Curl up with 5 good book apps
Grab your child and a good book to celebrate March being National Reading Month. And it doesn't have to be of the paper variety, as there are now tons of great ones appearing in the app stores as book apps.
Just as paper books come in many different formats so, too, do book apps. Some mimic lift-the-flap books. Others experiment with the choose-your-own-adventure layout. There are graphic novels, fairy tales and imaginative stories. However, the pages of the books discussed below have all been sprinkled with digital magic to enhance a child's reading experience. I selected these five books to demonstrate the breadth of what is happening in the digital book space. All are exciting to explore, so cuddle up with your child and get cracking.
Nosy Crow, best for ages 4-8, $4.99, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Rating: 4 stars (out of 4)
Nosy Crow is to fairy-tale apps as J. K. Rowling is to wizards' tales — both are masterful. It's no surprise then that Snow White, Nosy Crow's newly released fifth app, is brilliant.
This fairy-tale app stays true to the classic story, with the wicked stepmother trying to kill sweet Snow White so that she can be the "fairest of them all." But this version has some delightful modern twists, including making one of the seven dwarfs a girl. With gorgeous graphics, words that highlight when read and original music, the app delivers a memorable story experience. But even better is the way it incorporates the reader's participation. Kids control extra narration by tapping characters. They participate in the scenes by rocking infant Snow White to sleep, making the poisonous brew with the Evil Witch and tidying up the dwarfs' house. This is a fabulous fairy-tale read.
Bonus Tip: For more top-notch fairy-tale fun, click here for a list of other magical fairy-tale apps, including additional ones by Nosy Crow.
Loose Strands
Darned Sock Productions, best for ages 9-14, $4.39-$4.99, iPad, Android
Rating: 4 stars
A digital version of a choose-your-own-adventure, this fantasy novel is unique in its presentation. Kids don't swipe across the screen to turn the pages; rather they swipe up, down, left or right to follow strands of hair that grow across the page.
With periodic animated scenes appearing in Tim Burton-like style, and a story that's bizarre and yet intriguing in a Lemony Snicket manner, kids enter a world where a young boy breaks out of the isolated world of his parents' barbershop. Moving between real and imagined worlds, readers help the little boy make decisions to discover the truth of his entrapment. With frequent forking decision points, which the app chronicles on a map that opens new paths while closing off others, readers are in control of the witty, dark story. Perfect for tween readers who love a complex and thoughtful fantasy read.
Where's my Monster?
Martin Hughes, best for ages 3-6, $1.99, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Rating: 4 stars
The digital equivalent of a lift-the-flap book, this app invites the reader to help a mommy monster find her missing baby. Readers quickly discover that the baby monster is hiding in a house filled with other monsters. In each room they visit, kids pull virtual tabs to open drawers, slide doors and pull down newspapers. Each flap that is opened reveals an adorable hiding monster, just not mommy's. In this merry romp, as kids discover the silly monsters, they learn placement words, such as "over," "under" and "behind." The book ends with a joyous reunion when the mommy sees her baby's feet tucked behind a ball.
Bonus Tip: If your children love monster-story apps, click here to learn more about'Even Monsters are Shy' and here for 'The Monster at the End of This Book…starring Groveer!'
Middle School Confidential 3: What's Up with My Family?
Electric Eggplant, best for ages 8-14, $2.99, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Rating: 4 stars
Taking the format of a graphic novel, this book app follows the lives of six tweens as they navigate difficult relationship issues involving families. Written by the wise parenting expert Annie Fox, with illustrations by Matt Kindt, the eight chapters tackle overprotective parenting, blended families, sibling rivalry, strong emotions, conflict resolution and more. Featuring rich sound effects and music, the app lets kids double tap on any comic frame to zoom in. Each chapter ends with an interactive quiz that clarifies some of the issues brought up in the story-like chapter. This is a treasure-trove of great advice for tweens, and is a wise discussion-starter for families.
Bonus Tip: This is the third app in the series, and the second one is equally as good. Click here to read my review of 'Middle School Confidential 2: Real Friends vs. the Other Kind.'
Ink Robin, best for ages 4-8, $2.99, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Rating: 4 stars
When little boy Leonard moves from the city to the countryside, he can't locate any other kids. Luckily, Leonard has a big imagination, and he uses it to keep himself (and the reader) entertained while he looks for new friends. He imagines that the stream near his house is teeming with whales and that his backyard is full of African animals.
The tech hook is that kids control Leonard's imagination by moving a slider switch on a page. When they slide the tab, the illustrations magically morph from real life to Leonard's imaginary one. The boldly colored imaginary world lets kids interact with many things within the scenes. Leonard is a great example of how book apps use technology to enhance kids' involvement in a story.
Bonus Tip: For more book apps that can spark kids' imaginations, click here for a list.
Jinny Gudmundsen is the Editor of www.TechwithKids.com and author of iPad Apps for Kids, a For Dummies book. Contact her at techcomments@usatoday.com. Follow her @JinnyGudmundsen.