Category: Language »

The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins is the second children’s book written by Dr. Seuss, first published in 1938. Now to celebrate the 75th anniversary of this app, this story has been adapted into a universal app by Oceanhouse Media.

Although this title may be less known, I think it is an important story to make note of as this is a tale written in prose instead of the heavy rhyming that Dr. Seuss is known for.

I honestly did not enjoy the typical Seussian style of writing as most kids did, as I viewed books that rhymed much the same as how I viewed musicals - that of style getting in the way of the storytelling.

Because of this, I am very happy that The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, along with other titles such as Yertle the Turtle, Gertrude McFuzz, or The Big Brag, - stories heavy with narrative - have been turned into applications as well.

Meet Bartholomew Cubbins, a farmer boy who while taking a trip to the market has an unfortunate run-in with the King of Didd who demands that Bartholomew take off his hat as a sign of respect. The child complies, but an odd thing happens. Once his hat is removed, a new hat re-appears over and over again much to the dismay of the king, who brings the boy to his castle and tries everything one can think of to remove the hat from Cubbins - from consults with a tailor to magicians and even threats of violence.

Nothing helps until 500 hats have been removed, with the last few changing into wonderfully ornamented hats that the king becomes smitten with, offering to buy them for a handsome price as this story, rich with tangents, ends on a happy note.

As is typical with Dr. Seuss adaptations by Oceanhouse Media, this app can be read by oneself or listened with to grand narration, here spoken by my favorite voice actor, John Bell, who does a stand-out job adding different voices to each character met, bringing a richness to this story that makes this app and others like it so very enjoyable for me to listen to.

Another new option to users is the ability to create their own narrations that can in turn be added to other devices or shared with friends and family who also have access to this application.

Options also include the ability to be able to turn off the wonderful ambient sound effects or word highlighting.

One will notice how the illustrations, although obviously drawn by Dr. Seuss, are interestingly stark compared to his other works, using only black and white with red highlighting for the hats that are seen throughout these pages - an interesting choice.

Do tap on the characters and objects found within this story as they are nicely labeled with both narration and text yet never speaking over the narration - a detail I am fond of.

Written many decades ago, I think this story stands up quite well, yet there are a few moments where parents may raise an eyebrow. I doubt whether the threat of beheading would be taken literally by most children as these scenes are also filled with a sense of whimsy, keeping the threats fantasy-related.

I don’t really worry about my son being exposed to the idea of this child having his head cut off, as my son has been exposed to this kind of imaginative violence through Grimms Fairytales and he is no worse for wear, but later in this story there is another boy who wants very much to push the main character to his death - a threat that bothered me more than the beheading, as well as a reference to an actual spanking of the other boy in this tale - an issue I have had with other books including those from my childhood which I thought were safe until re-reading them as an adult.

Parents themselves will need to decide if they are comfortable with these elements for their families.

I am grateful to Oceanhouse Media that by developing this story into an application, this tale may be enjoyed by children who may not have been otherwise exposed to this Dr. Seuss story. I look forward to reading more about the King of Didd and Bartholomew in Bartholomew and the Oobleck - another children's book adapted to application, available in the future.

I would also like to let readers know that through March 7th, Oceanhouse Media is celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March 2, with a sale on Dr. Seuss apps through March 7th - a great time to add these classic titles to one’s library of storybook applications. They are all worth purchasing.

Just Going to the Dentist - Little Critter is an adaptation of the title of the same name - part of the Little Critter series of storybooks now available in application form.

As the name may imply, this is the story of the Little Critter’s trip to the dentist. In this world, Little Critter is an anthropomorphic animal - a little boy who has been found to be relatable to by children for many years.

While reading about this trip to the dentist, I enjoy how some of this visit mirrors the experience my son has had while going to the dentist as well, such as the waiting room filled with toys and books, making my son desire to go to his bi-yearly appointment.

I am also glad to see Little Critter go back to the exam room to have his checkup on his own - something my son is now expected to do, which at first was stressful for both him and for myself.

Adults may note how some of the details included, such as the use of a spit sink or the archaic-looking x-ray machine might seem dated by many of today's standards, but this is by far an adult concern and I am happy that Little Critter is wearing a protective apron before the image is taken.

It is important to mention that in this story, a cavity is found on the x-ray, which needs to be filled. A syringe is seen right before Little Critter is being numbed for the drilling that can be heard faintly as an ambient sound.

Parents may have mixed feelings about this detail of the app, some believing that cavities and needles may be too scary for children in preparation for their first visit. Others, especially those with a history of cavities in older siblings or other family members, may feel the need to bring up the topic of cavities as Little Critter is a champ through this process - a good role model who does not fuss during the procedure, yet discusses the odd sensation of numbness - possibly helping children to be aware yet not afraid.

I do think that telling Little Critter that he will not feel anything during this procedure is a bit disingenuous as the needle is felt even if the drilling is not. Therefore, I do wish that the poke was mentioned if this book feels the need to include the filling of a cavity. This explanation, however, may make for wordiness in a way that these titles are not known for.

