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Posted by Daryl Grabarek on February 22nd, 2012
A couple of weeks ago I posted book-inspired apps for middle school students. Here are some for younger children. Add-on purchases are available for several of these apps, but not necessary to enjoy the fun and games. (FYI: Marketplace information is linked to each title.)
 Screen shot from 'Bunny Fun' (Wells) Auryn, Inc. Rosemary Wells’s Bunny Fun: Head, Shoulders, Knees,Toes (Auryn, Inc./Fourth Story Media) has been out since last spring, and after repeated viewings hasn’t lost an ounce of its charm. The concept is simple: viewers choose from one of four rabbits to hear a rendition of “Head Shoulders, Knees, Toes.” If they choose the creature decked out in a western outfit (with a desert in the background and tumbleweeds rolling by), they’ll hear the song in English; a rabbit in a colorful kimono sings in Japanese; a sailor bunny in front of the Eiffel Tower croons in French; while a rabbit wearing a Mexican sombrero belts out the Spanish version. As the creatures sing they touch the corresponding parts of their bodies. Once finished with their songs, they skip off the stage and viewers can select another animal and version of the tune. It’s a pleasurable introduction to a favorite song and some basic vocabulary in another language, illustrated with Wells’s signature bright-eyed, friendly creatures.
Most children are familiar with Dr. Seuss and with the Dr. Seuss Band (Oceanhouse Media) they’ll be able to join in some zany fun. Colorful musical keys elicit sounds out of a fantastical instrument, customized by users. Children can play along with a soundtrack from one of the Seuss stories, compose their own tunes (“120 combinations of sounds”), or play a game while keeping score. To date, the app is free, but to unlock additional songs, horns, and effects, there is a charge. (The purchase option can be locked by adjusting the settings.)
While not a game app per se, fans of Sesame Street’s books and programs will be delighted to receive a phone call from one of their favorite characters. From the opening screen in Elmo Calls (Sesame Workshop), preschoolers can select of one of three telephone calls from the muppet, or choose to hear a voicemail message. A tap to a large, colorful bar (just the right size for small fingers) triggers a phone to ring and an opportunity to answer the call. While they listen to Elmo, youngsters will see themselves in a mirror in the corner of the iPad screen. Bright graphics, clear sounds, and this endearing fuzzy creature are sure to amuse viewers. Add-on calls are available for purchase.
Games are included in Mercer Mayer’s Where is my Frog? (Sterling Publishing) story app, available for a number of platforms. First, children can choose to listen to or read the animated story about a critter and his dad on a fishing trip. After enjoying the story there are two game options: a “word” or a “picture” match. In each of 10 scenes children are asked to find six items or animals. Success meets with praise (“All Right!” “Awesome!” Excellent!”) and errors with encouragement (”Not quite. You can do it,” “Sorry, try again,” or, “That’s not it, but don’t give up.”). Moving between playing modes and from screen to screen is smooth, and sound effects such as chirping crickets and a barking dog add to the fun. Appsters can also collect coins by turning pages, finding “hidden hot spots,” and so on. A prize page displays three packages, which can be opened when children collect enough points (not so easy), but the real prize here is the playful games.
Eric Carle’s My Very First App (Philomel/Night & Day Studios) encourages parents to sit with their children “the first time they play” (why not every time?) to determine what level (easy, medium, or hard) is appropriate. In this set of games, which are available in six languages, children choose from several match sets. In one, they swipe the images at the bottom and top of the screen until they come up with a pair. For example, when the turtle lines up with its shell, “A turtle lives in a shell” is voiced. The flip-the-card game employs the same pictures (a bird and its nest is a match, etc.). Users can purchase add-on games, password required. There’s also Counting with the Very Hungry Caterpillar (Penguin/Night & Day Studios) which offers five levels of math activities, and adjustable options. Both these apps feature a clean design, a clear narration, and the art of Eric Carle in perfect combination.
And don’t forget David A. Carter’s Spot the Dot (Ruckus Mobile Media/Unicorn Labs), reviewed here last year. It’s a terrific game from the masterful pop-up engineer and children’s book author and artist that will have children exercising their listening and motor skills.
Tags: iOS; iPad; Android; Nook; Multilingual
Posted in Preschool - Grade 4 | No Comments »
Posted by Daryl Grabarek on February 20th, 2012
Having to stop by the office and sign in late on the way into school—it’s a source of anxiety for every child. Fortunately for Henry there’s a happy resolution to his situation. (The lesson in this story is for parents.)
