The Book is Not Dead! 6 reasons why the paper book is still loved

An article in the latest edition of the Financial Times has shared some startling data about book sales in the last year. While the hype for the last three years has been that paper book sales will continue to dive at the expense of eBooks, and that book stores and traditional publishers face extinction, these views might well have been premature. Indeed, they might even be wrong!

Here are some of the highlights of the article:

1. Publishers and book chains in the US, UK and Australia have all celebrated some of their strongest sales figures for some time with rises of up to 5% in December.
2. The number of paper books sold rose in the US by 2.4% in 2014 to 635,000,000 copies.
3. The growth in eBooks stalled in the US and UK with fewer electronic book readers being sold.
4. Sales of adolescent and young adult fiction rose by 12% in 2014, while adult fiction fell by 8%.
5. A recent Nielsen Book Sale survey found that teenagers prefer paper books.
6. A Deloitte study suggests that paper books will account for 80% of global book sales this year and would continue to outsell electronic books for the foreseeable future.

My own work with children also suggests that the hype that electronic book apps created 2-3 years ago has waned a little, as the novelty has worn off and readers rediscover the power of narrative and the tactile benefits of paper. This might also relate to the discovery that interactivity can ultimately distract from story, not just enrich it. Other trends seem to suggest an increased interest in graphic novels and comics (see HERE and HERE).

6 Reasons Why Paper Books Still Work!

1. They're easy! They don't need power, and can be mistreated. You can take them to the beach! Simply try throwing your tablet towards the bed and missing it! Or accidentally sitting it.
2. They're always there. If you've been buying picture books online for years as I have, take note of the number of apps that no longer work.
3. While novels on readers are easy enough to use, many picture book apps take time to navigate and the interactivity can be distracting.
4. There is something gloriously good about the tactile experience of curling up with a book, or reading to your child with a paper book.
5. Books are a visible presence that reminds us that they're there! I'm embarrassed to say how many books I've bought online and still haven't opened (true I have book piles too!). I can't trip over them or simply see them reminding me of their presence as I walk into the room. A room with books invites the reader to enter new worlds.
6. In professional reading, paper books offer a more natural opportunity (for most) to make marginal notes, use post it notes etc.

Having said all of the above, I know that we can list many good reasons for eBooks (that's why I'm a fan of both) - they store easy, silverfish aren't a problem, they are cheaper, easier to get, offer countless titles (especially of old books), allow expanded options for publication, they do allow new ways to interact with books and open up the way for new multimodal forms of reading (which I've written on before). But.... the paper book still has a magic that will ensure that it doesn't die.

I'd be particularly be keen to hear from teachers who have been using eBooks with younger readers aged 5-12 years. Picture books and in fact all books for readers 0-6 would seem to be the most resilient to the 'assault' of eBooks. My own observations suggest that there is a drop off in interest with ePicture books once the novelty of 'clever' apps subsides. Your thoughts?

Some of my previous Posts on eBooks HERE

10 Exciting New Children's Story Apps

It seems some time since I reviewed some good educational and literature apps. Earlier in the year I reviewed 'Seven New Children's Story' apps and a little later I reviewed '14 Great Educational Apps for Children'. In this post I want to review 10 story apps published in recent months. As in my most recent app review post, I have used a rating scale that attributes a score from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Outstanding) to indicate the extent to which the app meets the following criteria:

• The app is enjoyable to use
• Children learn new things because of the app
• The app makes it easier for children to learn
• The app interactive elements don't distract from the key learning goals
• The app is well designed, attractive and engaging
• The app represents good value for money

1. Who Stole The Moon? (Windy Press, 2012)

This is a wonderful story app that is based on the delightful picture book written by Helen Stratton-Would (author) and illustrated by Vlad Gerasimov's, 'Who Stole the Moon' (2010). It is exciting to see a good book turned into an eBook with interactive elements that add value to the reading experience. It tells the story of Bertie who has a top-floor attic room and a skylight that lets him stare at the moon and stars. But one night, he realizes for the first time, that he can't see them any more. Bertie sets out to solve the mystery and in the process learns more about the way his world, the moon and stars 'work'.

The app uses a number of simple yet complementary interactive elements that expand the child's experience of the book and add to the reader's understanding of what happens with the movement of the moon's phases and clouds. My favourite element is the ability on one page to move the clouds to show how and why the moon at times will disappear. The reader in the 'read to me' option is also excellent.

The app also incorporates eight original songs that complement the bedtime reading experience of sharing this book with your child, and game elements that I could do without. But at least you can choose to use the games or leave them alone, and it's easy to get back to the story. The story is simple and the language is used well to communicate a simple story that children will love. It is available in multiple languages and is a story that transcends cultural boundaries, teaching about the world, while offering a great shared book experience. The illustrations are wonderful, with simple lines and deep rich colours with the feel of a watercolour wash. The app is suitable to share with children aged 0-6 and for beginning readers to read alone. You might note however, that there are buttons on the front page that link to Facebook and Twitter, which I'd encourage the developers to remove.

This review is based on the FREE Lite version. A full version is also available. It's the best free story app I can recall. I highly recommend this app and give it a rating of 9/10.

2. Jabberwocky 3D (Mythos Machine LLC, 2012)

This app is based on the Lewis Carroll poem 'Jabberwocky' that appears in 'Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There' (1871). This 'nonsense' poem is considered one of the finest children's poems of all time. The app is illustrated by Matthew Vimislik and presented either by two readers (male and female) or in 'read it yourself' mode. It also has provision for the child to record their own reading. The interactive devices used are simple and are primarily touch and watch features, where objects move, respond, make noises etc. While this doesn't add much to the reading experience they are not too distracting.

The illustrations are bright and engaging and complement the text, and the key illustrated characters often react and speak when tapped. For a poem that is difficult for today's child reader, the illustrations help the reader engage and follow the narrative within the verse.

There are a few other features that children will enjoy, but don't add much value. For example, the reader can turn the screen and touch it to reveal the Cheshire Cat on each page. While the app has just 8 pages, it is a complex poem that will intrigue children, especially if they like language and enjoy rhyme and nonsense verse.

Recommended for readers aged 6-10. I've given it a rating of 7/10.

3. The Land of Me: Story Time (Penguin, 2012)

This is a delightful FREE story app in which the reader has a key role in deciding on the main character, the nature of the story and the ending. There are numerous options that feature three youngsters (a bear, a raccoon and a bird) who are told stories by the storyteller, Granny Olive who at the commencement of each tale asks for volunteers to shape the story.  The stories are short (about 2 minutes) and are told delightfully by Granny Olive.

