FREE for a limited time – the full version of Three Little Piggies, an interactive version of a classic tale for your iPhone/iPad. This e-book is brightly illustrated with cute animations and interactivity on every page. Kids tap objects in each scene to interact with the story. They can also bend the iPad from side to side to start the animations. There are three reading modes: autoplay, read to myself, and listen & play. Cute sound effects and professional narration complete the package. And best of all – no characters meet their demise. This version has a happy ending so it is great for little ones. Worth downloading!

Plug & the Paddywhacks for the iPhone/iPad is an interactive storybook series. The app has some unique features such as word bubbles that trigger the narration for each page and scenes that scroll from side to side. The first issue is FREE. Additional issues are available as in-app purchases: $.99 each or $5.99 for the season of 10 issues. Plug (a lovable monster/creature) and the Padddywhacks (his friends) live inside the Plex because they cannot survive outside its walls – or so they have been taught. Issue 01 ends with a mysterious figure breaking Plug and his friends out of the Plex and the adventure begins…

Here is a link to the website that introduces the series: Plug & The Paddywhacks™. Each issue also has original music composed by Denison Witmer and friends. Download issue 01 to see if this series is something that your child might enjoy 🙂

FREE today – Elliot & Rocco for the iPhone/iPad. Elliot, a cute little dachshund, finds a bone but drops it when he is frightened by Rocco, a mean giant schnauzer. But the little dog triumphs after Rocco gets greedy and loses the bone. Cute story – the part of the story about Rocco losing the bone is similar to Aesop’s fable: Dog & the Bone. Teachers can use this book to compare and contrast this story with the fable. The story also has rich vocabulary – good for lessons on adjectives & adverbs, context clues, and synonyms 🙂 The story is available in four languages (German, English, Russian, Spanish). It is professionally narrated with hidden movements and sound effects on every page. Take advantage of this FREE offer!

FREE today a cute, interactive e-book for iPhone/iPad – Flori’s Birthday. Flori, the giraffe, is having a birthday and getting ready to celebrate with her friends. Kids 4+ can interact with this book in several ways: They can help to bake & decorate the birthday cake. They can set the table. They can take pictures of Flori & her friends. They can sing & record a birthday song for Flori. Pictures and songs created within the app can be emailed to family and/or friends. This colorfully illustrated story has a “read alone” or “read-to-me mode” narrated in English or German. I love how the interactivity in this book is an integral part of the story. Kids will enjoy being able to help Flori prepare for her special day 🙂

FREE  for your iPad  – five interactive readers from McGraw Hill. All of these titles usually sell for $1.99. These classic children’s tales can be read in two ways: read aloud or read to myself. All five books are nicely illustrated and have animations/interactivity on each page. Sound effects and music are also included – which can be turned on or off. The stories are all great but I especially liked the Little Red Hen. Download them today  – there is no reason to pass these up 🙂

  Little Red Hen        Jack and the Beanstalk      Why the Sea is Salty

Little Red Riding Hood     Country Mouse/City Mouse

My Monster Mayhem is an interactive e-book for the iPhone/iPad. I downloaded it on a FREE day but it normally sells for $4.99. It is the story of a little girl and all of the monsters in her house (imagination) that prevent her from doing what her mother asks her to do – turn off lights, not waste dental floss, etc. What her mother doesn’t seem to understand is that she is really a hero! Cute story with animation and interactivity found on almost every page – kids pop bubbles from the bathtub, play tug of war with the Broncus Dentus, etc. Kids also collect hidden monsters on almost every page to unlock puzzles at the end of the story. The reality of the monsters is left open for discussion/interpretation which might not be understood by younger kids. I think this book would be great for kids that are a bit older!

Recommended!

FREE for a limited time for the iPad – Off to Bed, an interactive e-book for bedtime. The developers of this app describe it as an interactive lullaby dedicated to all the children and parents of the world. And that it is! The music and narrator’s voice are soothing. Each page is beautifully illustrated with the perfect amount of interactivity – enough to make it interesting but not distracting to the story. The story counts down from 5 as a little boy gets ready for bed and enters the world of dreams. Perfect for toddlers, it is very calming and sweet – with giggling clouds, goodnight kisses from cute little creatures, bleating sheep, etc. The Spanish version of this book (¡A la cama!) was featured by Apple in ‘Rewind 2011’ as one of the 5 best apps in the Books Category in Spanish App Store. A lovely bedtime story – download it today!

Highly recommended!