App of the Week :: Play and Learn with Wallace by Priddy Books

June 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
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  Years ago we purchased some Priddy Books for my daughter so she could start learning her letters and sounds.  Seeing the name and logo brings back good memories of when she was a toddler and we really enjoyed using the Priddy Books, the best-selling publisher of over 100 million books worldwide!  They have released a new app called Play and Learn with Wallace that is perfect for toddlers on up to first graders looking to have some fun while learning about shapes, simple math skills, sounds, letters, and much more.  Play and Learn with Wallace is an exciting new series of preschool apps guided by the best practices of early learning experts and teachers. It combines educational games and stimulating interactive play in one dynamic environment to engage preschoolers through first graders in a multitude of ways.     The Home Page opens up to to … [Read more...]

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App of the Week :: My Wild Kingdom by Mutual of Omaha

June 6, 2013 by 3 Comments
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  Most of us grew up watching Mutual of Omaha programs after school.  This year they are celebrating their 50th Anniversary and recently launched a FREE app called My Wild Kingdom which my daughter and I are so enjoying playing with it together.  The app opens up with a calm voice welcoming us to Mutual of Omaha's My Wild Kingdom and to prepare ourselves for an adventure.  Renowned naturalist Jim Fowler and a member of the Wild Kingdom team since the show’s premiere on Jan. 6, 1963, is the narrator of this wonderful app.  Jim says  about the app: "Just like the original television program that started it 50 years ago, the new My Wild Kingdom app is a bold and original experience,” said Fowler. "I’ve never seen anything like it before, and I think you will be as excited as I am about it.”     The first page offers us a couple options including … [Read more...]

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App of the Week: Kids Learn Mandarin by Fingerprint

May 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment
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Just this past week I was speaking to a mom at my daughter's school about wanting to get my six year old into some Mandarin classes.  I wasn't sure how she would do as I can't help her with Mandarin much as my husband and I don't speak it.  But with so many people speaking it around the world I felt it might be a good idea to have her learn at least some basics.  So when Fingerprint  asked me to review their newly released app Kids Learn Mandarin I was excited.  Now I could introduce my child to the basic vocabulary words without breaking the bank to see if she liked learning Mandarin!  Created in partnership with Hong Kong based Digital Learning Company, this immersive and vibrantly animated title improves on the original Kids Learn Mandarin app released in 2012, which was ranked as a Top 10 Education App in six countries. Kids Learn Mandarin for Fingerprint features the … [Read more...]

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App of the Week: Extraordinary Jenny Jones

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
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This week we are featuring a new app, Extraordinary Jenny Jones released by the PaperPlane Company. The app and iBook launched this past week on the AppStore and iBookstore.  I have to say I immediately fell in love with the illustrations and title of the story. I love using tools that teach our kids about being extraordinary and using their imaginations!  Extraordinary Jenny Jones is about a little girl who sees the world through totally different eyes.  What everyone else sees as round, Jenny Jones sees as square. And the other way round.  Aimed at kids aged 6 and up, it’s a wonderful children’s tale about believing in yourself no matter how different you feel about things or even how you see the world.  These types of themes are a big hit in my household as I like to teach that it is okay to be different or to see things differently from those around you. The … [Read more...]

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App of the Week: Sharing with Duckie Deck

May 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment
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Developer Duckie Deck has created some very cute apps for toddlers on up.  Over eight million toddlers and preschoolers have played with their educational games.  Their apps cover important topics, from brushing teeth to sharing with others – things that are essential for a healthy and well-rounded young mind. By showing examples of everyday situations in an imaginative and stimulating way, their aim is to expand kids’ understanding of their world and make learning fun.     This week we are featuring their Sharing with Duckie Deck app.  The app opens up to a page where we have six games to choose from that includes sections on how to share, matching games and drawing games.  The sharing game was sweet.  There are four little kids at a dinner table and there is a large cake that we have to cut up and split between them equally.  If we don't give a … [Read more...]