Personally, I could do without the lollypop offered after the filing - even if it is labeled “sugar-free,” but this is a book worth discussing because parents, I am sure, may want a book which brings up the topic of dentists and even cavities to prepare their children.

Like other books developed by Oceanhouse Media, Just Going to the Dentist includes narration, a mode allowing one to read this book by oneself, as well as Auto play, allowing one to enjoy this book being read by the delightful child voice actor as with the pages turn automatically in Auto Play.

Do tap on the illustrations as object are labeled with narration and text, adding more details to what can be found in an dentists office, such as x-rays or a light box, but I did wish this app would go into even further details instead of labeling many items as just "dentist equipment"

New to this app is the ability to record one’s own voice, download this recording onto any device, as well as sharing personal narrations with others who have access to this app as well.

The text is also highlighted when read - always a nice touch, as is the ability to tap a word to hear it spoken individually.

As is the case of the other Little Critter apps, one can find Spiders and Frogs hidden among these pages, seen as well in the original printed versions that now are included as a simple and sweet added hidden picture mini-game. These original illustrations are also shown with zooming and panning of these pages to draw the reader's eye.

Although this story may not suit the needs of all families who are looking for a story about visiting the dentist, other parents may appreciate how Little Critter handled himself during this visit as a way to prepare their children.

Futaba Classroom Games For Kids is a unique game app for children, educational as well as fun.

This app, a digital quiz game for both multi - as well as single players, really stands out because an adult can program the questions children answer to a wide age range of abilities from preschool age through the 10th grade as well as easy, medium or hard questions for these grades.

Up to four players can gather around the iPad which shows a question center screen, slowly revolving so all players have a chance to see and then answer the question with a tap from one of three possible choices at the bottom of their place at the screen.

A practice mode is also available that allows one player to use this app by himself.

The look of this app is quite nice, clean and sophisticated with a natural wood look to the background of this application as well as very nice music included to listen to - both relaxing as well as adding a bit of suspense to these games.

Also nicely styled are the questions which are included within a circle. With each correct answer, an area of this circle is highlighted until ten questions are answered correctly and a “Futaba” is earned - a citrus fruit that is a consistent theme in this educational app.

From animal recognition to the Table of Elements, different shapes to counting money and even learning about languages different from English, this app covers a vast array of questions that can be included.

It took me some time to understand how to create my own games using the filters provided, and I personally think it is easier to choose from all the subjects available instead of trying to filter these choices by grade or difficulty, as after going down the extensive list, I can simply check off the questions I would like included - down to the specific questions, and not just what themes to focus on.

I admire how multiple games can be created to allow children of different abilities to play this app at different times, making it a great choice for school settings as well as use in the home, especially for families with children of different ages and subjects to focus on.

Be it alone or with others, I can see children of all ages as well as adults enjoying these quizzes a great deal. I also appreciate how the plethora of questions for children from preschool into high school allows this app to grow with children, as well as to be a great teaching tool for the classroom as well.

Word Grab Phonetics is a delightful early phonics app for toddlers and preschool-aged children from the developers at Bellamon, known for their wonderfully stylized educational apps.

This app contains two section, ABC Words and Rhyme Time, each revolving around a friendly white abominable snowman-like monster who lives at the bottom of the screen.

In ABC Words, the monster holds an image of an object in question, such as a picture of a train, ice or van. Then look center screen to choose the letter that corresponds to the picture word, and then the picture word is used in a sentence.

Rhyme Time is similar, but instead of the use of single letters, one is looking to find the first letter of a short word, as the last letters are offered, along with a shaded hint of the letter one is looking for.

I find it charming that there are so many different ways of delivering the letter choices found center screen, such as floating through space, found on a moving train, being held up by prairie dogs, or found in birds' nests as letter eggs, which are now being warmed by a variety of birds.

It is also cute and fun how after three words are complete, players are given the treat of interacting with a fun, animated scene involving the monster and a treat that he pulls out of his hat as well as seeing how this monster feeds himself the correct letter choices.

I do love all of the artful touches found in Bellamon apps, as here textures are used throughout along with paper art-inspired objects or animals that here move around the screen to add richness to this colorful phonics application. Also included is appealing music that parents will not mind listening to as they explore letters with their children.

Word Grab Phonics contains a nice selection of options one will find in the setting section of their device including whether or not to include things like letter case choices, word order, or word difficulty such as simple words, blending constants or the use of a silent E, as well as all the different letter variations available - great for families or teachers who want to just focus on a few letters at a time.

I am happy to have found an app that can be made more advanced for children truly on the verge of reading, as the most basic phonics sounds have already been mastered by my five year old, yet it is mainly the beginner sounds that are the focus of most apps like this.

It would be nice, however, to include an image of the word one is trying to complete in the Rhyme Time section as well as to be able to tap the last letters of the word one is trying to finish to hear these sounds if needed as well. Without access to these types of hints is too easy to just copy the shaded letter hint that one is looking for instead of focusing on the word one is trying to complete.