The app is brilliant for teaching story structure, character development and how to engage the reader. In many ways, this is a writing app as much as it is a reading app. Children aged 3-7 will have lots of fun with the app. The app has really only one mode, 'read to' and is on auto play once the story choices have been made by the 'reader', but it does present the text so that children who can read may follow. The text is presented in a type of cursive script that won't be easy to read for younger readers.

This is not your typical story app, something I like, and it will appeal to children. While I have reviewed the free version there is a full version of the app with many additional features. The app has been nominated for the British Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) in the 'Fun and games' section.

Highly recommended for children. I've given this free version a rating of 8/10.

4. 'Franklin Frog' (Nosy Crow, 2012)

'Franklin Frog' is a beautiful ePicture book based on the story written and illustrated by Barry and Emma Tranter. It kept me smiling with delight from beginning to end. Franklin is a frog doing what frogs do, hunting and eating dragon flies, jumping around, swimming, eating snails and worms, flies and so on. But the exciting part of this app is that it 'invites' the reader to join Franklin in his daily activities, touching him to make him speak, helping him to jump, swim and catch his food. It also engages the reader in an understanding of the complete life cycle of the frog as Franklin finds a mate, eggs are laid and eventually tadpoles born.

This is another fine example of an app that engages the reader in new ways and invites a level of participation in the story not possible without the app. And it does this without compromising the beauty and delight of the text and the illustrations. As well, it teaches the young reader about the life cycle of the frog.

The app works as you'd expect with simple page swipes, text highlighting that is switched off by default, but can be turned on, and delightful child readers. This is one of the best story apps I've seen this year.

I highly recommend it and give it a rating of 10/10.

5. 'Magnus the Magnetic Dog' (Demibooks, 2012) 

'Magnus the Magnetic Dog' is a quirky story written and illustrated by Julian Damy. It was actually developed by the author using the program Demibooks Composer. It tells the story of Magnus the dog who is afraid of storms. He climbs to the top of his building to face his fears, but is struck by lightning, falls and lands on top of a truck. When he finally wakes up he has a strange new quality, he is magnetic! He meets a girl named Olivia and they work out the source of the mystery together.

The animation's use of music and subtle interactive elements, work together beautifully to create an excellent reading experience. It is a delightful story that is well written and the pen and wash illustrations are perfect for this story about a lovable terrier.

One excellent feature is the addition of extra scientific information and safety warnings that offer new knowledge for the young reader. Each instance is found by tapping a small image of Magnus below the story text. The book also ends with information on how to make your own electromagnet. One thing I didn't like was the text font used, that was a form of cursive, and was very small. A text highlight feature might also have been helpful for younger readers.

Highly recommended. I have given it a rating of 8/10.

6.  'Babel, the Cat Who Would Be King' (EPIC, 2012)

This is a remarkable story app. It tells the story of a cat with ambition! Babel always wanted to reach the clouds, but he could never quite make it, so he decides to annoy them! But one day the pesky cat is struck by lightning and experiences a great wind which sweeps him up before a great 'fall'. This leads him to reconsider his life, but his ambition only grows. The self-declared 'King Babel' with a crown (that is really a cage with a sly bird within) upon his head, proceeds on a risky path at the urging of the sly bird. This leads to the gathering of some loyal subjects and the building of a great castle. The story has many biblical echoes including the story of the Tower of Babel and Genesis, that speak of human ambition in the face of God, but for many readers these themes won't be obvious. 

The text is well written and engaging and the illustrations and animation stunning. The words, images, sound and music and subtle interactive elements, work beautifully together to offer the reader or listener a coherent experience of a truly multimodal text. The app thankfully has few features to distract from the story. It does have an annoying 'help layer' (dotted lines over images), to encourage the reader or listener to tap the images, but this can be switched off allowing children to enjoy and interact with the app without this distraction. Some of the interactive elements are clever, such as the ability to blow on the screen and move things around, and many images can be shoved or moved about, made to spin and so on. One thing it lacks is a highlighting feature for the text. I'd suggest the developers add this, preferably with phrases, not just single words. As well, I found the page turning using arrows at the top middle of the screen to be 'clunky', a simple swipe would be much better. One final addition that would help sales would be languages other than just English and French.

In spite of the final comments this is a brilliant app that I highly recommend. I have given it a rating of 9/10.

7. 'The Waterhole' - (Graeme Base, 2012)

This app is based on the well-known picture book of the same name developed by acclaimed writer and illustrator Graeme Base. This is the classic children's early counting book, but Graeme Base's books are always anything but simple. The book uses animals gathered around a waterhole to play with number and rhyme. As with all Graeme Base books the images are filled with fascinating detail, vivid colours, complex hidden detail and rich vocabulary.

The app comes with a simple 'read to me' option with Graeme doing the reading. As well, the app includes a matching memory game, a hidden animal search and game a game of leapfrog that requires logic to solve (and won't be solved by many young children). I've said many times that add on activities of this type in my view trivialize the story, but in this case it's the author who is doing it, so who can argue with him.  I would have preferred more attention to the complexity of the interactive elements that as they are don't add much to the reading experience. The main element requires readers simply to touch the animals on each page, allowing a simple count to me made.  This might be helpful for very young readers. Curiously, the app doesn't have a 'read it yourself' option.

The app also appears to have a programming glitch or two with my version stopping to 'load' several times, and once or twice my tapping of the screen led to a prompt to 'copy' the screen shot. This needs to be sorted out.

Overall, the weaknesses in the app are partially counteracted by the quality of the book and the illustrations, but to be honest, it doesn't represent for me a significant enhancement of the reading experience. I give it a rating of 6/10 based mainly on the brilliant quality of the original book.

8. 'Leonard' (Ink Robin Inc., 2012)

'Leonard' is a simple but engaging story about a little boy who has no friends. He tries everything to make some without success, and so he decides to make his own robot friend with an unexpected outcome. Leonard is a boy with a big imagination, who uses it for a great outcome. The app itself builds on this and in surprising ways engages the reader in exploring imaginative elements through the use of a small lever that appears on most of the 18 pages. This allows readers to slide the button to advance the story and see magical new scenes appear. The lever is a prompt to readers to slide it either to progress the story or to create a special effect linked in some way to Leonard's imagination. As Leonard (and sometimes his cat) appears in the scenes, we see what he is imagining. Leonard becomes a lion tamer, a deep-sea diver, he finds himself on safari, in a cafe in Paris and so on. Each of these is linked to the story in some way.