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App of the Week: Twinkle, Twinkle, Nighty Night

May 2, 2013 by 2 Comments
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  The other day I was driving my daughter to school and she was playing with the iPad in the car.  She immediately chose to play with this new app I am reviewing today called Twinkle, Twinkle, Nighty Night by Alexis H. Purcell.  I can see why as you can't help but be drawn in by the soothing music and cute illustrations.  This is the perfect story before nap time or bedtime.  The first page of the story provides you with a choice between having the story read to you or reading it to yourself.  This is a great feature for early readers to practice their reading skills.  You can also choose to have the music on or off.  Again, the music is ideal for this type of bedtime storybook!     The animations are simple such as when you touch the owl and her babies, they hoot (or coo is more like it) and blink open and shut their eyes.  As you turn the pages, … [Read more...]

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App of the Week: Dinosaur Zoo by Dotname Studios

April 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment
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  Does your kid love dinosaurs as much as mine does?  Then they are sure to enjoy Dinosaur Zoo by Dotname Studios.  You will hear dinosaurs roaring, biting and even contributing to the ozone layer if you catch my drift... no pun intended.  Apparently the 3-6 year old boys love when the Argentinosaurus has some "issues."  You even hear the dinosaurs roar back at you - but you have to yell out a big roar to get one back from them.  Behind every dinosaur is a mini-chapter that shows maps of where it lived, where we have found the fossils, a 360 degree rotating dinosaur and some really cool statistics! The first page opens up and we find Argentinosaurus in a desert terrain.  When you touch the dinosaurs they move around - swinging their head and body back and forth.  When you touch the button with the dinosaurs you are brought to the Zoo Map and have a choice to pick … [Read more...]

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App of the Week: Mindshapes Sid’s Slide to the Side

April 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
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Jim Hensen's Sid the Science Kid is such a wonderful character and we have enjoyed watching the show together as a family since my daughter was about three years old.  I love how Sid and his friends make learning about science interesting.   One of our favorite episodes was the one where he wanted to know why a banana turns mushy.  They showed pictures of fruits that  get brown and mushy over time.     Mindshapes in conjunction with the Jim Henson's group recently released Sid's Slide to the Side app that is narrated by the woman who is the voice on the cartoon.  The first page opens up and we are greeted by Teacher Susie and four activities to choose from.  We touched the screen and Sid ran to first base to his red shoes.  The page then opens up and the teacher tells us that though Sid has a new pair of shoes, there is a problem and he can't do his … [Read more...]

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App of the Week: Ten Giggly Gorillas by Wasabi Productions

April 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
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Who can resist a bunch of giggling gorilla's?  No one in our household that is for sure!  Wasabi Productions Ten Giggly Gorilla's is quite fun for the whole family to enjoy together.  The first page offers us a chance to either have the story read to us or read it by oneself.  There is even a button For Parents (that you have to hold for at least 3 seconds) where you can subscribe to their newsletter.  I like that this feature is difficult to get to so that the youngsters probably won't be able to access it. This storybook app is perfect for ages 3 to 6 years of age.  The developers, Wasabi, state on their homepage that the reader's interaction is a big part of the story that will surely delight and inspire young readers.  My six year old really enjoyed the interaction and the silly gorilla's.  The story is set in rhyme and helps us to count down from ten to one.  Here … [Read more...]

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App of the Week: Fiete by Ahoiii

March 24, 2013 by 7 Comments
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      Developer Ahoiii from Germany has created such a wonderful app with Fiete.  I love the simplicity of the story and the unique activities they offer.  On the first page we see a sailor with a smile on his face waving to us.  The story opens up with an octopus in the ocean, a ship sailing by and six activities to try out.  We first chose the icon with the hat in it.  This is sweet as you see the sailor - minus his hat and you get to decide which hat you should place on his head so he can start his adventures.  Our choices include a sailors hat, top hat or a Robin Hood style hat.  We quickly learn that the top hat nor the Robin Hood hat is the right choice!  Once we place the sailor hat on his head, it flips in the air, the sailor smiles, and we are brought back to the beginning of the story. The next icon we chose was the basket of apples.  … [Read more...]

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