This storybook app for iPhone/iPad normally sells for $1.99 but I was able to download it on a FREE day. Geared towards toddlers, it is a story about a little boy and a tree who willingly gives and shares what he has with his wilderness friends. The Tree I See is a beautifully animated story about sharing and what it means to be a friend 🙂
Keep reading my blog to find out when apps are offered for FREE.
FREE for the iPhone/iPad, Goodnight Safari is a sweet interactive story for bedtime. Kids (ages 2-4) help the animals of the savannah complete their evening activities in 7 different scenes – a giraffe eating dinner, a monkey climbing into bed, a hippo taking a bath, etc. Optional counting & color activities are available as an in-app purchase. Very sweet story for a peaceful end to your child’s day 🙂
Recommended!
I could probably review this app in 5 word: FREE, Disney’s Toy Story, download… It’s a winning combination 🙂
This app is a FREE interactive reading adventure for the iPad created by Disney Pixar. Kids can choose to have the story read to them, explore at their own pace, or record their own narration. The app also has coloring pages, games, singalongs, and video clips. Animations and surprises are found throughout the story. It is a fun interactive book with a positive message about friendship. A must have for fans of Toy Story!
Recommended!
Since this is my 100th review, I wanted to write about an app that I love. Millie and the Lost Key is the second book in the Millie Was Here series for the iPhone/iPad. I was able to download it on a FREE day but it normally sells for $1.99. Millie, the adorable adventure-seeking dog, travels (by cab) to a dark and mysterious island (Central Park) in a quest to find the ultimate treasure – the key to endless bacon. The story was not adapted from an already existing book. The interactivity on every page was built into the story as it was written. There are also hidden stickers throughout the story for kids to collect. The Millie series is now available in 11 languages. Languages can be changed in the setting of your device. This is a great app for preschool and primary-aged kids.
I also loved Millie Was Here (review posted on June 24, 2012) – can’t wait for more adventures of Millie.
Highly Recommended!
From the folks at JibJab comes a FREE app for your iPad that puts your child as the star of his/her own books. JibJab has been around since 1999. During the 2004 presidential election their Flash movie, This Land, featured George Bush and John Kerry singing a parody of the Woodie Guthrie song, This Land is Your Land. It became a huge success, received millions of hits, and was featured on several major news channels. The company has continued to make videos but added a commercial site several years ago where you can find 1000+ Make & Share eCards and 500+ Starring You videos. Their videos are made for adults so you will want to use the app for your kids rather than explore the website.
The kids’ app was updated in January of 2012 and it is very easy to use. Just choose a picture of your child from the photo library, Facebook, or take one with your camera. Place your child’s face in the opening, adjust it to fit the space, and then add his/her name. Make sure you choose the correct gender so that the pronouns are correct. If you have more than one child, you can create books starring each of them. The book has animations on each page. There is not a read along option because your child’s name is inserted in the text. The first book, The Biggest Pizza Ever, is free. After that you may purchase individual books ($7.99) or join the book of the month club ($3.99, but be aware that it automatically renews until you cancel). I have been a fan of JibJab for years so was excited to see them come out with products for kids – fun stuff!!
Learn more here: http://www.jibjab.com/kids
Highly Recommended!
This interactive storybook for the iPhone/iPad has a FREE lite version that you can preview before you decided if you want to purchase the more interactive version for $3.99. In the lite version the menu page and the first page are fully interactive. Purchasing the full version unlocks every page – totaling over 100 interactions. This app tells a cute story about a little green alien’s day in read-along rhyme. The pitch of the narrator’s voice can be changed – which is a fun feature. There is also a record option which allows kids to record themselves reading the book. After recoding, the pitch of their voices can be changed. They can slow their voice way down (making it deeper) or speed it up (making it higher) – both make them sound like aliens. I think kids would LOVE this feature and it would provide quite the incentive to read the book on their own.I can hear the giggles now 🙂
Recommended!
This FREE app for the iPhone/iPad teaches young children about water safety. Stewie, a cute little duck, wants to swim with the bigger ducks but his sister prevents him from doing so until he learns the rules of water safety. This iBook has a read-to-me audio option, a memory game, and a song – all emphasizing how to be safe around the water. Because drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children under 5, there are also tips for parents.
In 1989, Kim and Stew Leonard Jr. lost their 21-month-old son in a drowning accident. They pledged to do whatever they could to prevent this tragedy from affecting other families. In 1990 they founded Stewart Leonard III Children’s Charities to promote water safety awareness. The Foundation has raised over a million dollars to go towards swimming lessons, lifeguard training, and safety awareness/education. Their most recent endeavor was having The Allen Group. Inc. develop this app in loving memory of their son, Stewart Leonard III. It was released on April 4, 2012 which would have been his 25th birthday.
For more information go to www.stewietheduck.com.
Highly recommended with sincere appreciation to Kim & Stew Leonard for helping young children to be safe!
This interactive story for the iPad is FREE this weekend. It is a story written for kids 5+ about a boy and his pet monster. Kids can follow along or read on their own as Harry tries to discover what is wrong with his monster. The artwork is appealing and there are animations on every page. It is a nicely done story with a positive message told by Harry, the boy. Perfect 🙂
Recommended!
This app is FREE to download but requires a subscription for $9.99 per month or $29.99 for 6 months. Once you subscribe, your child will have unlimited access to 150 interactive books and 16 video trips. This app is an updated interactive version of Reading Rainbow, the award-winning children’s television series that encouraged children to read. It was on PBS for 23 years (from 1983 – 2006). The app features the same host – LeVar Burton. After installing the app, kids fill out their profile (name, age, kinds of stories they like to read) and may choose a free book from one of the themed islands in the sky. There are interactive activities in every book and a sticker rewards program that motivates kids to read.
I must admit, I was drawn to this app because of nostalgia. But the appeal of Reading Rainbow today is the same as it was almost 30 years ago – Reading Rainbow provides kids with quality authentic literature. If I had a child or a grandchild (3 – 9 years old), I would subscribe without hesitation 🙂
Highly Recommended!
This app was released for the iPad for Halloween 2011. At that time it was $2.99. It is currently FREE. Kids follow Candy Corn Man on an interactive Halloween adventure. I taught third grade for MANY years and I think this book would be enjoyed by most kids at that level (9 years old). Younger students may be a bit scared by the bugs, bats and/or the monster eyeballs (which turn out to only be meatballs). A few bugs in the program cause some pages to repeat themselves. All in all it’s a cute story and worth downloading, especially for FREE.
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