AlphaBetty’s ABC’s Review

AlphaBetty’s ABC’s is an interesting app that teaches about letters and animals, with a decidedly indie feel that both children and adults will enjoy. Both iPhone as well as iPad versions are available. Be sure to shake your device to shuffle the cards, randomizing the game play or or experience letters in sequence from A to Z, your choice.

AlphaBetty’s ABC’s app consists of a series of flash cards which can also be flipped to show more information and to find interactions. At first the card is of the specific letter in question with some very interesting rhyming narration that ends with the word which is illustrated by flipping over to see a “cat” for the letter “c” or other animals for their corresponding letters, and I like that their rhyming nature is a good prompt to guess what word is to be illustrated, great for kids learning these letters and words for the first time. It is also fun that once the card is flipped, the “cat” or other animals can be tapped all over their bodies, with the body parts being narrated. It is also possible to start with the animal side of the card, then flipping to hear its letter if one chooses.

Music is included which was a little hit or miss for me. it is nice that it can be easily turned off, but what I would really like to do is have control over selecting which song is played, as I love the main music choice, full of whimsy and peppered with nods to circus music as well as the 'Adam's Family' theme song. I would gladly choose to listen to this looped, bypassing the other music if possible.

The "ABC's of Drawing" is also included, consisting of three videos that explain how to draw one animal each, and I really like that one can see these videos without an internet connection. Thoughtful and fun to watch as well as very informative, I really like how more fascinating facts about these animals are included, making these segments very much worth watching. A memory style game "Find the Twin" is also included where one flips over cards looking in the interest of making pairs, which also includes a great soundtrack that adds a level of suspense with the great use of musical instruments, further creating the interesting indie tone of this app.

The illustrations are wonderful, and I appreciate the distressed look that these flashcards have, a welcome change from the very clean flash cards one is used to seeing, bringing a nice texture and another element that creates an indie feel, an interesting choice that I greatly enjoy. My favorite part of this app is the unique facts that one hears regarding each of these animals. They are quirky, thoughtful, and very memorable. My only issue here is that the narrator speaks quickly and I wonder if young children will have a hard time understanding her rapid speech. I do enjoy listening to her talk as the narrator has a lovely and genuine tone to her voice, and my son has no problem understanding the narration, but he does come from a family of fast talkers. All in all, a very nice app that introduces letters and animals as well as body parts and a few tips on drawing. The animal facts are wonderful, indeed - my favorite part of this application.