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The Mermaid’s Shoes

Mermaid's Shoes

Mermaid 2

Another educational app, FREE for a limited time – The Mermaid’s Shoes, an interactive picture book for kids. On the last day of her beach holiday, Ida finds a pair of flippers. When she puts them on, she thinks she is a mermaid. Kids accompany Ida through the city as she searches for the sea. Beautifully illustrated with a gentle background music, the story ends with Ida finding the perfect spot for her to be a mermaid! Kids can create their own underwater scenes at the end of the story. Using the camera or photo library, they can even place themselves into the scene and/or turn themselves into mermaids – a fun start for writing story of their own!!

The Mermaid's Shoes - Sanne te Loo

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The Really Groovy Story of the Tortoise and the Hare

The Really Groovy Story of the Tortoise and the Hare

FREE on July 5 & 6 – The Really Groovy Story of the Tortoise and the Hare, an updated version of the classic fable for 4 – 8 year olds. This fun rendition of the Tortoise and the Hare is set in modern times and told in rhyme. This educational  app has two modes – Read to Me and Read by Myself. The Read to Me mode is professionally narrated. In either mode, kids will enjoy Christina Forshay’s colorful illustrations which fill the pages of this groovy tale. The story also features animations, sound effects, and background music – very nicely put together!

This book would be great to use in a classroom. You could compare and contrast this modern version to the classic tale. The story is also rich with rhyming words. You could use the book full group and identify rhyming twins (look-alike & sound-alike) and rhyming cousins (sound-alike only). Rich in vocabulary, it also makes a great choice for story time! Download it today. 🙂

The Really Groovy Story of the Tortoise and the Hare - BelugaBloo

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Reading Rainbow

Reading Rainbow is a library of over 200 books and videos for kids ages 3 – 9. This educational app is FREE to download but requires a subscription ($9.99 per month or $29.99 for 6 months) for full access. Once you subscribe, your children (up to 5 per family) will have unlimited access to the interactive books and video trips. This app is similar to the award-winning Reading Rainbow television series that was on PBS from 1983 – 2006. It even features the same host – Grammy winner, LeVar Burton. In less than a year, over 2.5 million books/video field trips have been viewed with this app!

After installing the app, kids fill out their profile (name, age, kinds of stories they like to read) and may choose one free book from one of the 6 themed island in the sky. The books are professionally read and feature “Read to Me” or “Read on My Own” options. They are lightly animated and include interactive activities that add to the story. A sticker rewards program motivates kids to read. There is also an individualized tracking system so parents can see books selected and minutes read for each child.

I must admit, I downloaded this app because of nostalgia. My kids grew up watching Reading Rainbow and we all loved it. I am happy to say that 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/ grandchild (ages 3-9) or if I were still in the classroom, I would subscribe without hesitation. What a fabulous resource!

Highly Recommended!

Reading Rainbow - Reading Rainbow

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Ten Giggly Gorillas

Ten Giggly Gorillas

FREE for a limited time – Ten Giggly Gorillas, a cute book to share with 2 – 6 year olds. There are 10 giggly gorillas swinging in the trees. Kids must listen to the story to know which gorilla to tickle under the arm. When tickled, that gorilla giggles until it lose its grip and there is one less gorilla swinging in the tree. The story continues until there is only one gorilla left to tickle. At the end there is a cute surprise! With over 100 interactions plus a hidden toucan on every page, this story is sure to delight your little ones! This educational app also includes a monkey memory game.

Ten Giggly Gorillas story book for children - Wasabi Productions - Wasabi Productions

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My Annoying Little Brother

MY Annoying Little Brother

FREE for a limited time – My Annoying Little Brother, is an interactive book about a girl and her younger sibling. The story was originally published as a printed book. Kids tap on the pages to hear sounds, find hidden animations, read the entire page, or read individual words. The story is told from 2 perspectives – the girl explains why her brother annoys her AND her little brother has a very different explanation of what is going on. The ending is sweet! This educational app would be fabulous for a lesson on point of view!

My Annoying Little Brother - Kid Games Interactive LLC

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100 Diggers and Excavators

The e-book, 100 Diggers & Excavators, is FREE again for a limited time for the iPhone/iPad. This book is easy to use and features over 100 HD pictures of diggers in action with sound clips! There is text on every page describing a digger or excavator, its location, or the job that it is doing. The list in the upper right hand corner can be used to preview/access individual pages in the app. The book does have not to be read in order since it is not telling a story. It is simply describing the machines pictured on each page. Also included is a video clip of a digger in action. If you have a lover of heavy machinery in your life – you may want to check out this educational app. 🙂

100 Diggers and Excavators - Whyse ApS

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Goodnight Moon

Goodnight Moon

On sale for $.99 – Goodnight Moon, the interactive version of an all-time favorite story. Written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd in 1947, Goodnight Moon has sold over 4 million copies and has become one of the most beloved bedtime books of all time. Kids help little bunny say goodnight to all the lovely things in the great green room. This educational app features animations and hidden interactions for kids to discover. 🙂

Goodnight Moon - Loud Crow Interactive Inc.

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Look Out Larry & Lost Larry

Look Out Larry

FREE for a limited time – 2 interactive books from Wasabi: Look Out Larry & Lost Larry. Larry is an adorable green lizard and the main character in these two adventures for 2 – 6 year olds.

In Look Out Larry, kids help Larry stay safe and find a cozy place to sleep by helping to protect him from the dangers of the Australian bush – a spider, a snake, a brush fire, etc. At the end, there is an alternative version of the story called Larry’s Dream. Larry dreams of defending himself against the dangers of the bush in some cute & clever ways. This educational app also includes a matching game.

In Lost Larry, kids help Larry find his way home across rivers, over canyons, over a rickety bridge, etc. This is Larry’s third and most ambitious adventure! Kids will love helping Larry make it home. They pet his little green head to put him to sleep once he gets there! Cute!!

Look Out Larry! animated story book - Wasabi Productions - Wasabi Productions   Look Out Larry          Lost Larry interactive story book - Wasabi Productions - Wasabi Productions   Lost Larry

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Color Uncovered & Sound Uncovered

Color Uncovered

Sound Uncovered

Two FABULOUS & FREE educational apps from the Exploratorium!! Both interactive books contain illusions, articles, and videos. These apps make science fun by answering questions like – What color is a whisper? Are there secret messages in music played backward? Kids will love the illusions and you won’t believe these apps are FREE! Very interesting –  for kids AND their parents/teachers.

Color Uncovered   Color Uncovered - Exploratorium          Sound Uncovered   Sound Uncovered - Exploratorium

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Walter’s Flying Bus

Walter's Flying Bus

This book was FREE for a limited time. It is now regular price – $6.99. Walter’s Flying Bus (an educational app) is a story inspired by the real-life dreams of Walter and his friends who are orphaned, special needs children in Uganda. This e-book is inspirational – a celebration of the talents & beauty of every child. It is narrated in English, Spanish and Luganda (a primary language of Uganda). The app also includes mini-documentaries of the real-life children featured in the book. According to the developer  – “ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of after-tax profits from App sales go to efforts helping orphans with special needs, including advocacy, care, and adoption assistance grants.”

Walter's Flying Bus - Chosen and Dearly Loved, LLC