The app is very easy to use, and requires no distracting and awkward prompts or instructions. Children can find their way around the app in a few screen shots. The app works well in both 'read it myself' and 'read it to me' modes, uses clear text fonts, delightful simple illustrations, a clear reader and simple interactive elements that contribute to the reader's experience of the story.

I highly recommend this app and have given it a rating of 9/10.


9. 'Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy' (Kiwa Media and Penguin Books, 2012)

This story app is based on the well-known book of the same title written and illustrated by New Zealand author and illustrator Lynley Dodd. The book of course was followed by the many other delightful adventures of Hairy Maclary, so we can expect lots of follow-up story apps. When developers get hold of great picture books I always hope that they don't mess up something that was brilliant in the paper version. I'm pleased to say that they haven't on this occasion. They manage to keep the app simple, use a great reader, simple elements and the main gadget, the ability to colour the illustrations, isn't a great distraction (you can't see it in the 'read to me' mode). Even this element might just encourage some children to re-read the story multiple times. There is good use of sound, text highlighting in 'read to me' option, which I'd prefer to be phrase-based rather than word-based. There is also the ability to record your own version of the reading. The latter also includes the ability to record it in AUSLAN sign language. The pages are easy to turn with a swipe, and it also has the option to touch the words to hear the word read for beginning readers who are stuck on a word. Yiu can also double tap to have it spell the word (I'm not sure we need the latter). 

The story introduces us to the cute little terrier with the appropriate name Hairy Maclary and his many friends. This wonderful story is filled with repetition, beautiful use of rhyme, rhythm and verse to great effect. The characters have names like 'Scarface Claw', 'Bitzer Maloney' and 'Schnitzel von Krumm' and lively illustrations to match. This simple story comes alive in the hands of just about any reader, but David Tennant as the default reader is brilliant, and his 'mild' Scottish accent is perfect for the book.

All in all, the eBook version of this wonderful book works well. I recommend it and give it a rating of 7/10.


10. 'Dr Seuss Bookshelf' (Oceanhouse Media, 2012)

Oceanhouse Media has been producing the Dr Seuss book apps for some time, and I have reviewed some of these titles in previous posts. A new way to organize these apps is by using their new Dr Seuss Bookshelf. This is a free app which effectively locates all your Dr Seuss books in the one place and allows you to the go-to app for Dr Seuss books, and games available as a FREE download in the App Store location. This app lets users organize, launch and browse their favourite Dr Seuss apps on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. I would predict that other developers will follow suit with this type of organizational app.

While this is also a great way for Oceanhouse Media to promote titles that you haven't yet purchased, it is a convenient way to store your apps. The app allows you to sort by type, price or age, and use the search feature to find a specific app. In addition, the bookshelf app provides up-to-date information on new Dr Seuss releases, sales and suggestions for holidays and special occasions. I could do without the promotion, but others might like it. Of course if you're the type of person who organises your apps into folders already, then you might not find this app of much use.

I would suggest that people who have too many apps to organise them into folders might find the app helpful (but you'll need to avoid the product 'push'). I give it a rating of 6/10.

14 Great Educational Apps for Children

Regular readers of this blog will know that I've reviewed apps for iPad and android devices a number of times. My posts have included reviews of picture book apps (here), story apps of varied kinds (here) and apps that stimulate literacy, learning and creativity (here). In this post I review a number of educational apps that support children's learning in varied ways. I have grouped them into 5 categories for convenience. Some could well fit into more than one of these categories. Because the apps are so varied I have used a simpler rating scale than I typically use. In this post I attribute a single score from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Outstanding) to indicate the extent to which they meet these simple criteria:

• The app is enjoyable to use
• Children learn new things because of the app
• The app makes it easier for children to learn
• The app interactive elements don't distract from the key learning goals
• The app is well designed, attractive and engaging
• The app represents good value for money

1. Word & letter recognition, vocabulary & sounds

Purpose: Apps in this category help children to learn to read words, letters, understand sounds and improve memory.

Giraffe’s Matching Zoo for iPad
Tomato Interactive LLC
Price: Free, the deluxe version costs $0.99
Rating: 6

In this app the traditional game of memory has been adapted for the iPad using animals as the topic of interest. It requires the user to match pairs of cartoon animals. Each animal makes a unique noise when tapped. It has 25 different animals and a selection of backgrounds; it's fun for kids aged 3-6.

Peekaboo Barn
By Night and Day Studios
Price: $1.99
Rating: 6

This is a very cute word and sound app for preschoolers (1-4) who are just starting to learn to read words or for children with special needs. A toddler speaks the words. It teaches them the names of animals, the sounds they make and shows the word. The child taps the doors of the barn that open to reveal an animal. A voice tells you what it is; you hear the animal's sound and the name is displayed. You can also buy Peekaboo Wild and Peekaboo Forest that have a similar format.

iWriteWords
By gdiplus
Price: $2.99
Rating: 7

This is primarily an app to help children learn to write letters, but in the process it teaches letters and simple words. The app is quite intuitive and easy to use. It encourages the child to form the script letters using the accepted order of stroke making (this varies from one educational system to another). Each letter sounds is given and the word when it is completed. A child drawing then appears to illustrate the word.  The letters can also be drawn automatically with the surrounding screen acting as a type of simple xylophone. This reinforces the child's attempts.

3. Writing apps

Purpose: These apps encourage the development of writing (as opposed to simply handwriting as for the last app).  

Scary Story Kit
By Comicorp
Price: $1.99
Rating: 7

The 'Scary Story Kit' is an aid to enable you to add special effects to oral storytelling and assist any scary storyteller, giving them some tools to make their scary story truly come to life. It includes visual and audio effects. The tools include a reactive light which responds to sound, and adds to any torchlight storytelling. There is also an image creation, editing and manipulation suite. This has paintbrush, a camera function, filters and effects to create scary images. There is also a soundboard that allows you to develop customised sounds. While it is designed to support oral storyelling this can be extended by requiring the creation of a written story to be presented to an audience. Suitable for children aged 6-15 years.

StoryLines
BY Root-One Inc
Price: FREE
Rating: 7

StoryLines is an award-winning game of 'telephone' with pictures. You can begin a StoryLine in lots of ways. For example, you can start with a common saying that is then added to. Or it could start with an opening line "One dark, dreary night in Detroit..." (no offence intended to friends in Detroit!). You can then pass the device around your friends, use Facebook, send it by email or open it in a browser to share with others. There is an option for a friend to illustrate it, give it a title and so on until completed.  You can save your favourite completed StoryLines in your Gallery, and share them on Facebook.