Title: Henry! You’re Late Again!
Author: Mary Evanson Bleckwehl
Illustrator: Brian Barber
Publisher: Beaver’s Pond Press
Developed by: ZebraMinds, Inc.
Platform: iOS, requires 3.2 or later
Version: 1.1
Price: $1.99
 Screen shot from 'Henry! You're Late Again!' (Bleckwehl) Barber K–Gr 3-Through no fault of his own, Henry is always late for school. Whenever it happens, he must face the intimidating Miss Timberlane, the school secretary. One morning Henry arrives, late as usual, to find out it’s a professional development day for teachers and a day off for students. While waiting for his mother to pick him up, the boy discovers Miss Timberlane is not so fearsome. In fact, she offers Henry a chance to read the morning announcements over the loudspeaker the next day. When he expresses concern that he won’t make it in on time, Miss Timberlane suggests that she makes a wake-up call to his house—every morning.
Listeners can choose to have Henry or the author narrate the story. While both are well done, the audio has a distracting echo. Both the narration and the “Auto play” options can be switched off. Outside the “Auto play” mode, pages turn with a swipe or a touch to the arrows at the bottom of each screen. The cartoon-style illustrations depict a friendly Henry in colorful settings with unusual perspectives.
 Screen shot from 'Henry! You're Late Again!' (Bleckwehl) Barber Users can manipulate small things on each page such as spinning Henry around in the principal’s chair or turning the hands on a clock. Sound effects, such as the creak of a door and the ring of a phone, are heard throughout the story. Since it’s unclear what will respond to touch on each page, users must do some hunting if they would like to find the interactive features, some of which work better within the framework of the story than others. This app is an abridgment of the original print version published by Beaver’s Pond Press.—Kari Allen, National Writing Project in New Hampshire, Plymouth State University
Tags: iOS
Posted in Preschool - Grade 4 | No Comments »
Posted by Daryl Grabarek on February 17th, 2012
Twenty million bats roosting in one cave? Impossible? Bracken Bat Cave in Texas is home to that many Mexican free-tailed “bat moms and their pups” who spend the summer in this “maternity colony.” Children will learn this and other facts about bats in this interactive title, and for the “very curious” there is even a section on how the app was created.
 Title: Bats! Furry Fliers of the Night
Author: Mary Kay Carson
Developed by: Bookerella / Story.
Platform: iOS, requires 4.0 or later
Version: 1.01
Price: $4.99
PreS-Gr 4-Science teachers and bat lovers rejoice! In seven brief chapters this nonfiction title takes readers and listeners on a vivid nighttime trek through an Asian jungle, a northern farm, and a southwestern desert to view a variety of these nocturnal flying mammals.
 Screen shot from 'Bats!' (Carson) Hageran An illustrated table of contents opens the title. Viewers can start at chapter one, “Fliers with Fur,” or select another section covering such topics as “Seeing with Sound” or “Bat Colonies.” The simple, informative text can be listened to or read; both the narration and sound effects can be switched on or off. Each screen includes a few lines of boxed text, and often, a caption describing the photographs, illustrations, and maps used to depict bat species, their anatomy, habits, and habitats. Older readers can dig a little deeper; touching illuminated points will cause more text will appear. (One animated sequence offers an explanation of echolocation.)
The graphics and sound effects vary as readers travel to the various regions, guided by illuminated and blinking arrows. Highlights for children include a make-your-own-bat-screech capability, opportunities to seek-and-find the hidden creatures, and the chance to steer a bat on a nighttime flight. A link to further study and conservation efforts is an added bonus. (For adults there’s information on what to do if you find a bat in your home, instructional materials for purchase, and an opportunity to join Bat Conservation International.) This engaging app is great for classroom use and will be visited many times over.—Amy Shepherd, Librarian, St. Anne’s Episcopal School, Middletown, DE
Tags: iOS, iPad
Posted in Preschool - Grade 4 | No Comments »
Posted by Daryl Grabarek on February 15th, 2012
As our reviewer noted, this app won’t really serve student researchers, and the interactivity is limited, but it’s just the sort of title that browsers delight in—and are likely to spend much more time with than they expected.