It also would be appreciated if I could turn off the celebratory cheering of children after every word game is complete as this sound becomes grating very quickly. It is possible to fully turn off the sound effects to this app, but I adore the monster noises and other sounds found in the app and don’t want to mute them, so it would be great if there were a separate option to silence the cheering which I can personally do without.

Even with these notes, I am happy point out how quickly my son took to Word Grab Phonics, making this a great application for toddlers through preschool-aged children.

Snow Queen by the developers at Timecode is a very nice adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen story of the same name - a lengthy tale traditionally told over seven stories.

I am impressed by how this app also is broken into seven stories to create a thorough version of this classic story - nice to see as many times the Snow Queen is abridged, and oftentimes without the back story of how the magic mirror, which makes all things beautiful look ugly, is produced here by a goblin. It is this mirror, when broken, also negatively affects the people who get imbedded by these shards, making them see and feel as though everything around them is ugly as well.

This is a favorite story of mine as a child, as the idea of being manipulated this way by parts of a broken mirror affected me a great deal, and I am glad to have access to a version that is not shortened or watered down for children, as this version can also be enjoyed by adults, including Andersen fans who have certain expectations from adaptations of his work.

Effective narration is included which I have enjoyed listening to. Although the text is read a little quickly, I don’t believe that this narration is hard to understand or to follow as the sentences are highlighted - a nice touch that differs from the word-for-word highlighting that some books include.

Illustrations are also included - hand-painted and lush with details. It is worth noting that although a smaller illustration is included on the top of each page of text, a beautiful, full page illustration is found after ever page or two, making this not primarily a picture book but a very nice version of this story for an older child who can sit and listen for a good length of time.

Interactions are activites also included adding some fun yet minimal sounds and animations to the illustrations. I appreciate how a hint button is included showing where to tap to find hotspots or how to interact in different ways that children will enjoy, but are not the main selling point of this application.

Parents of older grade school children will be happy to introduce the Show Queen via this application, be it listening to the narration, reading this book out loud themselves, or by children reading this tale to themselves.

I do wish, however, that a table of contents were available in case a family does not have time to complete all seven stories, and it is unfortunate that if this app is closed, the space where readers left off is not saved. Because of this, it is good to know that this app, if left running on the iPad, will open to the page currently being read.

Although I recommend this app now as very nice storytelling, complete with beautiful artwork and lovely background music, being able to bookmark a page as well as a table of contents would be worthwhile inclusions for a future update.

The Adventures of Captain Underpants is a very nice adaptation of the book of the same name - a popular choice among grade school children.

I can remember learning how to read in school, mainly how bored I was by the early reader titles that were made available. Although not specifically “Dick and Jane,” the stories I remember were so simplistic, uninteresting and genteel that they were on the verge of being condescending, without any humor or action to keep me engaged.

Because of this, I am always on the look out for beginner books that will keep my son interested when he begins to read books longer than sparsely worded picture books.

For this reason, I have been eager to share The Adventure of Captain Underpants with him for quite some time as I bought many of these books used from this series from our local library when he was a baby.

The Adventures of Captain Underpants is a cheeky story about two friends who love to pull pranks at school as well as writing comic books, especially The Adventures of Captain Underpants, about a super hero who actually flies around in his underwear.

Things become complicated for the boys when they are caught pulling pranks at their school by their principal, who blackmails them until they are able to hypnotize their principal, yet things take a turn for the worse as the principal takes on the persona of Captain Underpants.

There is a lot that I appreciate about the digitization of this book, as here the story is told in full color instead of the black and white used in my copy of the paperback edition. Even with the color added to these illustrations, the images and text remain the same. Yet very good narration is included which I enjoy a great deal.

The words are not highlighted when read which I find acceptable as most children ready for this story should be able to read along with the text without highlighting assistance.

What I especially like about the narration provided is that different voices are used when dialogue is spoken, breaking up the page a bit to keep kids interested, as well as the slight but effective use of ambient sounds found among these pages. The narration can also be turned off if parents would like to read this book to their children or children to themselves.

Comic Pages are also included that can be enlarged for easier reading, yet are included without narration - good to know if parents want their non-readers to enjoy this book by themselves as they will need help deciphering these panels.

I am grateful that this app does not contain any hotspots to interact with that would become distracting, but there are fun moments where the details from each page move across the screen as the pages are turned for a very nice effect.

I am also happy that this app does save the page one was reading last as well as allowing one to search by chapter to find the menu of pages that one would will then use to find a specific page as a reference.

I also really love how the flip-o-rama pages are included, maintaining the low-tech look from the publisher's copy originally allowing children to flip back and forth between pages to make a cute but crude animated flip book.

My only note is about the included mini-games found both within the story and the ability to select these games from the main page of this app as they are simple and mainly arcade-styled shooting where one tips the iPad to move one’s character while shooting at targets - much like Space Invaders.

