Are you in the mood to hear a good story, but no one is around to read it to you? No problem. You can turn to your Amazon Echo to tell you a tale.
Alexa has a variety of skills that turn her into a fine story teller, from calming bedtime tales to spooky horror stories.
You can also listen to interactive tales that you influence by answering questions, playing a character, or even directing the action. With Crazy Stories, Alexa asks you a number of questions to build the adventure, while Mad Libs and Story Maker let you choose your own adventure.
Here's how to get started.
This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.
Alexa App
Open the Alexa app on your mobile device. Tap on the hamburger icon and tap on Skills.
Categories
Tap on the Categories button; there, you can browse for story-telling skills in categories like Games, Trivia & Accessories; Kids; and Novelty & Humor. You can also search for stories by typing the word "story" in the search field. Now let's check out some specific stories.
Tell Me a Story
Say: "Alexa, tell me a story." Alexa starts telling you a story at random, complete with sound effects. You can pause the story and then resume it. If the story Alexa chose doesn’t do the trick, just say: "Alexa, tell me a different story."
Story Teller
Say: "Alexa, ask Story Teller for a scary story." Alexa does her best to terrify you with a frightening story. You can also tell Alexa to ask Story Teller for a sci-fi story, a fantasy story, or just a story in general to hear a random genre tale of her choice.
Short Bedtime Story
Want your young son or daughter to hear an evening yarn with his or her name included? Say: "Alexa, tell bedtime story to [name of your child]." Alexa starts reading a brief tale with the name of your child involved in the story. If Alexa has trouble pronouncing your child's name, you may need to configure the skill, a process described on the Short Bedtime Story website.
Amazon Storytime
Amazon offers a collection of stories from the Amazon Rapids library and Audible, all geared toward children ages 5 to 12. Say: “Alexa, open Amazon Storytime.” Alexa chooses a random story, which is told by voices playing the different characters.
StoryTime
Say: "Alexa, tell StoryTime to tell me a tale." Alexa tells you one of Aesop's short but famed fables, such as The Ant and the Grasshopper, Avaricious and Envious, or The Buffoon and the Countryman.
Random Stories
Say: "Alexa, open Random Stories." Alexa chooses a different story each time. Some stories may be funny, some sad, and others just unusual.
Crazy Stories
Say: "Alexa, open Crazy Stories." Alexa asks you a series of questions to create a story. You're asked to name your favorite food, the oldest or youngest person in your family, the most annoying person you know, and the type of animal you find the scariest, among other questions. Alexa then narrates a story using the responses you provided, complete with cool sound effects.
Mad Libs
Say: "Alexa, open Mad Libs." Alexa asks you for parts of speech, objects, people in the room, and other items. Come up with some mad responses, and Alexa uses them to create a story for you.
Story Maker
Say: "Alexa, open Story Maker." Alexa asks for different types of words and then builds and narrates any one of 30 different stories using your responses.
Select a Story
Say: "Alexa, open Select a Story." A male narrator starts telling you a story. At key moments, you're asked to choose one of two options. Your answers determine what your character does and how the story unfolds.
The Magic Door
Say: "Alexa, open the The Magic Door." Alexa starts off telling you a tale in which you journey through a magical land. At certain moments, Alexa asks you to choose an option, which then dictates where you go, what happens, and who or what you meet. You can travel around a forest, visit a castle, and explore the sea, all complete with sound effects and character voices.
Animal Farm P.I.
Say: "Alexa, start Animal Farm P.I." Alexa starts telling you a tale that takes place at Old MacDonald's Farm, in which you play the part of Petunia Pig trying to find MacDonald's keys. Using sound effects, in-jokes, and other surprises, Alexa asks you to make certain choices along the way, helping decide the direction of the story.
Dunkirk
Say: "Alexa, open Dunkirk," and Alexa starts by telling a story of the battle at Dunkirk. You're asked what type of role you want to assume. At key moments, Alexa asks you what you want your character to do. Your responses determine what happens, how the story turns, and whether you live or die.