 Title: Biography
Author(s): Corey Rozan and Karen Stephenson
Concept: Mohammed Al Nafisah
Developed by: somos
Platform: iOS, requires 4.2 or later
Version: 1.1
Price: 4.99
Gr 7 Up-A visually appealing iPad app that offers a brief introduction to 70 influential historical figures. On opening the title users will see a grid of unlabeled icon portraits. A touch to one of the icons will access two or three screens of information about the featured individual beginning with a note about his or her identity, birth and death dates, a pull quote, and a paragraph on the subject’s early life. Later screens list accomplishments, a chronology of major life events, and a note about the person’s death. Included are artists, philosophers, scientists, political leaders, and a range of other figures. There is no indication why these particular individuals were selected; they span the centuries and the globe, but the emphasis is decidedly male and western.
The app is well designed. A collage of reproductions of period paintings and engravings, photos of artifacts, and maps slide into place as users move from screen to screen. However, interactivity is limited. Tapping the framed circular images usually leads to a larger image and entertaining snatches of music of the important works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and other classical musicians can be accessed. While the font of some of the text is much too small to read, a touch to the screen will enlarge it.
The credits note that the information in the app comes primarily from Internet resources such as Wikipedia, Nasa, and Morgue File. While this app won’t serve the needs of student researchers, it does provide some basic information on the individuals included. Students exploring ideas and subjects for a biography project may also find this a useful place to start.—Mark Richardson, Cedar Mill Library, Portland, OR
Tags: iOS; iPad
Posted in Grade 5 and Up | No Comments »
Posted by Daryl Grabarek on February 13th, 2012
On its website, Oceanhouse Media notes that 27 publishers rejected Mulberry Street before it found a home with Vangard Press in 1937.
 Title: And to Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street
Author: Dr. Seuss
Narrator: Katie Leigh
Developers: Oceanhouse Media Inc., Dr. Seuss Properties & Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.
Platform: iOS, requires 3.0 or later; Android
Version: 1.08
Price: $2.99 in all platforms
PreS- Gr 2-In Theodor Geisel’s 1937 debut title, little Marco strolled down Mulberry Street in a marvelous blend of whimsical artwork and sophisticated text. Seventy-five years later, Oceanhouse Media takes a new generation of readers on a slightly altered path, complete with street noise, shuffling feet, and softly falling confetti.
While walking to school, Marco seeks interesting sights to share with his father. But his view is a boring old horse and wagon. “That’s nothing to tell of, that won’t do, of course…” and Marco imagines a much more elaborate scene, changing the horse and wagon into a zebra and chariot and then finally into an elephant with a sleigh.
Readers have three reading choices: “Read to me,” “Read it Myself’” or “Auto Play.” Words are highlighted as they are spoken and images pan and zoom. When pictures of various items are touched, their labels appear on the screen and are voiced, a feature emergent readers will appreciate. In the “Read it Myself” mode, unfamiliar words can be tapped, highlighted, and pronounced. Background sound effects, such as wagons rolling over cobblestones enhance the overall sensory experience. However, there’s a menu option to turn off the sound effects if so desired.
The eight-minute auto play length is adequate time for Geisel’s signature artwork to unfold in vibrant color. Voice actress Katie Leigh’s animated narration strikes the perfect balance of silly and sublime, making this truly a “story no one can beat.” Celeste Steward, Alameda County Library, Fremont, CA
Tags: Android, iOS, iPhone, iPod touch, Nook
Posted in Preschool - Grade 4 | No Comments »
Posted by Daryl Grabarek on February 10th, 2012
Annie Fox’s first title in the popular “Middle School Confidential” series, Be Confident in Who You Are, addressed family and self-esteem issues with tweens. The author follows the success of that app with her title on friendships, a topic of interest and concern for this age group.
 Title: Middle School Confidential 2
Subtitle: Real Friends vs the Other Kind
Author: Annie Fox
Illustrated by: Matt Kindt
Published by: Free Spirit Publishing
Series: Middle School Confidential
Developed by: Electric Eggplant
Platform: iOS, requires iOS 4.0 or later
Version: 1.1.1
Price: $2.99
Gr 5-8-It’s a question that every young person has pondered–who are my real friends? This app, the second in the “Middle School Confidential” series, will help young adults answer that question as they navigate the murky waters of friendships and relationships with the opposite sex. Eight brief chapters in graphic novel format each address a different topic, such as self-confidence or peer acceptance, through a story about a group of 12-year-olds.