It would have been nice if these games were a little less sophomoric - an almost hypocritical request as a fan of The Adventures of Captain Underpants, but I would have appreciated games based more on logic or memory that will in some way serve children. As is, my only hesitation is that my son, if given the iPad to read this book by himself with the aid of narration, may spend his time playing these games intently - not a great use of screen time.

Luckily, there is an avatar maker and a variation on a sound board that allows children to mix different sounds found in this book - both exercises that allow children to be a little creative. Yet it unclear how the advanced functions of the sounds section work as well as the locked content - presumably for this game but I am not really sure.

As a child, I remember being able to borrow albums of books being read out loud that were not abridged in any way such as Alice in Wonderland, and this was the catalyst for me to read books of length on my own.

I enjoy being able to use this app to bridge the gap from my son listening to shorter storybooks on the iPad to a longer chapter book that we can both listen to and enjoy. I hope this app will pique his interest in reading the other books from this series as well.

Although The Adventures of Captain Underpants is not great literature, I don’t think it has to be as long as the book is fun and encourages an interest in reading.

I do think some children could feel overwhelmed by the length of the paperback, while a short read for adults and first chapter book can seem overwhelming to reluctant readers - not an issue with an application.

Some adults may not be fond of the potty and even poop humor found throughout this story making this an application that is not suitable for all families. I do appreciate this story not only for its silly humor but for its dramatic structure of including a cohesive beginning, middle and end, as well as the friendship between these boys, one caucasian and one non-caucasian and their love of writing comic books - a hobby I would be proud for my son to share.

For these reasons I am glad that The Adventures of Captain Underpants has been adapted into an app for iPad. I hope more popular chapter books will be developed as well, both by Scholastic as well as other publishers.

Alphabet is a charming and surprisingly sophisticated letters app for iPad that teaches words in a wonderfully unique way for a letters app.

From the opening of this application, it is easy to tell that it is something special with the cast of colorful and creative monster characters parading across the screen, playing different instruments in ways that are quite captivating.

The app store is filled with many apps of this genre, with each of the 26 letters from the alphabet represented by a corresponding word and often including a short animated clip to further the understanding of both the letter and the word.

The same can be said for Endless Alphabet, yet this app truly stands out in a sea of others with a wonderful sense of style and polish, with delightful monsters pantomiming each word after a short letter puzzle is completed, as the letters needed to make up each word need to be dragged and dropped back into their rightful places.

I love how one selects a word in Endless Alphabet as the menu of pages is found within the large, wide mouth of a blue monster. Scroll left or right to select a word, or tap the letter of interest, which is also available on this page.

The words here are intriguing as well. Instead of the typical “Apple” or “Queen,” words like “Alarm” or “Quarrel” are chosen to be represented, as well as “Bellow,” “Cooperate,” “Gargantuan,” “Nosy,” or “Odor,” giving children a chance to learn some large, expressive words that will serve them well as they get older.

I really enjoy the quality of music found within, and it always makes me smile to see the group of monsters rush past the word in question, knocking the letters out of place in order for users to put the letters back into place.

Also of note are the phonic sounds the individual letters make as they are tapped or dragged, truly bringing them to life in a very delightful and with half a nod towards the subversive in a way that I greatly appreciate.

The animated clips are genius in both their wit and whimsy as well as creative and a bit cheeky, as one monster representing “Itchy” feels the need to shave himself bare or a purple monster who licks the word “”lick” and to his surprise, is licked back.

The narration included which explains each word is great as well - clear and conversational - doing a marvelous job of explaining these words that young children or those whose English is a second language will learn from.

It is a nice touch that a word button is included so the definition can be heard more than once, but I wish the animation could be re-played as well because children are sure to want to re-watch their favorite word animations more than once.

I also believe that the phonic sounds created by the letters when tapped can have an issue of style over substance as these phonic sounds spoken can come across as language-neutral utterances to anthropomorphize these letters instead of articulate letter sounds to learn from and emulate.

Words with spoken silent “E’s” are included so the words are not a sum of the sounds that these letters make, leading to confusion. Other times it can be unclear exactly which letter sound the character is trying to convey as some of them, like “R” and “T,” are saying their letter name and then the phonic sound they make, to the point that my five year old son who has begun taking his reading and phonic sounds very seriously has asked me to turn off these letter sounds as he finds them annoying and distracting, unfortunately not possible within this app.

Although the concerns about the use of correct phonic sounds are concerning, I do not consider these issues fatal flaws with such wonderful animated clips dedicated to such strong vocabulary words.

My son likes this app as well and enjoys spending time with this app although it would be nice if I could have the option to have the letters simply say their name instead of struggling with the less-than-perfect phonic sounds - not possible at this time as there is no option to alter or silence the phonic sounds offered.

As this is an “Endless Alphabet,” I wish I had more information about how more words are to be included in this app, which I can only presume will be part of free updates, but this remains to be seen.

