Cinderella - Nosy Crow animated picture book is a wonderful interactive storybook by the developers at Nosy Crow, now a universal application. This latest re-telling of the classic Charles Perrault version of this beloved story about a mistreated girl whose luck turns for the better with the help of a fairy godmother and the love of a prince includes some lovely interactions that truly make the player part of this application. Here, one gets the opportunity to help Cinderella and other characters in many ways, such as helping with Cinderella's chores, getting the stepsisters dressed for the ball and collect what is needed for Cinderella to attend the ball in style where she meets the prince. An iPhone only version of this app is also available.
This book, like its predecessor app, The Three Little Pigs, offers readers the chance to hear narration as well as read this book by themselves. One can also choose American or UK spelling, a nice touch, as well as the chance to “read and play” where one can stay within a page as long as desired, exploring the varied interactions found among this lovingly created storybook. It is also nice that one can accommodate new readers by choosing how long the text is shown per page, allowing children not to feel rushed when reading as the story continues to the following pages when the “Read and Play” mode is not in use.
Wonderful classical musical elements are used throughout, sometimes adding mystery or suspense as well, as when Cinderella gathers up all that is needed to transform herself into the mysterious well-dressed woman that wows the prince at the ball. Do tap these characters more than once to hear their various different points-of-view, a very nice touch that adds much to the richness of this story as well as fully creating these characters' personalities. It is nice that prompts in the form of a blue dot are used, appearing on characters and encouraging the reader to tap them to hear extra lines of dialogue or to make them flip over for an added kinetic bonus.
There are a lot of interactive elements offered here, but what makes this app special is how one can help Cinderella carry the load of responsibility forced upon her by her unkind stepsisters. From helping her gathering cups and dishes to drop in the sink or put away, to finding fruits to place in a bowl and collecting more wood for the fire, one has a real sense of helping and empathizing with poor Cinderella as her stepsisters bark orders and spew unkind words in her direction. Later, one can help Cinderella dress her ungrateful stepsisters for the party - my personal favorite interaction - as I like how one must use good cognitive and listening skills to find the items these sisters demand within this page, and it is fun to see that if the wrong item is given to a sister, she rejects it rudely.
Other moments where the reader can be generally helpful are also included, such as stacking the invitations to the ball, helping to choose the color of Cinderella's gown and fitting the glass slipper onto Cinderella’s foot, as well as other interesting hotspots. For fun, do look for the red bird hiding on each page of this ebook as well.
Now that this is a universal app, both iPad 2 and iPhone 4 users will be able to see themselves in the “magic mirrors” found throughout this application, and it is a really fun and unexpected surprise when young readers find themselves in these mirrors, truly being a part of this story a one is gazing upon this tail in a way I have never seen before within an application. I am happy to report, however, after trying this app on my iPad 1, that the added elements of these mirrors, although really enjoyable, will not be missed if this feature is unable to be used, as the mirrors fit nicely into the decor of these rooms as simple details.
One will notice how the scene is larger than will fit on the page shown on one's device at any one time, so do scrolls back and forth, side to side, looking at the added imagery that is also offered - a nice element not commonly found within applications. As with The Three Little Pigs, one can move the device to see the 3-D effect, showing off different perspectives nicely, but with some choppiness that I have noticed, although my son has not. I do hope this can be addressed in a future update.
The look of this app is quite beautiful, with the use of vivid, bright colors and fun, over-the-top, stylized stepmother and stepsisters wearing garish makeup and clothes, but I am happy that they are never referred to as “ugly,” which would place an undue focus on one’s looks, as the concept of “pretty is good, ugly is bad” can have unintended consequences later for girls as they grow up. It is also worth noting that this prince is thought of as being kind, a reason besides wealth that Cinderella would want to marry him, and I especially appreciate how Cinderella mutters to herself how the prince probably does not care about clothing as she dresses her demanding stepsisters.
I do find it a bit problematic however, how the invitation makes note of wearing one’s best dress to the ball, as this can provide motivation for these sisters to behave in such boorish and materialistic ways as they are following specific instructions as they primp and fuss about they get ready for the ball.
Other interactions just for fun are offered here as well, as one can tap on musical notes to change the song and style of dance the prince and Cinderella dance to, be it a traditional waltz, disco, or Bollywood-style - my son’s favorite interaction. There are in fact many moments made brilliant by creative interactions, making this book a very special re-telling of this classic story that I recommend for children and their parents. I have become a huge fan of Nosy Cow based on their two first apps. I look forward greatly to their next 3-D fairy tale based on Little Red Riding Hood sometime in the future.
