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Shape-O ABC’s is a delightful tangram puzzle app that kids will really enjoy as will adults. A version of this app is now available for both iPad as well as iPhone.

My son and I really enjoy this application. Here, players are given a variety of puzzles to choose from that are each made up of various shapes, tangram-style, that need to be dragged and dropped in the appropriate cut-out spaces that make up each of these images. This app also thoughtfully includes simple, related word puzzles naming each puzzle subject.

Although there are other apps like it, this Shape-O ABC’s has a lovely sense of style and content, making it really stand out among other puzzle apps available in the iTunes store.

Adults will also be impressed with the large selection of subject choices available that can also be limited in terms of puzzle piece size and shape, ultimately including puzzles that contain more than 30 pieces, and a nice choice of simple puzzles with fewer, larger pieces is also included. This is an intuitive app that toddlers and the preschool set will easily be able to manipulate.

Also nice is the use of letters and words used within these puzzles, as these letters are also found mixed in the geographic shapes that are needed to fill in letter boxes that make up the word associated with the puzzle in use - be it “Forest,” “Burger,” or “City.”

I greatly enjoy the use of color within, as these puzzles include a lush and rich palette of both bright as well as muted shades used within the backgrounds of these puzzles, reminding me of a water color painting or a perfectly imperfect batiked piece of cloth with a marbled quality that I greatly appreciate.

I also adore the chance to tap the rainbow button top of the screen that allows players to select a new main color to be prominently displayed in the background of the puzzle at hand, also changing the colors of the pieces at hand in complimenting, corresponding colors.

It is especially nice how these puzzles use shadows, shading and subtle grain details to create the look of a traditional wood puzzle, with a use of empty cut-out hints showing the image one is looking to create.

Each piece casts its own shadow on the puzzle being filled in which disappears as the piece becomes recessed correctly, further creating a sense of working with traditional wood shapes, and I like the subtle textures found within these shape pieces as well - a nice tactile touch.

Very enjoyable music with an array of fun instruments is also included which is very nice to listen to but which can also be easily turned off.

I like that a “how to play” section is included, thoughtfully detailing how this app works, including how to make adjustments in this app’s “settings” for a variety of abilities, such as including letter hints that one can copy from to solve the simple word puzzle or challenge children with no hints at all. Using this the word as a simple label, removing the puzzle aspect completely is also an option.

The “Settings” section is laid out nicely and includes the ability to turn on or off the different sounds including the sound effects, voice-over and background music independently - always nice options to have, as well as including the choice of lower or upper case letters.

Another interesting element is an “eye” button that will float a piece to its correct space within the puzzle - something that my son enjoys watching happen, especially as he gets tired while playing this relaxing app before bed - a function that can also be removed if parents wish to do so.

Although not an especially unique application, this app brings a great level of quality to every aspect of this app in a way that will delight even seasoned children's puzzle app enthusiasts.

Counting Caterpillar is a fun and engaging universal counting app that kids will enjoy.

Simple to understand, one feeds this tree climbing caterpillar aphids caught in correct order from 1 - 100. This can be done by groups of ten in the easy section, or challenge oneself in counting in intervals of 2, 5, or 10. There is also a difficult section that randomizes the counting method and number that one starts from.

Although receptive in nature, the look of this app is marvelous with many terrific details and dynamic visual styling, as nothing is flat-looking within this app. The tree the caterpillar climbs has a wonderful texture and shading which adds beauty to the bark of this tree, and I also love the green leaves in the background, adding richness and depth to this app. The caterpillar is adorable, smiling and attractive with a great colored body with subtle batik notes that add to the visual interest.

The butterflies found within this app are beautiful as well, full of interesting color combinations and unique batik-like details reminiscent of the work of Eric Carle, combined with computer-generated images that create a pleasant 3-D effect as these butterflies flap their wings, looking as if they are floating slightly off the page.

My son really enjoys this application, with its quick pace and wonderful artwork. At first, he complained that the speed was too fast, as the aphids fly around the screen and the caterpillar never stops moving. With some practice, though, my son has quickly become a regular user of this app on the pursuit of collecting more butterflies - something that is accomplished regularly as one continues to play.

I appreciate how the butterflies are saved from one encounter to the next, and I like that one can choose to use a hint, that being the correct aphid number colored orange, standing out against the other green bugs seen on the screen.

Upbeat, enjoyable music is used as here, and friendly narration speaks each number as the caterpillar is fed, growing longer as the numbers just ingested become new parts of the caterpillar's body, further adding to the visual style and number sequencing.

I do wish, however, that one had a chance to choose from what number to start from, as my son has enjoyed this app often when he has just a few minutes in which I need him to be distracted.

Because of this, he has counted to 20 or 30 often, also spending time admiring his hoard of butterflies or checking out the other levels - something that I do not begrudge him, but it would be nice for him to start the count at 50, giving him a chance to spend time sequencing the upper half of 100 as well.

It would also be nice that while this app is open, one did not have to start back at one to ten when venturing back to the easy mode after having traveled to another section for a time. This honestly does not bother my son as he is mainly in it to gain more butterflies, but I wish he could keep go back and continue counting higher and higher, even after going back from changing levels.

This app does not only challenge children’s ability to count from 1 to 100 but also gives both fine motor skills and one’s ability to focus amidst the moving creatures found in this app a workout, possibly making this a good choice for special needs children as well.

I am impressed with the rich textures, colors and depth found within Counting Caterpillar. If interested, do look also at Shape-O ABC app from the developers at Bellamon which has a similar use of visual style, to be reviewed here soon at GiggleApps.