Although this app will not be considered the most useful app to explain true phonic sounds, Endless Alphabet will be an alphabet word app that will entertain adults and help children learn the basic letter names as well as advanced words to use in their everyday life, and for this reason it is easy for me to recommend as long as parents understand just what to expect from this bright, colorful application.

McElligot’s Pool is an early Dr. Seuss tale about the vivid imagination of a boy who fantasizes about the fish he may find in a polluted body of water said to be too dirty to support fishing.

Published in 1947, the style found in this book is a little different from the expected pen and ink used in other stories, instead using what to me looks like colored pencils or possibly water colors creating a softer look that I find interesting compared to the sharp lines I am used to in these storybooks.

The zooming and panning of these illustrations are included, typical of the adapted apps developed by Oceanhouse Media to draw the eye to different sections of the pages for visual interest, yet the softness of these images leads to what can momentarily look like resolution issues, as these pictures lack a crisp edge that leads to easy enlarging. Luckily, these moments go back fast and will not register for most children.

I do like a great deal, however, how the black and white illustrations also found in the book look on the backlit screen of the iPad and iPhone.

John Bell, my favorite narrator, is back - much to my delight. I love his narrations, always bringing life to the books he is a part of, especially here bringing so much wonderment as the boy in this story first describes how this pool could possibly be connected to a larger body of water, a possible source in which fish could live. The cadence is perfect as a boy with a vivid imagination speaking on his feet, stretching a story farther and farther the way my son, who also has a vast imagination, might.

This story contains parts with a fair amount of repetition and lacks the Dr. Seussian whimsical words which can actually make Dr. Seuss books hard to read for some, making this story a great early read for the intermediate reader who is up for a lengthy yet simple to read story. It is also quite helpful that if one chooses to silence the narration, words can still be heard with a tap, always nice for children who may feel stuck on certain words.

Also available is the chance to turn off the fun ambient sound effects which I personally always enjoy a great deal as well as the ability to tap objects in the pages to hear and see these words displayed.

New to these apps is the ability to share personal narrations between those who each own this application.

McElligot’s Pool is a Seuss story which may be less known than some of his other titles but is worth checking out. I look forward to see what other Seuss titles are to be adapted into applications in the future as well.

StoryBox 2 is a second installment of the digital magazine StoryBox, based on the award winning children’s magazine of the same name and based in the UK.

Because my son has begun to enjoy published children’s magazines at this point, I am always interested in reviewing their digital equivalents.

StoryBox 2 consists of five different sections: a short story as well as two non-fiction sections, an area of games and activities and a second chapter to Polo - a serial cartoon without words.

I do enjoy the Storytime selection, A Night At School, about anthropomorphic animals spending the night at school to avoid a wolf who had been spotted near by, as this story includes an appropriate amount of suspense relatable to my son who I am sure would have a range of emotions regarding the idea of spending the night at school.

There is a very nice moment when the animal children meet the wolf for the first time, realizing that this animal is old and means them no harm - a moment that I think children will keep with them for some time.

Based in the UK, the narrator, to an American ear, has an accent as well as speaks a little quickly but should not be too much of a problem for children to listen to. It is also worth noting that one can record one's own narration - always a good option to have.

I was also quite impressed with the information explained in the Wonder with the Wizkid area of this app, as children learn alongside a curious alien child, allowing children to tap this character’s speech bubbles as Wizkid asks all kinds of questions - here about why humans have five fingers.

I especially like how more in depth the information gets as children then turn the page, tapping to read and hear more about this subject, comparing human hands to those of other animals such as cats, monkeys or fish.

This section also includes some Fun Facts about evolution, and I admire how it is explained that although scientists don’t know why exactly humans have five fingers, there is much that we do know about the subject. I want my son to begin to understand that for some questions, there are no good answers, and that this can nevertheless be ok.

Animal World is another very nice non-fiction section that discusses the world of stags, adult male deer.

There is a lot of information for children to absorb both by reading as well as listening, and I learned some interesting facts about these animals here as well. The illustrations included are wonderful, highly detailed and attractive, but it would have also been nice to see some actual stag photos.

Pull-up window tabs are also included that cover such information as where do stags live, what do they eat and what size do they grow to, but I wish more information were included than “They are a lot bigger than you” to describe the rough drawing of the scale between a child and stag, which could have been more fully explored.

Fun and Games is an interactive area of this app that contains traditional activities such as a Dot-to-Dot, coloring or spot-the-difference pages. My favorite pages from this section involve the tapping to count different vegetables during snack time and a puzzle exercise where one drags puzzle elements which fit into the image of the larger page consisting of a maze that is then completed with the drag of a finger. I do wish an eraser were offered as a tool to aid children as they complete the dot-to-dot and maze activity, and it would also be great if one could tap for hints or simply see the completed Find the Difference page as children may not complete this section without help.

Polo is the serial comic of StoryBox. Without words, this story is dreamlike, picking up from the end of the first chapter where Polo, a dog character, travels up into space from his bedroom window. This adventure continues into a new venue promised for the next installment. I do love the gentle storytelling of Polo, but I do wish each chapter were a little longer as I simply would love more.

