Category Archives: educational apps for kids

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Scribble My Story – A Fingerprint Network App

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scribble my story

Exciting News  – the creators of Scribble Press (in my opinion – one of THE best writing apps for kids) have just released Scribble My Story. It is a junior version of Scribble Press which was named by Time as one of the top 25 apps of 2012. Designed for the youngest authors and artists (ages 3 – 8), Scribble My Story provides a friendly, easy-to-use platform for kids to imagine, create, and share. Included are 6 story packs (with audio for non-readers) that can be customized by the child and a recordable blank book for open-ended creations. Created books are saved in the app. Kids can go back and reread their books, edit them, or share them on the Scribble Press website. All great features except for the share button. I wish there was an option to disable it for children. In my opinion, parents/teachers need to decide & control what kids share on the internet. Using the Fingerprint email platform, parents/teachers can view created books through a browser, pdf, or iBooks. Additional story packs are available as in-app purchases. What a wonderful way to encourage kids to become writers from an early age! Highly recommended!

Also, check out my review of Scribble Press – one of my favorites 🙂  When I originally reviewed it, it was FREE. It now costs $2.99 but it is well worth its cost.

Scribble My Story – A Fingerprint Network App - Fingerprint

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MyCQs (Test Maker)

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test maker

Create multiple choice questions with this app which is FREE for a limited time. Teachers/parents can create multiple choice tests for kids (with pictures  & explanations) to help them learn or review a variety of subject matter. Older students can create their own tests. Also included in this app are 6 lessons on how to write good multiple choice questions. After the test has been created, kids take the test and the app keeps track of their results over time. Tests can be shared with other members of the MyCQs community. LOTS of possibilities for using this app with every age-group of students!

MyCQs (Test Maker) - James Gupta

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Paddington Bear

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paddingtonFREE today – The classic story of Paddington Bear by Michael Bond for the iPhone/iPad. The classic illustrations of R.W. Alley have been animated and sound effects have been added. There is an option to record your own voice reading the book, you can hear the narration of Paul Vaughan, or you can read it on your own. The app also includes a photo page. Take your child’s photo taken with Paddington Bear!  A wonderful story that has stood the test of time (over 50 years old) – download this must-have classic today!!

Paddington Bear - HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

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What Does Santa do on Boxing Day?

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boxing day

What Does Santa do on Boxing Day? is currently FREE for the iPhone/iPad. Told in rhyme, it’s a story that tells what Santa does on Boxing Day, the day after Christmas. According to this 45 page tale, he travels around the world taking presents to animals. He visits the jungle, the sea, the desert, a farm, & the arctic regions. Santa’s gift choices for all of the animals are great – well thought out and funny. For instance, he brings a foal tap shoes since she likes to clip-clop with her hooves. I wish the author would have left out a few details – Santa’s burp/nasty stomach and Santa needing “the loo”. The inclusion of those kind of details in kids’ books is a personal pet peeve of mine. They really don’t add anything to the story. Other than that, the story is quite cute!

pocket story - What does Santa do on Boxing Day? - Wotsamaflip

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Kids Vehicles: City Trucks & Buses HD

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kids vehicles

Merry Christmas! The full version of Kids Vehicles: City Trucks & Buses for the iPhone or iPad is FREE today as a gift from the developer 🙂 Jeff, the truck driver, teaches kids about 10 different vehicles. Included are: a school bus with an opening door, a dump truck with working bed, an ambulance with siren & horn, a concrete mixer with a revolving drum, a fire truck with a siren, horn, working ladder and more! Kids just tap on a part of the vehicle and Jeff identifies it. Then they can tap on Jeff for more details. I did find a minor glitch with the transit bus. When you tap on its roof, Jeff talks about a the roof of a school bus – obviously, this is not a major issue. If your child is a truck lover, you may want to take advantage of this gift.