3. Animation & Art Apps

Purpose: Apps in this category introduce children to some basic fundamentals of animation. In some ways they could be classified as art apps as well. I have written a post on animation apps previously (here) that has some more sophisticated apps.

App Playtime Theater from The Prism on Vimeo.

PlayTime Theater
By Make Believe Worlds, LLC
Price: $2.99
Rating: 9

This has to be one of the best animation apps around for children aged 3-6 years. It is so easy to use and enables children to feel successful almost immediately as animators. The app allows kids to create, record and playback their original puppet shows. It offers a castle as the puppet theatre setting and everything you need to put on and record your own shows. The stage has moving parts, its own set of customizable cast, costumes, action props, sound effects and a library of original cinematic music. Every child I've introduced this app to can use it within minutes and love it.

Elmo's Monster Maker HD
By Sesame Street
Price: $4.49
Rating: 8



This is a fun app that children aged 2-6 years will find easy to use and will love. This delightful animation features the Sesame Street character Elmo who wants you to make a monster friend! You get to choose a monster body and then touch its face to give it eyes, nose and a hat. There are lots of options. When you finish, Elmo dances and plays with your monster. The app encourages artistic interest, creativity and in its own way might raise interest in other more sophisticated animation or art apps. 

Kid Art for iPad
By GP Apps
Price: $0.99
Rating: 8

There are lots of art apps for kids on the App Store, but 'Kid Art' stands out from the crowd. With its engaging backgrounds, bright colours and ability three different themes, it offers plenty of opportunities for your child to explore their artistic side. It enables them to create great images by dropping in images, painting etc.

Play School Art Maker ABC
By Australian Broadcasting Commission
Price: Free
Rating: 10

The Play School Art Maker app is a fun way for kids to freely create pictures, animated movies and story slideshows using their favourite 'Play School' toys and craft items. They can add their own audio narration, upload their own photos as backgrounds, and save photos of their art.
 Children can select Big Ted, Little Ted, Humpty, Jemima and their friends and choose from 6 backgrounds to create an animation with up to 8 slides. It is perfect for children aged 2-6 years and will encourage creativity and artistic ability.

ClickySticky
By Invocore
Price: $1.99
Rating: 7

This is an app that makes it easy for children aged 2-6 years to create images using an animated sticker book. Children can interact with a variety of characters while learning about fish, airplanes and many animals. Each sticker character can be scaled, rotated and dragged onto each imaginary scene. It includes scenes and stickers covering varied themes like the ocean, aviation, space, dolls, and safari scenes. Kids as young as two will love this app.

4. Games

Purpose: Apps in this category use a game format to develop varied skills including memory, perspective, fine and gross motor skills, maths and language.

Pirate Puzzles
By Ayars Animation
Price: $0.99
Rating: 9

This has to be one of my favourite non-story apps. Kids get to enjoy completing nine pirate puzzles. But there's more. When completed, the puzzle is followed by an animated interactive surprise. Complete all puzzles and enjoy a fully animated, fully interactive mystery pirate song. The catch is that you must complete the puzzles to see the fantastic animations. This motivates the users to complete each puzzle.

How to Train Your Dragon
By Glu Games Inc.
Price:  $ 0.99
Rating: 9

This app is based on the movie of the same name. The user can take to the sky as Toothless, the sleek, stealthy, fire-breathing dragon, with his new friend, Hiccup, the Viking teenager. The child manipulates the iPad to fly Toothless through an expanded world from the Viking home Island of Berk to the sea and the beautiful but forbidding lands beyond. The game has unlockable extras such as film stills and cheat codes. Children aged 4-8 will love this app. It is beautifully animated and is easy to use. A feast of imaginative exploration of the world of Toothless.

5. Knowledge Apps

Purpose: Apps in this category focus on specialised knowledge in some field of study.

Star Walk for iPad
Vito Technology Inc.
Price: $5.49
Rating:10

This is a stunning app for anyone interested in astronomy. You can encourage your children to discover the wonders of the stars with the high definition version of Star Walk. By using the camera in the iPad 2 or iPad3, you can point the tablet at the sky to view the constellations, discovering their names and history. It identifies satellites, lets you search for specific planets or stars and offers amazing images from deep space, to satisfy the astronomer in every child. The app also offers new photos each day and other features. But without a doubt the main attraction is the Augmented Reality mode, which lets you find constellations by pointing your iPad at the sky. Great for children aged 5-adults.

Frog Dissection
By Emantras Inc.
Price: $4.49
Rating: 10

This is an amazing app. As the name suggest it leads you through a virtual dissection of a frog. It is a 'greener alternative' for teaching dissection in the classroom and many children will find it a much easier experience to handle (no blood!). It offers an amazing introduction to anatomy and is suitable for children aged 8-16 years. It is ideal for children already learning about organs and organ systems as part of their life science curriculum. As well, younger gifted children interested in animals will find it fascinating. It allows children to dissect the specimen with clear step-by-step visual instructions and audio commentary. It allows 360 degree rotatable close ups of organs, additional information on every part of the body and the frogs’ life cycle. It also offers an anatomical comparison of frogs with humans, an interactive quiz and detailed descriptions of the organs. Brilliant!

Seven New Children's Story Apps

I recently reviewed a list of my 25 top children's apps in 2011 (HERE); this is my first review of new apps for 2012. Most of these were released late last year and are suitable for children aged 4-8 years. Of the many new releases, the following seven are worthy of consideration. It's pleasing to see that many of the negative things that have been commented on in previous reviews seem to be being addressed in some newer apps. While developers still need to work hard at maintaining a priority on the quality of the story, they have been using more engaging material with rich language and more complex story. There is also more evidence of use of sound, image and word in more effective ways, without simply producing an app with cute and fun interactive elements.

I've used the same rating scale as for some of my earlier app reviews, with four key categories and a 5 point rating scale - 1 (Very Poor), 2 (Poor), 3 (Average), 4 (Good), 5 (Excellent). The higher the score out of 20 the better the rating.

1. 'Cozmo's Day Off' from Ayars Animation

'Cozmo's Day Off' is one of my favourite new story apps. It has a cute story in simple rhyming verse that is complemented by a 'quirky' reader. Ayars Animation developed the wonderful 'Jack and the Beanstalk' app that I reviewed last year (here). It tells of Cozmo the alien who is having a bad day as he tries to get to work. 