Do note that one can tap these comic book-inspired panels, enlarging them to full screen as one wishes as well as recording one’s own stories based on what is seen. Although I don’t often make my own recordings when narration is included, I see great benefit to being able to have children record their own stories - here told without words and wonderful for their creativity. This music included here is also perfectly relaxing, making this section especially desirable at bedtime.

Although I don’t think that a few of the activities such as a single coloring or Dot-To-Dot pages are what make this app stand out from others in iTunes, I truly enjoyed learning about the topics of human hands and stags as well as the other included stories, making this an easy application to recommend.

This is the second in a series of StoryBox applications. If interested, please read my first StoryBox review on GiggleApps as well.

Rounds: Parker Penguin is a delightful universal app that nicely blends elements of Life Sciences into the story of penguin life in Antarctica, the second in a series of Rounds apps from Nosy Crow.

Rounds: Parker Penguin wonderfully captures the life cycle of these creatures from birth to procreation, depicting three generations of offspring.

There are two basic ways of exploring Rounds: Parker Penguin. In Read and Play, follow along with highlighted text as one listens to narration. Tap the screen to interact with surroundings, especially looking for blue dots used to highlight interactive hotspots, also keeping in mind that Parker and other characters may also speak if touched.

In Read to Myself, the use of sound effects and music are still included, but the text is silenced allowing children to read to themselves, including the added dialogue of the penguins, now seen only as speech bubbles.

I really appreciate all the polish that has been included within the Rounds apps, as the interactions bring not only richness to this story but their actions often propel the narrative and are never random or distracting in any way and sometimes going beyond a tap or drag to create wonderful moments which add important facts or details to this application.

The palette used of blue, white and shades of grey captures Antarctica beautifully, as do the stylized illustrations with a heavy use of circles and half circles that I have come to expect from the Rounds series.

I admire the slow pacing of this app, as children will need to take their time allowing moments to unfold, tapping characters more than once to hear extra penguin facts. The included musical score, sound effects and whale sounds found within the ocean all work together to create a thoroughly relaxing experience children and adults will enjoy a great deal.

Although one can turn the pages at any time, this function is asleep and needs to be tapped twice to forward the pages before everything has been explored within, then becoming black and bouncing, letting readers know it is safe to turn the page - an inclusion I greatly appreciate.

As gentle as this app is, children will also have a lot of fun with the speed Parker can slide or swim, yet maintaining the serene environment - an element that has mild arcade elements while sustaining a relaxing tone. Likewise, I enjoy helping Parker feed, as he swims after little fish yet avoids larger fish who may also be hungry, nicely touching upon predator and prey in a way that is sensitive and age-appropriate.

As this app progresses, Parker grows into an adult and goes on a march looking for a mate. I love the music and dance used to express the mating ritual of these animals as well as the egg passing made famous by the movie March of the Penguins.

When it is time, help the egg hatch with a tap, learning about baby penguins along the way as this new penguin grows into adulthood as well, mating and becoming a father himself.

Three generations of penguins are included with different names but same life experiences as this app cycles over to great effect. I do wish, however, that parents had a choice to end the app after three generations if they choose to in order to create an endpoint often found helpful in reining in their children, especially at bedtime.

Even with this mild note, Rounds: Parker Penguin will be a wonderful addition to any digital library. The writing is thoughtful and is quite conversational, delivering facts about penguins that will stay with children for a long time.

I have also greatly enjoyed the first app in this series Rounds: Franklin Frog. I hope to see more of these apps in the future as they are top-notch in every way and are screen time that adults can feel good about.

I simply adore Martha Speaks Story Maker, an app for iPhone based on the hit PBS show and previously published storybook, Martha Speaks, about a talking dog – an educational show which teaches synonyms and new vocabulary to children.

I am a big fan of this PBS show because I think it is an effective and ingenious way of improving children’s vocabulary, as this show is liberally peppered with sophisticated words using both the context of the story as well as Martha explaining these words in ways most conversational.

Martha Speaks Story Maker opens with a series of questions for the players about the story they would like to create - be it characters, locations or items of interest to be used in their own unique and fun adventures. These choices are then used in a cute and creative story and there are enough variables to choose from that each story can easily be different from the last and can be stored in this app's library to be enjoyed in the future.

I also really appreciate the inclusion of traditional pop-up book taps that one can pull to see animations stylized as traditional pop-up book movements that I find utterly cute and charming.

Another section of this app is the Word Bone Zone where children are tested on the words that they have just learned by asking them to choose the correct synonyms, further emphasizing the new vocabulary that have been learned.

If needed, tap on Martha to hear the question again, but I wish the two possible word answers were also read out loud again for children who can comprehend these larger words yet may not be able to read them.

Even with this minor note, I really enjoy the time I spend with this app. The choices that are made by children fit seamlessly into this app to create really cute and funny stories that children can feel proud about constructing.