Kids Vehicles: City Trucks & Buses HD for the iPad - Wojciech Bem

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Ice Age Movie Storybook Collection

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FREE today for iPhone/iPad, this app normally sells for $.99. The storyline is developed from the Ice Age movie and features some of its favorite characters – Manny, Sid, Diego, and others. There are three ways to  enjoy this book – read to me, auto play, and read to myself. This e-book uses the images from the movie and the narration is nicely done. The story is not interactive – there is nothing to tap, find, move, etc. on the individual pages. Regardless, you will want to download this app if you have a child (2+) that is a fan of the Ice Age, the movie – it is nicely done storybook.  Ice Age 2,3, & 4 are also available as in-app purchases.

Ice Age Movie Storybook Collection - zuuka incorporated

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Treasure Kai and the Lost Gold of Shark Island

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FREE for a limited time for the iPhone/iPad, Treasure Kai and the Lost Gold of Shark Island is an adventure story of a 10-year-old treasure hunter named Kai. Kai is always dreaming about treasure and looking for it in his parents’ store: The Treasure Shop. Kai’s dreams magically transport him to Shark Island where he finds a treasure chest. And so the adventure begins…. Kids help in the hunt for gold by choosing from 8 different treasure chests. Each chest reveals another clue – leading Kai through more adventures. Along the way there are animations to discover, great sound effects, and an original score. This digital story is similar to the “choose your own adventure” books with an “Indiana Jones” feel to it. It is different every time it is read with thousands of ways to find the treasure. This app would be great for kids who are a bit older and becoming independent readers. Very cool 🙂

Visit the website for a preview http://treasurekai.com/. After reading the story, your child can go back to the website for a variety of extras: watch fun fact videos, go behind the scenes, play a video game, work some puzzles, and more.

Highly Recommended!

Treasure Kai and the Lost Gold of Shark Island - Interactive Book App for Kids - Treasure Bound Books

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Monsters Band

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monsters band

The memory game section of the Monsters Band app for the iPhone/iPad is FREE today. Kids can choose their level of difficulty – 12, 20, or 30 cards to match. Points are awarded based on what level is being played. There are also time bonuses. Kids may register to build points and earn stickers but it is not necessary to do so in order to play. Very cute card memory game – love the silly monsters! Also available as in-app purchases are 3 levels of jigsaw puzzles and 3 levels of quizzes.

Monsters Band - Board Games - Latroupe Studios

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Pete and the Secret of Flying HD

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pete

Pete and the Secret of Flying is an adorable interactive e-book for the iPad about a little bird named Pete who has a dream.The story takes place back in the time when birds went everywhere on foot. Pete dreams of playing in the clouds and decides that perhaps he should try his wings out. And so the story unfolds… The narration & text can be turned on or off. There is also an option to autoplay the book. The graphics are great – simple drawings in blue and white with a bright yellow birds! Kids 2+ will love playing with Pete  – he interacts when he’s tapped. Really cute for little ones!

Pete and the secret of flying HD - Shape Minds and Moving Images GmbH

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More FREE Christmas Apps

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Here are links to more FREE Christmas apps I have found. 🙂

boo

Boo, Where Are You?  –  a darling e-book for toddlers about a dog named Sammy and his friend, Boo the cat. Kids tap-the flaps in the story to try to find Boo. Really cute – read on your own story 🙂Boo, where are you? - Fleur van Zuilen

peekaboo presents

Peekaboo Presents is FREE as of today – not sure how long this offer will last. 13 gifts are under the tree for your toddler to unwrap. Each present comes with its own unique sound & action. Younger children will benefit from  hearing & seeing the word for each present. Older children can listen to the sounds coming from the boxes to infer what might be inside. The app has 2 modes – endless play or storybook mode. At the end, kids get a glimpse of Santa with all the presents.   Peekaboo Presents - Night & Day Studios, Inc.

santas jigsaw

Santa’s Jigsaw Puzzles – 3 holiday scenes that can become 9,16, or 25 piece puzzles for kids to put together.   Santa's jigsaw puzzles - jee-w

gingerbread

Gingerbread  Crazy Chef Cookie Maker  – Kids can virtually bake and decorate their own gingerbread cookies. An in-app purchase of the full version is available. There are also ads along the bottom. TabTale Books has several other free holiday titles that you can download when you open this app if you are comfortable with their model of delivery – ads, upgrades, etc.   Gingerbread Crazy Chef - Cookie Maker - TabTale LTD