TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — Kids sitting in front of screens, navigating the World Wide Web with the ease of someone more than quadruple their age. But imagine, they’re not just playing any game or TikTokking: they’re learning to read.

“It feels like a game, so it feels like they’re playing, and it is engaging,” says parent Brooke Hussey. “It is easy for them to use and it’s fun.”

Rosie and Rusty racoon are the stars and teachers of Upstart, a cute cartoon for pre-kindergarteners wanting to get a handle on reading skills outside of the classroom.

It’s use for any 4-year-old is funded by the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. It’s free for any family who wants to give their future student a leg up or a healthy head start.

Hussey’s 4-year-old daughter Indy, is just getting familiar with

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