Realistic dialogue is enhanced by authentic background sounds and vivid watercolor illustrations. The dialogue is used to present perspectives on how different people respond to a situation, subtly walking readers through alternative viewpoints. Matt Kindt’s illustrations deftly capture the characters’ emotions and draw readers deeper into the story. In chapter 6, for example, the artist depicts a heart being crushed when one of the characters hears a girl he likes call him a “loser.”
A “Meet the Cast” feature, which can be accessed at any time, provides background information on the diverse group. Interactive quizzes allow readers to gauge how they would handle certain situations. Explanations of why each response is correct or incorrect will help readers develop effective decision-making skills.
Zoom capabilities allow viewers to get a closer look at panels and oftentimes activate sounds. An auto-save feature bookmarks pages. Take away the sound effects and interactive quizzes and this app is simply a digitalized version of Fox’s book (Free Spirit, 2009) by the same title. Even so, it offers an effective way to approach character development and interpersonal relationships with a difficult-to-engage population.–Nicole Knott, Watertown High School, Watertown, CT
Tags: iOS, iPad
Posted in Grade 5 and Up | No Comments »
Posted by Daryl Grabarek on February 6th, 2012
There’s been a lot of buzz about Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral’s format-bending young adult novel, Chopsticks, released last week in print and as an app. School Library Journal’s reviewer Allison Tran called the book a “sophisticated…fascinating puzzle” that’s both “spellbinding and inventive.” We asked her to take a look at the e-version. Her review follows.
 Title: Chopsticks
Author: Jessica Anthony & Rodrigo Corral
Published by: Penguin/Razorbill
Developed by: Citrus Suite
Platform: iOS, requires 4.0 or later
Version: 1.0
Price: $6.99
Gr 9 Up-Chopsticks, an intriguing mystery told primarily through images, is as captivating as an app as it is in the print format. The pictures, which include photos, drawings, and paintings, are gorgeous, sharp, and luminescent on the iPad. Navigation is intuitive and there’s a “how to use” section with instructions, just in case.
The app’s interactive components are experienced by tapping the animated musical notes subtly floating around the screen. Included are video clips, songs, sound effects, dialogue captions, and animated IM conversations mimicking the appearance of actual messages as the characters type them.
Some of the interactive features add more value to the story than others. Youtube links that were clunky in the print version are, of course, easier to access in the app, and the video clips effectively bring readers into the story as participants, as they watch cartoons and TV performances along with the characters. Other interactive components feel unnecessary; why require viewers to tap on the screen to access dialogue captions?
For the most part the app offers the same content as the book, and teens who have read the print version will be disappointed if they expect a dramatically different experience with the app. (Since the app contains audio, they may wonder why the story isn’t narrated.) A few additional photos and videos not found in the book will pique viewers’ interest, but don’t break new ground. The most touching and surprising bit of extra content is an audio file of the main character’s deceased mother singing to her as a baby, accessed by touching the image of a cassette recorder.
Read in a linear fashion, the story leaves unanswered questions, so viewers will be delighted to discover they can shuffle the pages of the app and experience it a different way. Will a shuffle reveal new aspects of the story? There’s sure to be speculation.
Both the print and the e-version of Chopsticks will have their fans. The story is fascinating and complete in either one. Without question, the app stands on its own as an enjoyable multimedia experience.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA
Read the full text of School Library Journal’s review of the book here.
Tags: iOS, iPhone, iPod touch
Posted in Grade 5 and Up | 1 Comment »
Posted by Daryl Grabarek on February 3rd, 2012
There are loads of book-inspired apps and some are downright addicting. While you won’t want to run these apps during class time, they would be great fun to introduce during an afterschool program or an extracurricular book club meeting, especially if some of them are titles under discussion. Either way, be sure to have the copies of the books on hand for students who would like to borrow them.
If you don’t remember how awkward adolescence sometimes felt, I have a book and an app for you. In Meg Haston’s How to Rock Braces and Glasses (Little, Brown, 2011), an eye infection and a rolling rink accident result in a pair of thick glasses and a set of braces for the reigning queen of Marquette Middle School, Kacey Simon. Soon Kacey’s status plummets, a YouTube video mocking her goes viral, and the girl loses a part in the school play. For blunt-to-the-core Kacey this change in social standing has a few positive aspects (including a guy) and leads to (some) self-awareness. The app (same title) offers the first four chapters of the book and a “Brace Yourself” activity. To play, a viewer centers his or her face and a toothy smile over a pair of glasses and braces and snaps a photo. There are a number of specs to choose from (red frames, purple shades, etc.), but no matter which pair is selected, the odds are against a flattering photo. It’s irresistible silliness that can be shared with friends via email.