It also has some brilliant and very funny interactive elements. Children love exploring the many interactive elements on each page, and yet because it's a fun rhyming story they also come back to the text.  The quality of the images is high, as is the rendering of every page. The app also has just about every option for reading it. You can listen to the story, read it yourself and record your own reading of the story. A fun device they've added is the ability to speed up or slow down the reading of the story. While this is a bit of a distraction once children discover it, they do come back to the story.

The app is also easy to use. It doesn't have a page swipe function (just a back and forward button) but this isn't a problem. It does have a scroll bar that allows you to move quickly from page to page or back again if you've lost your place. Overall, this is an app that makes good use of all that there is to offer in an eBook, including sound, image, movement, colour, language and text devices. A big pat on the back to the developers for using phrase highlighting in the read along option rather than word-by-word reading as is the case with many apps. This encourages reading for meaning, not just reading words.

Rating

a) Fun & interactivity (5) - Sets new standards for fun and creative elements
b) Ease of use (4) - Complex, with many options, but not hard to work out
d) Benefit for literacy & learning (5) - An enjoyable story, with rich language and an engaging storyline
e) Value for money (4) - at $4.49 US it is excellent value. 

Total =18/20

2. 'Ellison the Elephant' by Eric Drachman and illustrated by James Muscarello
Oceanhouse Media

This is a simple and enjoyable story about a little elephant who is different from other elephants because he can't trumpet properly. He is helped by Weasel to find his trumpet and in the process manages to invent jazz music. 

Oceanhouse Media has been developing apps primarily for previously published books. This strategy ensures that they end up with some quality stories. There is little animation, but the movement of screen focus across images works well and gains attention and increases interest. In this app they also include some good (and subtle) use of sound to support, rather than overpower the story. The interactive devices are limited, but that doesn't bother me, as it means there is more emphasis on the story. This is supported by the use of multiple voices for the storytelling mode that are excellent. Two minor quibbles. Ellison's mom seems to call her 'Alison' whenever she speaks, but maybe this is her accent. There is also one page with three font sizes for no obvious reason.

Rating

a) Fun & interactivity (3) - The level of interactivity is limited but acceptable (and not distracting)
b) Useability (5) - Very simple and easy to use
c) Benefit for literacy & learning (4) - Great story, rich in language and vocabulary and well written
d) Value for money (4) - Great value at $2.99 US. 


Total = 16/20


3. 'The Nutcracker Musical Storybook', artwork by Joko Janaka animator Andy Zibits & music audio Paul Zibits. Developed by Mouse King Media.

This story app is based on E.T.A Hoffman's classic story of 'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King' (1816) and the music from the famous ballet 'The Nutcracker' that was based on the story.  It comes in story or movie mode. Each has a single line of text at the bottom of the screen that presents the simple narrative. In the read-only option the user can control page turning and tap pictures for a number of simple effects (mainly sound and some movement). In the movie mode the story moves automatically from one screen to the next. Both modes make use of segments from the opera. The read only page is controlled from an initial Christmas tree image with numbered baubles allowing different paths through the story. The reader can swipe the pages and interact with a number of visual elements on the way.

The images are delightful and capture the mood of the 19th century winter setting with wonderful variations in colour, light, movement, animated figures (puppet-like), sound and of course Tchaikovsky's wonderful music. The well-known scenes are all there with the 'Waltz of the flowers' and the 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy' brilliant!


Rating

a) Fun & interactivity (4) - The elements are simple but they fit well with the story and music.
b) Useability (4) - The app is simple, but I found the story sequence that was triggered by touching the right bauble on the Christmas tree a little confusing until I found the reset button.
c) Benefit for literacy & learning (4) - A wonderful introduction to a famous ballet and another period in history
d) Value for money (5) - at $2.99 US this is excellent value. 


Total = 17/20

4. 'Monkey Business', by Christopher Cheng and developed by Kiwa Media (New Zealand)

This is a simple story about a runaway monkey and his adventures while free from his confinement. It is in HD format but has unusual images for a young child's app. The zookeepers all look as if they're on steroids. The monkey images are simple and effective, but I wonder how 3-6 year old children will respond. Those I tested it with seemed to enjoy the story more than the images.  The language was also adult-like, e.g. "He was checked for injuries but the only visual evidence of Erwin's escape was a grazed foot". The app has many of the common features including ready alone or listen to, record your own reading, and a painting option. This is a cute feature that allows the reader to paint all illustrations on the way through. While children I tested the app with enjoyed the painting option, it does little for engagement in the story.

I can't say this is one of my favourite story apps; I'd encourage the developers to work on better texts for children and to think carefully about the appropriateness of their images for the age group. They might also consider more interactive elements to elaborate on text or enrich story elements and sequences.

Rating

a) Fun & interactivity (3) - Pretty basic with very minor interactive elements, the painting option was fun
b) Useability (4) - Fairly easy to use
c) Benefit for literacy & learning (3) - Limited in my view. The story does offer rich and complex vocabulary, but this seemed strangely inappropriate in places.
d) Value for money (5) - at $0.99 US you can't argue on value, this is a very cheap app 


Total = 15/20


5. 'Tacky the Penguin' by Helen Lester and produced by Oceanhouse Media.

I love this little story app. Tacky is a lovable character and the illustrations of Helen Lester are simple pen and wash with vibrant colours. She manages to create images that project different personalities for all the penguins. I like the fun names that Lester chose - 'Goodly', 'Lovely', 'Angel', 'Neatly', 'Perfect' and of course 'Tacky'. The introduction of the story complication (the bear and two wolves) with a repetitive verse adds to the fun of the story. But of course, Tacky, the crazy little penguin manages to confuse them with numbers and then send them packing.

As with other Oceanhouse apps, the use of quality literature means that they have a head start and don't need to use as many tricks and gadgets to engage young readers. The app also allows the reader to tap each image with the name of the object shown in word and sound. I'm not a fan of this feature because it often seems to distracts readers from the storyline as they play with the app trying to look for interactive elements. In my view, this simple app doesn't need this feature, which confuses the purpose of reading whole stories with word recognition drills.  

Rating


a) Fun & interactivity (3) - As indicated above, this is a simple app with only minor interactive elements. I'm glad to see sound used in this app to add to the reading experience.
b) Useability (4) - The app works well and is simple in format.
c) Benefit for literacy & learning (4) - The story is rich in language and elegant in plot and structure.
e) Value for money (4) - at $2.99 US it is good value. 
 
