, monthly or annually depending on your choice. It renews automatically at the end of each billing period at the then-current price, unless you cancel beforehand. If the price changes you will be notified in advance in accordance with applicable app store rules.

Payment is processed through the App Store or Google Play depending on your device. These platforms support credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other methods they provide. LESA does not store card details.

Yes, contact us at support@lesa.app within a reasonable time from the transaction and we will help you. Specifically, we recommend enabling parental controls on your device (Apple "Ask to Buy", Google Play purchase approval) to prevent this from happening in the future.

Yes, under Icelandic and EU consumer law you have a 14-day right to cancel a subscription for digital content, with exceptions for cancellations you give when content is delivered immediately. Write to us at support@lesa.app within the timeframe.

Download LESA from the App Store or Google Play, open the app, and select "Create parent account." Enter your name, email, and agree to the terms and privacy policy. You can then set up child profiles under your account.

Inside the parent dashboard, select "Add child." Enter a display name or username (does not need to be a real name), nickname or alias, reading mark, birth month and year (used to calibrate content to the right level), and the child's profile is created and appears in the app.

Yes. You can set up multiple child profiles under one parent account at no extra cost. Each child gets their own bookshelf, character, difficulty level, reading goals, and rewards.

The dashboard is protected by a "parent lock" to prevent children from changing settings on their own. It uses the device's security features (Face ID, Touch ID, Android fingerprint, or the device PIN). On devices where none of these are available, a simple large-format test appears that a parent can read but a child cannot easily pass.

No. LESA never asks children for an email address. The only email we hold is the parent's (and the teacher's when a school uses the app).

No. The display name and parent name shown in the app do not need to be real names. Choose whatever you and your child find fun — LESA uses the name to personalise the story experience, not to identify anyone.

Only what is needed to run the service: profile information (display name, character, reading mark, birth month and year), learning data (stories read, reading time, speed, comprehension score, enjoyment rating), and technical device information (no ad identifiers). No sensitive data is collected (health records, biometrics, etc.).

On secure servers within the European Economic Area (EEA). Data is encrypted both in transit (TLS 1.2 or higher) and at rest (AES-256). Access to children's data is strictly controlled and all access is logged on an allowlist.

No. LESA does not sell, lease, or share personal data of children or parents with anyone — no one, in any country, under any terms. This also covers what CCPA defines as "sale" or "share."

No. No banners, video ads, sponsored stories, or advergames. LESA is an ad-free environment for children.

No. LESA does not use IDFA, AAID, GAID, or any other long-term advertising identifiers in the children's app. The child is not tracked across other apps or websites.

Three ways: (1) inside the parent dashboard — "Delete profile", (2) by email at privacy@lesa.app, or (3) by post to LESA ehf., Borgartún 29, 105 Reykjavík. We respond within 30 days of verifying your identity.

The child's personal information is deleted from our active systems within 30 days of the profile or account being closed. Encrypted backups are removed as part of the regular backup rotation (up to 90 days). Some accounting and tax records are retained as required by law (typically seven years).

Yes. LESA is built to comply with GDPR, GDPR-K, and Icelandic Act No. 90/2018 on data protection. The legal basis for processing is parental consent (Article 8 GDPR), contractual necessity, and legitimate interest. Data protection is a core principle of LESA in Iceland.

Yes. LESA follows COPPA for children under 13 in the United States: minimal data collection, verified parental consent before any data is collected, and no behavioural advertising technology in the children's app.

Privacy matters go through privacy@lesa.app. LESA's internal privacy team handles responses in accordance with GDPR. Complaints can also be filed with the Icelandic Data Protection Authority at personuvernd.is.

Yes. The Story Engine uses a language model to generate story drafts based on the learning objectives set by the editorial team. Every story goes through automated quality checks and is manually reviewed by an Icelandic language expert before it reaches a child. AI is part of our editorial workflow — not a replacement for it.

No. The child's personal data — display name, voice, sounds, drawings — is never sent to or used to train external AI models. Our partner models receive only editorial objectives from us and have contractual obligations not to use children's data for their own purposes.

Yes, always. Every single story is read by an Icelandic language expert before it reaches a child. If a story does not meet the standard, it is either rewritten by editors or discarded entirely.

No — not in any legally significant sense. LESA uses automated suggestions (story, difficulty, content category) but both parents and teachers always have final say over these. LESA does not fall under Article 22 GDPR on automated decision-making.

Yes. Send feedback to support@lesa.app or directly to LESA's editorial team. Aggregated enjoyment data from children guides the ongoing review of stories that score poorly — such stories are rewritten or taken down.

LESA is not a dyslexia diagnostic tool, but it does offer features that many children with dyslexia find helpful: adjustable font size, font weight, and colour contrast, as well as single-line reading mode ("finger reading") that focuses on one line at a time. If your child has dyslexia, we recommend consulting with their school to find the right setup together.

Yes. Font size, weight, and colour settings are available in the parent dashboard, including a high-contrast option for children with low vision or colour blindness.