 At the start of Heather Brewer’s ‘Vladimir Tod’ series, The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites (Dutton, 2007), readers are introduced to Vlad, a half-vampire, half-human teen who hungers for blood. In the High School Bites app it’s Pac-Man-like creatures that are out to devour game pieces. Players progress from one level (or grade) to the next until they reach high school graduation. They can set the speed and level of difficulty, turn the sound effects on or off, and record high scores. While the thirst for vampire stories may be waning slightly, this app is an addiction in the making, even for someone who graduated from high school way back when.
 Lincoln Peirce’s Big Nate needs no introduction with kids. He debuted as a comic strip character and now stars in a series of books. Peirce’s next title, Big Nate Goes For Broke (HarperCollins), is due out in March. In the meantime, fans of can draw their own panels featuring the irrepressible sixth grader, his friends, and classmates with the Big Nate Comix by U! app. Viewers have multiple options as they create comics including “story starters” that offer a variety of classroom scenes populated by characters from the series–Nate, Gina, Teddy, Mrs. Godfrey, Spitsy, and others. Or, if they prefer, they can begin with blank panels, adding background colors, props, dialogue, figures, and sound effects. For each character a number of poses are available. When completed, the comic strip can be stored in a gallery and/or emailed to a friend. The possibilities are endless.
Posted in Grade 5 and Up, News/Commentary | 1 Comment »
Posted by Daryl Grabarek on February 1st, 2012
I’m a late night person—OK—owl, and one of the things I love about spending time in Maine each summer is listening to an owl call from behind my family’s house. I never hear it until well into the night, and have never been able to pinpoint the species, but it’s something I always try to do, guide in hand.
In this title, in addition to discovering the best place to view the most species (Washington state or British Columbia), I read that teachers report that owls are one of the first birds children learn to recognize.
 Title: Our Amazing World: Owls
Author: Wayne Lynch
Series: Our Amazing World
Developed by: Matchbook Digital LLC
Platform: iOS, requires 3.2 or higher
Version: 1.0
Price: $2.99
Gr 4 Up-Vibrant photos of an incredible variety of owls are the strength of this title. Each screen features a bird or birds in natural settings, almost always up close, and in exquisite detail. Scrolling down from each photo reveals a paragraph of information about the creature, while tapping the screen pulls up a row of thumbnail photos that serves as an easy-to-use table of contents.
Captions identify the species of the bird and the location of the photo, while the text covers such topics as the animal’s diet, the insulating qualities of its feather, migratory habits, predators, size, and owl hygiene. Some of the text is tied tightly to the species, some relates to all owls, and occasionally the text is at odds with the photo. The main point of the paragraph under the image of the Ferruginous pygmy-owl refers to the markings on the back of the bird’s head, but the photo offers only a frontal view of the species.
 A Western Screech-owl chick from 'Owls' (Lynch) Matchbook Digital Viewers from early childhood up will be intrigued by the photos. Though the information is not organized with the student researcher in mind, elementary and middle school browsers may find the content helpful in connecting with their own environment, school projects on owl pellets, or their ability to envision the Owlery at Hogwarts. The app does not include sound or interactive elements.—Chris Gustafson, Whitman Middle School, Seattle, WA
Tags: iOS, iPad
Posted in Grade 5 and Up, Preschool - Grade 4 | No Comments »
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The Votes Are In! CYBILS App Award Announced
This past year, for the first time, the Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards (CYBILS) included an app category. The five finalists were: Middle School Confidential: Be Confident in Who You Are (Free Spirit Publishing/Electric Eggplant), Pat the Bunny (Random House Digital), The Monster at the End of the Book (Sesame Street Workshop and Callaway Digital Arts), Hildegard Sings (One Hundred Robots), and The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (Moonbot Studios).
The winner? The Monster at the End of the Book. From the committee: “No one will be able to resist lovable, furry old Grover in this giggle-inducing book app, based on the 1971 classic Golden Book. Sesame Street and Callaway Digital Arts hit all the notes perfectly from the opening pages, as Grover draws the reader in with his charm and natural humor.”
Read more about the committee’s selection and the winners in the book categories at the CYBILS website. Congratulations Monster, Sesame Street Workshop, and Callaway Digital Arts!
Posted in News/Commentary | No Comments »