CutieMonsters

CutieMonsters is a really unique, beautiful and creative “mix and match” style app allowing players to create a plethora of different creatures by scrolling through and choosing various head, torso, leg and feet choices. There are versions of this app for iPad, iPhone and Mac.

I remember having a few books with this concept. These books were sectioned horizontally in typically three sections, and one could flip pages back and forth to create imaginative creatures. Children now can experience these kinds of activities in app form, many times with more choices than a classic book would have the space for. We have a few of these apps as my son and I find them to be fun and engaging.

CutieMonsters stands out among crowd because of how wonderful and creative the different characters' elements are. They all have fun monster themes, many of them reminiscent of science fiction creatures as well, with details very unique and intriguing. The choices offered are difficult to explain but include such things as various tentacle and eyeball elements, as well as bug and gorilla choices. I appreciate that although these monsters are full of off-beat details, they are each friendly-looking in their own way and not at all scary, at least to us. The are all bright, colorful, wonderfully stylized, and beautiful to look at.

It is an interesting choice to focus on the creating of new monsters here instead of making complete matches as found in other apps because it is unclear what pieces specifically go together, as various sections look like they might be “correct" creating no right or wrong answers.

I like that one can also change the color of the background which is a bright and vivid element in it of itself, and there is a place to tap which randomizes the creature as well. My son enjoys saving his monster creations and has a few favorite heads that he has named and to which he goes back each time he plays this game. Emailing finished monster is also an option.

Although not specifically educational, this would be a nice cause-and-effect app for the youngest players, teaching how to swipe and tap. It is also nice that a chime are heard for every change that is made, and that these sounds although related, are different for each section. Although the target age of this app may be young, I expect that older children and parents will get lost in this app as well, and will be happy to play with this monster activity with a younger sibling or child.

Anyone interested in this kind of "mix and match" app should check out CutieMonsters. I enjoy this app as much as my son does.