FREE for a limited time – Wild Fables, an interactive version of Aesop’s fables. This educational app comes with 3 FREE fables (The Crow and The Pitcher, The Fox and The Grapes, and The Ant and The Chrysalis) and the option of purchasing 5 additional stories. Kids don’t just read they stories in this app, they play along! They help save a lion, help a fox leap for a grape, etc. as 3 of Aesop’s fables come to life. Designed to be read independently, the stories do not have a read along/aloud option. The music, effects, and accelerometer can be turned of/off in the settings. If you use Aesop’s fables in your classroom, check out this app. It could be used to introduce fables.

FREE for a limited time – Leo and the Windy Day, an interactive story for the iPad. Leo’s wish that his bike could fly comes true. Kids join Leo, his friend Mira, and his hamster Mr. Snibs on a midnight adventure to rescue Leo’s kite from the top of the church tower. Kids can use their fingertips to bring the animations in the scenes to life. Their fingertips also activate musical notes in the same musical key as the soundtrack. The app is professionally narrated by Lyndsay Abbott or it can be read alone. Nicely done!!

FREE for a limited time – Good Night and Sweet Dreams, a bedtime story for 3 – 7 year olds. It’s getting dark and the zoo is closing so it’s time for the animals to be put to bed. The zookeeper is already asleep so kids are asked to help turn off the lights for the bear, elephant, lion, hippo, fish, parrot, zebra and giraffe. This app reminds me of Nighty Night, the 2011 App of the Year in the USA “books”  category. In that app, kids help put farm animals to sleep as they turn off lights in a barn. Both apps are great for bedtime!

Good Night is FREE for a limited time. This interactive bedtime book is most suitable for 2 – 4 year olds. Paul, a little bear, rides a scooter through the pages of the story to say goodnight to his animals friends – one mouse, two sheep, three rabbits, etc. Kids help by find and count the 55 + animals that are hiding in the scenes. Cute story to read to your little one at bedtime!

FREE again for a limited time, Everything Has a Home by Azawhistle Kids is the story of two friends who tackle the problem of a very messy room. Narrated by David Dayan Fisher, it is the story of Tejas who wants to clean up his room and surprise his mom. But… he is overwhelmed by the magnitude of the mess that “someone” has created. His best friend, Lollipop, helps him to organize his environment. Kids lend a hand as they place interactive objects in the correct place. Tejas and Lollipop use yoga & meditation as they inspire kids to tidy up.

FREE for a limited time – Penelope HD, a delightful story for 4 – 8 year olds. It’s Penelope’s nap time but instead of napping she puts on a pirate hat and a magical thing happens. Her bedroom is transformed into a gigantic pirate ship and she becomes Penelope the Purple Pirate! She goes in search of treasure with her three friends: Daphne the dolphin, Teddy the sea turtle, and Oliver the octopus. This cute story also has a nice message about sharing. 🙂 After reading, there are 13 questions for discussion or to test your child’s recall. There are also suggested activities for the classroom/home. Ideas such as – have a treasure hunt or make a treasure test. The app also included fun facts about the featured animals and pirates. Nicely done!

These books from the AvatarBook collection for the iPad are currently FREE (until May 12): Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Pinocchio, Jack & the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, The Wizard of Oz. Using these apps, it is really simple to make your child the star of a fairy tale. Just take your child’s picture/use an existing photo, adjust the photo to fit the face line, then watch as your child’s avatar becomes the main character of the fairy tale. The brightly illustrated story is read aloud by a narrator. There is no option to read the story on your own so it feels more like you are watching a movie than reading a book. I also wish the words were highlighted so that kids could follow along as the story is being narrated. That being said, the real appeal of these apps is that they use your child as the main character of a well-loved tales. I think most kids would enjoy seeing themselves in those roles. 🙂

Cinderella   

PeterPan   

Alice in Wonderland   

The Frog Prince   

Pinocchio   

Jack & the Beanstalk   

Little Red Riding Hood   

The Wizard of Oz