I can think of few better ways to introduce new vocabulary words to children, thus possibly making this app useful for English as a second language as well as an app for children with special needs who could benefit from learning new vocabulary as well.

This is the third app based on Martha Speaks for either iPad or iPhone. My family enjoyed each of them, and I have had the pleasure of reviewing the two most recent apps. If interested, please search for my review of Martha Speaks Word Spinner here at GiggleApps as well.

I hope that more wonderful apps based on this terrific show are developed. I have come to realize that an app based on a favorite TV show or magazine does not guarantee a great application, but after experiencing the other Martha Speaks apps that have become available, I will be very eager to explore any new Martha Speaks apps that may be released in the future.

The Legend of Momotaro is a beautifully crafted storybook application for iPad that will be enjoyed by the entire family.

Based on the traditional Japanese legend of the same name, this is the tale of an older, childless couple who is blessed with a son found inside a peach that had once been floating in the river that the woman was washing clothing it. The boy grew and, together with help from others, defeats ogres on a distant island.

The artwork seen in this app as one scrolls to the right is of the highest quality possible and includes stunning details of landscapes because the look of traditional Japanese artwork is incorporated within.

One has the ability to read the included text or listen to narration, but the function is slightly different from typical apps as a flower petal needs to be tapped next to the text found on the page to trigger narration.

I have few notes about this app, but I do find the font of the text used to be a little small. This is not really a huge issue as I think that this is a story best listened to, allowing one to gaze at the stellar artwork which slowly changes as if by magic as it includes mild yet utterly effective animated moments which gently pantomime the story being told.

Other slight details include the leaves of trees moving slightly in the wind or other faint elements that, combined with the relaxing included ambient sounds, create even more richness to this exquisite app.

Even though this app includes art that to me, is reminiscent of the art of Utagawa Hiroshige, I also smile at the use of subtle dimension in the distance of these landscapes as the moving of the iPad slightly will change the vantage point of the reader, adding a nice depth that I admire combined with the traditionally styled art.

I honestly tire sometimes of other Hollywood children's animated features where the hero meets pleasant animal companions and they all go off to some great adventure. Here, Momotaro also meet animals along the way, but in a manner that maintains the integrity of an ancient tale, as there can be internal tension within this group that all can relate to.

It is not uncommon to be able to tap an object on the screen to see it labeled in some way in many storybook applications. This is also true within The Legend of Momotaro, but there is an elegance to how more information is offered.

Here, after tapping most objects, a flower will appear. Tap again or enlarge with fingers and a window will open up which will offer more information about the item in Japanese, including the word in English such as “cherry tree” and its English transliteration. It also includes both Sakura and Kanji characters that represent this word as well as how it is relevant either culturally or within the story.

I am always a fan of some sort of a guide to the interactive elements an app may possess. Because of this, I am also happy that one can tap the corresponding Kanji characters at the bottom of the screen which can be tapped to see a twinkle of a star somewhere on the page to highlight the related hotspot. Also note that one can shake the iPad as well to see all the hotspots highlighted at once - also a nice touch.

The narration works well within this app. Although presumably not a native speaker and talking with an accent to an American ear, the woman telling the story is not difficult to understand and exactly who I would expect to tell such a traditional tale.

I can’t say enough about this application, as I admire the great amount of work that has been put into this app. The story is both relaxing as well as suspenseful and full of action, making it a great bedtime story for kids of all ages, as the sophistication allows for older children and adults to enjoy this app as much as preschoolers.

Thanks to this application, children who otherwise may not have been exposed to this Japanese legend now have the chance to know about the character of Momotaro as well as Japanese language and culture.

Paddington Bear is the digital adaptation of the celebrated children’s classic A Bear Called Paddington.

This app is a very nice introduction to Paddington, complete with wonderful narration and lovely modern drawings to represent this story - an abridged version of the original presumably due to time constraints, yet still containing much of the slapstick humor found in the original story.

It is worth noting that this application includes with what was the first two chapters of the book, where Paddington Bear meets his new British family and goes home with them, flooding their house from his first time using the bathtub and then falling a sleep in a chair, exhausted, leaving out the other adventures from this chapter of the book.

Interactions are included and highlighted with a subtle twinkle as well as gentle musical sounds heard when one touches the page and contain simple pantomime of the story being told. Early on, however, other hot spots are included at the train station to show the hustle and bustle, originally included in the story with written details not included in this version - interactions that I honestly found to be distracting, although they demonstrate the energy of a busy train station nicely and only last a brief time.

I do appreciate the ability to view the text of this story or not, with the ability to pull out windows that include the story written, as well as being able to simply listen to this tale without reading as well.

I also wonder if this bear coming from “Darkest Peru” will not raise an eyebrow with some parents as being culturally insensitive, but probably not as issue for most families.

This new, shorter version of Paddington Bear may not stand up well to the memories of these stories to a true purist, but casual fans and children new to Paddington will enjoy meeting this bear and the humor found within this app.