Total = 15/20

6. Some more Dr Seuss magic from Oceanhouse Media

(i) 'And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street' by Dr Seuss, Oceanhouse Media

This is another Oceanhouse production to mark the 75th anniversary of the Dr Seuss classic story 'And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street'. This was the first story Dr Seuss managed to have published.  It uses the images from the book and is not animated. The template used by Oceanhouse is the same as for the app reviewed above for 'Tacky the Penguin' and has the same basic features.

The simple sound effects work well and add to the experience of the story for the reader. These include music, footsteps, horse hooves, sounds of the wagon and the grand parade. Kids will love this story app.

Rating

a) Fun & interactivity (3) - A simple app with enough to interest the reader
b) Useability (4) - Simple and easy to use.
c) Benefit for literacy & learning (5) - Wonderful and timeless story from Dr Seuss with the usual richness of rhyme and language.
d) Value for money (4) - at $2.99 US it is good value. 


Total = 16/20

(ii) Dr Seuss Beginner Book Collection #1

This is a fabulous collection of Dr Seuss classic stories just released by Oceanhouse media. Each story in the set is ideal for beginning readers. The titles come in one app and include:

'The Cat in the Hat'
'The Foot Book'
'One Fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish'
'Mr Brown can Moo! Can You?'
'Fox in Socks'

All these books use the same design template as for 'And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street'. So you can read it yourself, have it read to you, or have auto play. It also uses the same picture tap function that primes the words and name for each separate image on each page. However, while I see this as a distraction in some of the apps in which it is used, it works well in this collection because all are fine examples of how Dr Seuss plays with words and language. Hence, the tapping of images to hear and see the label makes more sense.  One other feature in this app is that the sound works so well to support the experience of the story. This is seen particularly in 'Fox in Socks'. I should also add that the reader on the app is brilliant. Try reading '...they call this a muddle puddle tweetle poodle beetle noodle bottle paddle battle' with fluency and interest.

You can't go wrong with this collection; at about $2.50 per story, you should add it to your collection.

Rating

a) Fun & interactivity (4) - A simple app with enough to interest the reader. The word tap option works well with the repetitive language, use of nonsense words and rhyme
b) Useability (4) - Simple and easy to use.
c) Benefit for literacy & learning (5) - Five wonderful stories from Dr Seuss with the usual richness of rhyme, language and silliness.
d) Value for money (4) - at $11.99 US for 5 stories, it's great value.

Total = 17/20

Some previous reviews of apps

'Alice', the iPad and new ways to read picture books (HERE)

'Literacy and the iPad: A review of some popular apps' (HERE)

'Literacy and the iPad: A second review of children's apps' (HERE)

'25 Great Children's Apps to Stimulate Literacy, Learning & Creativity   (HERE)

25 Great Children's Apps to Stimulate Literacy, Learning & Creativity

 

Readers of this blog will know that I've reviewed a number of apps for iPads, iPhones and Android tablets (HERE). I have suggested before that apps for devices like the iPad should be more than just fun games that populate an expensive toy. While I want apps to be enjoyable and exciting, they also need to:

• Provide opportunities for learning.
• Encourage creativity and problem solving.
• Offer knowledge that stimulates further learning.
• Use as many of the senses as possible for this is one of the things apps can offer.
• Be easy to use and intuitive to follow.
• Avoid trivialising any narrative with add-ons that have little to add to the story.
• Use quality language, stories and illustrations.

With thousands of people around the world about purchase device like the iPad I thought it might be timely to review some of my favourite apps currently on the market. I've grouped them into three categories: a) creativity & problem solving, b) writing, story making and animation and, literacy and literature.


1. Apps that promote creativity & problem solving

Dr Seuss Band
Price: $US0.99

This is a simple app from Oceanhouse Media allows you to play music associated with a variety of classic Dr Seuss books including 'Cat in the Hat', 'Green Eggs and Ham' and even the latest Seuss book 'The Bippolo Seed'.  You can transform a three-piece brass instrument with the flick of a finger and use it to play a variety of melodies or create your own piece. As you play, you can unlock new instruments, and create sound effects and new songs when you've attained higher scores. It contains 120 combinations of sounds that offer many variations and lots of interest. The user plays each note by touching the keys in time to a series of moving 'stripes' of different length that correspond to note length. It's a fun way for non-musicians to make music that takes colour-coded xylophones and keyboards to a whole new level. The app has three difficulty levels and scores your performance on each tune, allowing the user to judge progress.

Animalia for iPad
Price: $4.49

Australian illustrator and author Graeme Base has many wonderful picture books (see my review of his work HERE). 'Animalia' is an award winning book that has been given some new interactive dimensions via the iPad app. Readers can search for hundreds of different things hidden in the artwork, and enjoy engaging sounds while reading words and trying to solve the puzzles and uncover some of the deeper layers of the book.



Lego Creationary
Price: Free

I've never met a child who doesn't like Lego. The brick company has produced a great game based on virtual Lego bricks. It is based on the board game 'Creationary' and is a bit like a 3D version of Pictionary. The players roll a virtual dice and watch as objects based on a theme are created. You need to guess what is being built before it is revealed. There are almost a hundred different puzzles to complete.

Elmo's Monster Maker HD
Price: $4.49

This app allows your children to create different monster friends to play with Elmo. The player selects a body, face and features and so on. When finished the monster comes to life on screen. This is a simple app that allows creative manipulation and stimulates language use and story making. Children love the app.

2. Writing, story making & animation

PlayTime Theater
Price: $US2.99

'PlayTime Theater' is a customizable interactive castle that comes with varied characters, props, and sound effects. The user is invited to create and record short animated features. It is similar in principle to 'Puppet Pals' (see below) but is much simpler and a little more limited in the effects possible. However, its simplicity is one of its strengths, because some apps of this type are complex and detract from the fun of creating your own 'story'. The app provides ample opportunities for free play, creativity and storytelling using image, sound and movement.

ClickySticky
Price: $US1.99

This is a wonderful app that again provides opportunities for creative play and image making. Many children will tell their own stories as they create composite pictures based on a variety of background images, characters, clothes and objects. Each character can be increased or decreased in size, rotated, dragged around the background and embellished to create an individualised scene. It includes ocean, aviation, space, dolls, and safari scenes. It is a cross between a sticker book and a dress up mannequin game. When finished you can remove all stickers from the scene by shaking the iPad. This animated 'sticker book' is ideal for boys and girls aged 3-6 years.

