Auryn Apps is giving away an interactive book each day in March to support National Reading Month 🙂

FREE today – Miko Goes on Vacation by Brigitte Weninger. Miko, a cute little mouse, goes on his first trip to the beach with his mother. He is concerned about leaving his little friend Mimiki alone when he goes into the water. So, he elicits the help of a little girl named Mia. Milo soon discovers that the best thing about going on vacation is making new friends. Like other apps from this developer, the story can be personalized by having your child narrate it – a super option for kids who are learning to become more fluent readers.

This book is the sixth book app featuring Miko and Mimiki – a wonderfully sweet series of books for young children. The apps normally sell for $1.99 each so make sure you download this one today 🙂

Auryn Apps is giving away an interactive book each day in March to support National Reading Month 🙂

FREE today – Rowdy Raccoon and the Turtle Who Wanted to Fly, a cute story about a raccoon and a turtle who wish they could fly. The two friends make themselves wings and a tail so that they can fly and be special like their friend Scissor, the bird. Things do not go smoothly and Tommy the Turtle ends up in a dangerous situation. In the end they discover that everyone has something that makes them special. Cute story with a great message!!

Auryn Apps is giving away an interactive book each day in March to support National Reading Month 🙂

Today’s book is Van Gogh and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt. Based on actual events, this story introduces kids to Van Gogh and his work. It begins when Camille (the young boy in the story) and his father help a stranger (Van Gogh) who moves into a house on their street. Camille take Van Gogh a huge pot of sunflowers and a friendship evolves. The beautiful watercolor illustrations complement the story which features several of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings. It is a wonderful story of friendship and acceptance of/compassion towards people who are different.

The app has some cool extras: a Museum of 10 Van Gogh paintings, an armature game, and painting. The Museum contains 10 Van Gogh paintings with facts about each one. The armature game shows kids the mechanics of animation. The animated structures are collapsible so that kids can put the pieces/gears back together. The painting option permits kids to paint the characters for  the book. Then the kids’ paintings then become  part of the story!

This is wonderful app – for so many reasons!!

Auryn Apps is giving away an interactive book each day in March to support National Reading Month 🙂

Today’s book is Ling Ling Looks in the Mirror by Ming & Wah Chen. Ling Ling is a little girl who realizes that she can be anything that she wants to be when she grows up. From Arctic explorer to a paleontologist, Ling Ling dreams big about where life might take her. Each occupation is beautifully illustrated by Mariko Jesse. This is a great story to encourage kids to be dreamers about their future – a perfect introduction to a writing assignment and/or a unit about occupations.

Like other apps from this developer, the story can be personalized by having your child narrate it – a super option for kids who are learning to become more fluent readers.

 

Auryn Apps is giving away an interactive book each day in March to support National Reading Month 🙂

Teddy’s Day is FREE today! Based on the bestselling book “What Does My Teddy Bear Do All Day?” by Bruno Hachler, this app was recognized by the Kirkus Review as one of the Top 10 Best Children’s Book iPad apps. It is the story of a little girl who wonders what her teddy bear does all day so she stays home to spy on him – a cute story with lots of great interactivity! You won’t want to miss this one 🙂

Auryn Apps is giving away an interactive book each day in March to support National Reading Month 🙂

The Turtle and the Dove by Don Freeman (author of Corduroy) is FREE today! It is a beautiful story of an unlikely friendship. The friendship develops when a dove is blown out to sea and ends up finding refuge on the back of a turtle. The two become separated in another storm, time passes, and they both go on to have families. Eventually the two are reunited and the families become friends – great story with a great message!!

Like other apps from this developer, the story can be personalized by having your child narrate it – a super option for kids who are learning to become more fluent readers.

FREE today only – Where Do Balloons Go? a story written and narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis. Based on the book of the same title, the app transforms the story into an interactive experience for kids. This app includes a lot of creative play. Kids can created their own movies in the Balloon Theatre, hear a helium version of their voice, create their own balloon animals and much, much more!

Check out this clip for more information: Jamie Lee Curtis: “Auryn HD – Where Do Ballons Go?” highlights & tutorial – YouTube

FREE for a limited time – Trixie and Jinx, a story for kids by New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz. Trixie, the main character of the book, is Dean Koontz’s much-loved golden retriever. In the story, Trixie and Jinx the dachshund are best friends. Jinx goes on vacation with his family and Trixie discovers that no one can take his place. This story is wonderful – the perfect blend of a fun story with a great message about the importance of friendship.

The book can be read in 3 modes: read myself, read to me, or autoplay. Another very unique feature of this e-book is the ability to personalize it. Kids can edit the illustrations (repaint background & character), the narration (record it being read by a parent or a child), and Jinx’s name (add their dog to the story). The app also includes an “extras” section featuring an introduction to Dean Koontz, a tutorial on how to use the app, a photo gallery with pictures of the real-life Trixie, and a link to an organization called Canine Companions which provides assistance dogs for children & adults with disabilities.

This app could be incorporated into a reading unit centering around friendship stories or animal stories. It could also be used as a springboard for all sorts of creative writing – write about your dog, your dog’s best friend, your best friend, etc. There are so many possibilities for using this wonderful app in a classroom. And the most obvious reason to use it …. it’s a fun, GREAT story!

Highly recommended!!