FREE again for a limited time – The Chicken & the Egg is an interactive e-book written by Allan Plenderleith for the iPhone/iPad. It is the story of Flo, a little chicken, who just cannot lay an egg. One rainy night something happens… An object rolls down a hill and lands next to Flo who thinks it’s her egg. She loves her egg & takes very good care of it. Then one night a “dark thing” appears… Even though all ends well, read this one first before you share it with preschoolers. You know if your child is sensitive to stories with “scary” parts.

Teachers – this story is perfect for teaching prediction. I would stop the story when Flo wakes up next to “her egg” and have students predict what will happen next. Is it actually an egg? If so what will hatch out? There are lots of possibilities for creative writing with this story. Then read the rest of the story to see how the author finishes it. The story is cutely illustrated with delightful narration. Its interactivity adds to the story rather than distracting the reader from the story. Definitely worth downloading 🙂

FREE for a limited time (during the London Book Fair), What Will I Be? is another delightful story from Digital Leaf. A father answers his child’s questions about the future in a story that encourages children to dream big! Before the story starts, the app permits you to choose the gender of the child. The story is cute and written in rhyme. There is interactivity throughout  – sounds and things to move. Kids are encouraged to find “the dog” hidden in 19 places throughout the story. If they do, a bonus game is unlocked. This app is a perfect example of  what a digital story should be – a great story with interactivity that enhances the overall reading experience. And… as an extra added bonus, the story send a positive message to kids! Don’t miss out on this one – perfect to read in the classroom when talking/writing about careers!

FREE for a limited time – The Rocket Book is an interactive version of a book by Peter Newell. The book was originally published in 1912 and it is written in rhyme. It tells the tale of Fritz (the janitor’s son) who lights a rocket in the basement of an apartment building. The book follows the rocket’s path as it travels upward through 20 flats causing some havoc along the way.  The 3D technology used in the scenes makes the old-fashioned pictures come alive. Ragtime piano music and a great narrator add to the charm of this app. Lots of great opportunities for comparing and contrasting with this story – 1912 vs now. This book is also rich in language and would also be great for a lesson on context clues. Very cool app to use in a one iPad classroom!

FREE for a limited time – Prancing Dancing Lily, an interactive story about a cow who doesn’t quite fit into her herd in Wisconsin. Lily loves to dance so she decides to travel the world looking for a dance that fits her perfectly. She eventually returns home and inspires her herd to dance in a conga line. Lily becomes the next lead bell cow – following in the hoofsteps of her Grandmoo and Mamoo. Very cute story!

FREE again – Jack and the Beanstalk, an app for the iPhone/iPad – this interactive read-along is a humorous, modern version of a classic tale. The app has 2 options: Read by Myself or Read to Me. The words are highlighted as they are read to help the emerging reader. The animations & illustrations are delightful with interactivity on every page. Teachers could use this app to compare and contrast this modern version to the classic version! This app is really cute and definitely worth downloading!!

The National Parenting Publication Awards: Honors winner in the Children’s Media/Virtual category.

Hold your hats  – today is going to be a record setting day for FREE apps thanks to Mindshapes Limited!

They are offering 15 of their Magic Town story apps for FREE!!

Magic Town is a great source of quality interactive stories for kids!! To read my review from October 7 – just type Magic Town into the search button on the upper right side of this page. The stories are nicely illustrated, animated, professionally narrated, and can be enjoyed in four modes: explore, read together, watch, and play. To access all of Magic Town’s content, you have to subscribe. But… TODAY, several books from the Magic Town collection are FREE. So here are links to Magic Town and 15 FREE e-books from the Magic Town collection. Enjoy 🙂

Magic Town 

Princess and the Pea 

Rumpelstiltskin 

The Story of Little Red Riding Hood 

The Boy who Cried Wolf 

The Glass Mountain   

The Leaping Match 

Ali Babba and the Forty Thieves   

The Ugly Duckling  

The Tale of Little Red Riding Hood   

The Snow Queen 

The Tale of Cinderella   

Thumbelina   

Hansel & Gretel   

Nutcracker – Ballet School   

Aladdin –  The Arabian Nights   

The Purple Frog is FREE today. It is a story about friendship and acceptance. No one wants to play with Purple Frog because he is purple. He is sad until a little green frog becomes his friend. Kids can choose to read on their own or have the story read to them. They can also tap individual words in the story to have the word read and spelled for them. A beautifully illustrated story with a nice message!