I do hope more Paddington Bear adventures are included in future digital adaptations as this application does contain a lot of polish and also includes a section allowing one to take photos with Paddington and a short biography of the author. There are more stories to tell about this bear and by application would be a nice way of bringing Paddington to life.

My Beastly ABC’s is a great new app for iPad that will be of interest to children of various ages.

An ABC app, My Beastly ABC’s tells the story about a boy who one day meets different beasts or monsters from A to Z.

Parents can attest to how many ABC apps are available through iTunes, and because a good deal of time will be spent learning letters, it behooves parents to find alphabet apps that will entertain themselves as well.

I really appreciate not only the colorful look of this app, complete with wonderful illustrations and mild animated moments containing both a vintage sense of style as well as a modern look and feel, but also the pitch-perfect use of suspenseful, jazzy music and perfectly realized narration by celebrated voice-over artist Jim Dale as well.

The choices of monsters used are also terrific, and I appreciate a great deal the global aspect of this app, as creatures from all cultures from the chupacabra to Quetzalcoatl are chosen to be represented.

The illustrations that accompany these creatures are cute and not scary from my point of view, but parents should decide for themselves if their toddlers will enjoy hearing about such characters as a two-headed Ettin that would not have fazed me as a young child but may put off others.

This app can certainly be used to teach the alphabet by the right family, but I also enjoy how older children will also enjoy these fantastical creatures as well.

The selection of monsters, also included in a monster index, is quite vast, and even the most seasoned monster lover may need to research a creature or two to read more about their mythology, allowing parents to use this app as a springboard for future reading.

Interactions are included which are often subtly highlighted when they propel the action of this story forward, but also be aware that other hot spots are available of a more generic nature that may distract a little from this story. Luckily this is only a minor note within a terrific application.

Martha Speaks Word Spinner is a delightful interactive digital board game for iPad based on the hit PBS show and previously published storybook, Martha Speaks, about a talking dog - an educational show which teaches synonyms and new vocabulary to children.

We really enjoy the show Martha Speaks in our house. It is bright, colorful and engaging as it thoughtfully and conversationally including new words in a way that sticks with my son without feeling heavy or chore-like.

Because of this, I was excited to review Martha Speaks as well, and I can say that this game is really delightful for players - children as well as adults.

I appreciate that one to four players can use this app, making it a family game or an app my son can enjoy on his own.

This game opens up to a game board complete with a path consisting of spaces one must travel to move the chosen dog to the dog house. Spin the spinner and complete the mini-game, also moving a given number of spaces.

The included activities are fun and intuitive, teaching about synonyms in a way that is cute and conversational.

Some words are included that are also narrated, but oftentimes one is sorting or matching illustrations of given words to allow new and non-readers to grow their vocabulary without needing to be literate.

It is also great that the questions and themes are random so although the games may stay the same in terms of play, these experiences are never the same, allowing children to collect different “word bones” that represent each word studied during this game.

I think this app will be enjoyed in homes as well as with speech therapists as one of these mini-games, Name Five Things, asks players to name five words in a given category after popping numbered balloons - an exercise that would also benefit children learning English as a second language.

Other mini-games include Story Sounds which asks children to tap on buttons that will give sound effects to a given story theme, giving children a chance to add creative details based on these sound effects.

These sections may be hit or miss with some children playing with this app alone, as they are on their honor to say these five words themselves or add details to a story. I do think, however, that children such as my very talkative, social son would happily fulfill these activities even by themselves.

There are other sections of this app that single children, as well as groups of players will also enjoy.

Word Connector asks children to match different halves of simple puzzles matching related words shown in picture form, such as science equipment consisting of a microscope with test tubes or a hat and shoes to represent "clothes".

Stuff Sort asks children to sort illustrated cards into a box that includes a specific theme as well such as “cooking tools.”

Bucket Ball has a slight arcade element as one uses a slingshot to fling balls into buckets of a given theme, such as “groceries.” Although a bit of skill is helpful in this game, the flinging is forgiving and simple to use.

Who am I is another area that is a very good mini-game for multiple players as a drawing of a specific occupation is shown that a player must act out like charades, making this a difficult task to complete with one player.

This may be why I never landed on this question when playing alone, but I would love to see it removed from the spinner altogether for single players as I thought I was missing something by not having access to this activity when using this app as an individual.

It would also like to see an an option to allow adults to turn the timer included within these mini-games so as not to rush children during these activities, especially when they have to list five of a kind - be it species or birds or types of precipitation - topics children may need help with or just a little extra time to think about their answers.

I really do enjoy how Martha explains each new word theme for children to grasp various concepts, but it would be nice to have a button to skip over the game rules if one would like, as these explanations, especially when playing with four people, can take up a fair amount of time.

Even with the notes given, there is a lot to have fun with while playing Martha Speaks Word Spinner. I have had problems with this app closing abruptly on my iPad 1 after finishing the game, an issue that I hope can be smoothed out in the future because after the game is over, the "word bones" the player has collected during this app are listed and can be tapped to be heard - a valuable inclusion that worked well on my iPad 2.