Puppet Pals
Free initial app with add-on themes for purchase

I've written a previous post about 'Puppet Pals' and other animation resources for children (HERE).
This wonderful app is available free for the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad. Essentially it is a simple way to create an animated movie using 'cut-out' themed characters and a variety of backdrops and scenes to create an animated 'puppet' play.

The free version comes with Wild West backgrounds and actors.  However, you can also purchase different themes for $US0.99 or the 'Director's Cut' in which you can access all the themes for $US2.99. These allow you to obtain a range of additional scenarios and characters based on themes such as monsters, space, pirates, arthropod armada, Christmas and so on. You can even make your backdrops and characters.

Puppet Pals is a wonderful resource for supporting story telling, writing, language development, creativity, and problem solving, while at the same time introducing them to film making and animation. I could see myself using a smartboard to collaboratively develop a story with my class before introducing individuals and groups to this smart little app.

3. Literacy & Literature apps

Alice for the iPad
Price: $9.49

Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s book has been enhanced for the 21st century. Children can engage with Alice and her story by tilting the iPad to watch her grow and shrink, help the Caterpillar smoke his pipe, shake the White Rabbit's watch, make Alice's neck stretch and so on. You can read an abridged 52-page version where the animation effects come more frequently or the full 249 original version. This app certainly created a lot of attention when it was released and still sets the benchmark for animation effects. Kids love it, but I still feel the effects are rather distracting from the reading. Expensive, but every app collection should include it.

The Nutcracker Musical Storybook 

Price: $US2.99  

 

The Nutcracker Musical Storybook is a wonderful book and musical app that introduces this timeless classic to kids and grown up alike! It can be experienced as a video or in story format. The app presents 27 fully orchestrated musical arrangements of Tchaikovsky's musical. The wonderful illustrations and animations have been hand painted by Yoko Tanaka. It is a wonderful app that engages children at the story level as well as with music, image and creative animation. It can be read and joyed with children, as well as by children aged 6-8 years themselves.



'The Pedlar Lady of Gushing Cross'
Price; $US6.99

'Moving Tales' is a developer responsible for a series of ePicture book apps that present traditional tales in new ways. The organization states that its purpose is to present imaginative interpretations and adaptations, "...inspired by age-old folk tales, archetypal yarns and legends from around the world." In my view they have succeeded in doing this.  They have released four stories to date; each is presented in the same format and with similar stylistic illustrations. I will review just one of the stories. The other titles are 'This too shall pass', 'The unwanted guest' and 'Twas the night before Christmas' (see them here).

The 'Pedlar Lady of Gushing Cross' by Jacqueline O. Rogers (Moving Tales) is inspired by the age-old tale of a man who becomes rich through a dream. There are varied older versions of the story with origins in Persia, Israel and Ireland.  The story describes the journey of a poor pedlar woman who, guided by the shifting line between the real and the unreal, discovers a surprising and wonderful treasure.

As with all ePicture books you can read it yourself or have it read to you. The reader can also record their own reading if they wish. The storyteller provided has a wonderful Irish accent that works well with the traditional tale.  The background music also adds to the haunting nature of the reading of this story. The illustrations are monochrome, with touches of colour and partial animation on each page. It is available in English, Spanish and French.

'The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore'
Price: $US4.99

The producers of this app Moonbot Studios suggests that the book written by William Joyce was inspired in equal measures, by Hurricane Katrina, Buster Keaton, The Wizard of Oz, and a love for books. It is a story about people who devote their lives to books and how books in turn enrich our lives. It is a poignant, humorous allegory about the power of story. It uses a variety of illustrative and animation techniques to create a moving story.  It is presented in a style that offers echoes of the great silent films of the past.

The various interactive elements in this app are complex and yet they relate well to the story.  The reader can repair books, descend deep into a great storm, learn the piano, become 'lost in a book', and fly through a magical world of words. I could have done without some of the games sprinkled through the reading, but kids will love them. There is a surprise on each page of this app. The sophisticated CG animation, excellent original music, and quality illustrations work well to support the narrative. While I felt that there was just a little too much gadgetry, I don't think children would agree, this is a wonderful app.

Above: Image from the app showing the books coming back to 'nest'

'Timo and the Magical Picture Book'
Price: $US3.99

'Timo and the Magical Picture Book' was written by well-known Dutch author Rian Visser and is illustrated by Klaas Verplancke, one of Belgium's most celebrated illustrators. It is a story app for younger readers (3-7 years).  It is about a little boy called Timo who receives an unusual birthday gift, a magical picture book from his uncle. A parcel that was not to be shaken, but... When Timo begins reading his new book he finds himself and his family mixed up into the story. As Timo enters the book, the app reader is able to interact with the illustrations, shaking and touching the images to elaborate on the story.

While the app doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the previous app, it is an appealing picture book that has just enough interactivity to support the narrative.  For me, this app does a good job balancing the interactive elements and story. The app plays English or Dutch language and the reader's voice is warm and friendly, although at times the reading is a little staccato.

'The Three Pandas' by Valerie Min (See Here Studios)
Price: $US2.99

I have reviewed another 'See Here' app in a previous post, 'The Wrong Side of the Bed' a 3D app, and I have just discovered 'Twinkle, Twinkle'. What I like about the work of this developer is the desire to put as much effort into the story and illustrations as the interactive elements.  'The Three Pandas' is based on the traditional story of 'The Three Bears' with an Asian twist.  It will appeal to younger readers aged 3-7 years.

Reading 'The Wrong Side of the Bed' with 3D glasses

The story is set in a bamboo forest, where a little girl (Mei Mei) enters the house of three pandas. As you would predict, she eats their porridge, sits on their chairs, and sleeps in their beds.  But unlike the traditional tale there is a slight twist at the end. The story has been developed in association with 'Pandas International' and so the app provides additional facts about pandas and an external link that enables you to learn more about the Giant Panda. A portion of all proceeds goes toward Panda conservation efforts. The animation is delightful. You can tickle the pandas on each screen shot and be surprised by their responses.  As with most apps you have a choice of languages (English or Chinese).

The story is simple and delightfully understated. The illustrations would be a hit in any form of picture book.  The animation of Mei Mei and the pandas is photographic in nature while the backgrounds are a mix of drawn and real objects. All in all, the images are wonderful.