Yes. Inside the parent dashboard there are settings for font size, weight, and colour.

Text-to-speech (TTS) is planned for LESA and will be introduced with appropriate settings when it launches. In the first release the focus is on the child reading independently.

The first release is in Icelandic and supports the Icelandic language system. Bilingual editions are in development and will launch alongside international expansion.

LESA measures three core aspects of reading: reading speed (derived from tap-through pace), comprehension (derived from question responses), and reading appetite (derived from the child's rating after each story). Together these three metrics give a more complete picture than a traditional reading speed test alone.

Yes. The parent dashboard shows a summary view: stories read, reading time, fluency, comprehension, reading appetite, current difficulty level, and reading streak.

No. Personal information about children is never shared publicly, with other parents, or with other schools. In the school dashboard, teachers only see their own children — no one else's. Aggregated school and municipality reports are anonymised so that individual children cannot be identified (minimum five children per group).

LESA is not a standardised test alongside PISA or the MMS reading assessment — it is a separate measurement system that tracks natural reading speed and reading appetite alongside fluency and comprehension. Aggregated results can provide schools and municipalities with new baseline data for support, but this is always based on a separate agreement with the school or municipality and never on personal data from individual children.

Traditional reading tests measure speed under pressure — the child reads for an examiner. LESA measures speed naturally, through regular reading in the app (derived from the time between taps). This gives a more reliable picture of the child's reading speed without the stress of a formal test.

Yes. LESA is designed for both home and school use. Schools and municipalities can enter into a separate agreement with LESA that includes access for students and a teacher dashboard, with an accompanying data processing agreement.

Send an email to schools@lesa.app or sign the school up to the waitlist at lesa.app. We are currently in contract discussions with Kópavogsbær and have over 35 schools on the waitlist. An onboarding guide is provided for each school and municipality.

Teachers see the reading progress of students in their class: stories read, reading time, fluency, comprehension, current difficulty level, and reading appetite. Teachers do not see payment or billing information for parents.

No. Teachers only see children in their own class. School principals and municipalities see aggregated reports, which are anonymised (minimum five children) before being shared, to ensure individual children cannot be identified.

Under the Icelandic implementation, the municipality or school is the data controller and LESA is the data processor. This is set out in a data processing agreement and complies with Act No. 90/2018 and GDPR. Parents retain all their rights against LESA — those rights do not diminish because access is set up through a school.

LESA works in collaboration with the Centre for Education and School Services (MMS) and aligns with the MMS curriculum framework. Content is developed in line with MMS guidelines on vocabulary, phonics, and text length for the youngest grades. The partnership ensures that stories are reviewed by Icelandic language experts and approved before they are published.

Over 35 schools are on the waitlist and contract discussions are underway with Kópavogsbær to be the first municipality to adopt LESA across preschools and primary schools. More agreements will be announced on lesa.app as they are finalised.

A separate school pricing tier is available and is tailored to the size of the school or municipality. Contact schools@lesa.app for more information and a quote.

LESA is developed by Revera ehf., an Icelandic limited liability company registered at Borgartún 29, 105 Reykjavík.

LESA works with the Centre for Education and School Services (MMS) on curriculum content and frameworks, with Miðeind on Icelandic language technology and AI, with Almannarómur on Icelandic speech technology, with Ambaga on information security and child protection, and with 14islands on design.

Yes. The project has received support from Rannís through the FRÆ and Sprotastyrk grants. An application for Vaxtarstyrk (Technology Development Fund) is pending, and the underlying concept is also part of a tax incentive research and development claim.

Reykjavík. Revera ehf. is registered at Borgartún 29, 105 Reykjavík.

General support: support@lesa.app. Privacy: privacy@lesa.app. Schools and institutions: schools@lesa.app. Research partnerships: research@lesa.app. Address: Borgartún 29, 105 Reykjavík.

The project is currently self-funded, with grants from Rannís and a Vaxtarstyrk application pending. A possible angel investment round is at an early stage and no deal has been closed. Interested parties can reach out to birgir@revera.is.

First market: Iceland. Second markets (after expansion): Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, and Poland. Third markets: the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and the Netherlands. Selection criteria focus on high smartphone penetration among parents (>90%), purchasing power, and open national technology frameworks for young learners in education.

Three things: the Story Engine (LESA Story Engine) which provides a bottomless supply of quality stories at individually calibrated difficulty levels; a focus on single-language immersive difficulty calibration; emphasis on a language where major EdTech players have limited presence; and three-dimensional measurement (fluency, comprehension, reading appetite) that is rare in the sector. The subscription model is B2B2C — schools as trusted gatekeepers open the door to parent subscriptions.

Financial projections indicate the project will become self-sustaining once full international expansion is underway in summer 2027.

LESA is currently funded through Revera's own resources, along with FRÆ and SPROTA grants from the Technology Development Fund. No external investors have committed funding to LESA ahead of the first release.