'The Wonkey Donkey'
Price: $8.49

This app is based on Craig Smith's wonderful book and song of the same name by Craig Smith and is illustrated by Katz Cowley. The original picture book came with an audio recording of the song. This app can be read or followed as it is sung.  It is a funny, predictable and cumulative song, that uses rhyme to great effect. Each page tells something new about the three-legged, one-eyed donkey, who walks down the road. He ends up being a lanky, honkey tonkey, winky, wonky, cranky, stinky dinky, spunky, hanky panky donkey. No child or adult can use this app without smiling! There is much fun to be had by listening to the song and trying to predict the new word for each clue given!

'What was that Noise?' by Iain Anderson
Price: $0.99

"What Was That Noise?" is a simple, original, illustrated, interactive children's storybook. It's a rhyming, noisy book (each page has a sound effect!) that kids will love to read and play with. You can read to your child, or use the "read-aloud" feature to let them read on their own. It has to be the simplest app on the market and is perfect for pre-school children. You can touch the text and it reads the complete phrase or touch the picture to hear the noise that the text describes.  The illustrations are beautiful and yet very simple pen and wash. Young children will love this app; it is a good first app for 2-4 year olds.

'The Cat in the Hat' & other Dr Seuss books

Price: $US 4.99

There are a number of Dr Seuss books that have been turned into ePicture books by Oceanhouse Media. These include 'Dr Seuss's ABC' (also available in a free LITE edition), 'Green Eggs and Ham', 'One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish', 'The Lorax' and 'The Sneetches'. I could have chosen any title because they are essentially all the same in design and format. It's hard to go wrong with Dr Seuss books but I have to say that this is a case where the ePicture version does little more than the paper book version.  Why? Because the only interactive element in these books is the ability to click on pictures which then leads to an appropriate word appearing. While this focus on individual words might be good for some young children to learn sight words, there is the potential to turn every reading of these books into a lesson, rather than the enjoyment of the book, the fun of the language, meaning, the rhyme and rhythm and so on. The text is also highlighted word by word in the 'Read to me' function as it is read. This could be helpful for some beginning readers, but distracting for others. You can try out the LITE version for free.

'Jack and the Beanstalk'
Price: $US3.99

This is a very amusing little app from Ayars Animation. While it is a well-known version of the traditional fairy tale, the animations have a sense of fun and add to the experience of the story rather than simply trivialising it (like some apps). It can be read in readalong mode or can be read yourself.  It has a number of hidden features on each page and has a summary menu that can be accessed showing what features are on each page. The varied forms of interactivity include a variety of elements in the illustrations that speak, move or do funny things. There is also a hidden egg, characters that can be moved, a sun that you can set, a page that you can 'paint' and so on. While some forms of interaction on ePicture books can distract from the story some of these quirky animations add value to the reading experience.

'Wrong Side of the Bed' by Wallace E. Keller
 Price: $US2.99

This 3D story has been produced by Seehere Studios. It comes in a 3D version that uses the typical paper glasses that you can purchase for about $1. Both versions work well. It is a delightful story suitable for 3-6 year-olds and tells of a little boy who wakes up one day to find everything is upside down. The book has simple and effective cartoon style pastel illustrations. The level of interactivity is limited except for the ability to zoom in on the images and move the image around a little. Younger readers will enjoy it, but this app does little for me and wasn't that exciting for child readers tested.
 
'Toy Story'
FREE

You can buy the more recently released 'Toy Story 2' and  'Toy Story 3' based on Disney and PIXAR movies, but the earlier 'Toy Story' app is free!! It is essentially based on Toy Story 1 and includes clips from the movie and some of the songs, pages that can be painted at the touch of the screen and some simple games. It has read to and read alone options as well as an option to record your own version. There is also a fantastic find a page option that allows you to bring up thumbnails of all pages and simply flick from one page to another - brilliant! My only beef with the app is that in the readalong version the text highlighting is word by word. I'd prefer a phrase-by-phrase option for many readers, and would suggest that developers try to incorporate both options. 

Toy Story 2 Readalong
Price: FREE

This story app is based upon the Disney PIXAR film of the same name. Andy heads off to Cowboy Camp, and leaves Woody behind. A toy collector steals him, so Buzz Lightyear and the other toys set off to rescue him before he is shipped to a museum in Japan. The app uses the same wonderful images from the film and includes games, movie clips, colouring pages and songs from the movie. Children aged 5-10 will enjoy the app.

'Little Mermaid and Other Stories by H.C. Andersen'
Price: $US11.99

It's hard to go wrong with a Hans Christian Andersen story and Game Collage has done a great job with this app. They also offer a free LITE version that allows you to try it out before spending $11.99 US to buy it. The app includes three H.C. Andersen stories, 'The Little Mermaid', 'The Emperor's New Clothes' and 'The Happy Family'.  This app does what the developers of 'Alice for the iPad' wanted to do but didn't quite achieve. Unlike 'Alice' this app manages to add a wide rang of interactive elements that use colour, movement, sound and image to engage the reader, complement the story and even, in places, add value to the experience of the book.

Like 'Alice', at times the interactive elements seem a little contrived, but they work. They have used an ornate style for the print and design (in keeping with the age of Andersen's stories) and have added a mass of varied interactive features. These include swimming through the ocean with the Little Mermaid, travelling to different kingdoms in the 'Emperor's new Clothes', shooting fireworks from a ship, watching ants and snails crawl across the screen, being able to rock and switch on lanterns and many more. Unlike 'Alice' the elements are on virtually every page.

The 'Little Mermaid' is a longish story, with the 'Emperor's New Clothes' medium in length and 'The Happy Family' much shorter. There is no readalong option for any of the stories which some will see as a weakness.

Aesop's Wheel of Fables (for iPad)
Price: FREE

This is a simple collection of Aesop's fables. That can be read by children or listened to. One novel feature is a wheel that is spun to choose the fable. There are also some other games embedded along the way which can be chosen. I could have done without the games and perhaps a little more interactivity but nevertheless it is a good collection of classic fables.

Lazy Larry Lizard
Price: $US4.49

This Australian animated children’s book was created especially for the iPad. Early readers are invited to play an active role in the story and are rewarded with full animation - when they ‘poke’ Lazy Larry on the screen, he wakes up and comes to life. But as delightful as this is for the reader, it’s not so much fun for poor Larry and the reader learns of a better way to make him happy when he plays his favourite game. This is an excellent story and the game is addictive.

My previous posts on story apps & eBooks

'Alice', the iPad and new ways to read picture books (HERE)

'Literacy and the iPad: A review of some popular apps' (HERE)

'Literacy and the iPad: A second review of children's apps' (HERE)

'eBooks, not what they're cracked up to be?' (HERE)