Holiday apps aglow with fun for kids
Along with decking the halls, families can now festoon their devices with fun, interactive holiday apps for kids. Children can style Santa's hair, build virtual gingerbread houses and decorate a Christmas tree with Charlie Brown. Here are my picks for holiday apps to download this year.
• PlaySquare presents WordWorld's A Christmas Present for Dog
PlaySquare, LLC; best for ages 4-7; free; iPad
Rating: 4 stars
WordWorld'sA Christmas Present for Dog is a heart-warming story about the meaning of Christmas in an animated movie format. But kids don't just watch this appisode from the PBS show WordWorld , they play in it as well. They uncover letters to spell out S-N-O-W (flakes then fall); help the characters write letters to Santa by tracing letters on the screen; guide a sledding sheep; and decorate a Christmas tree.
Why it's aglow: The animals like getting gifts, but selflessly give them away to friends in greater need.
For another cute Christmas story delivered in an appisode cartoon format, try Tom & Jerry: Santa's Little Helpers Appisode .
• PopOut! The Night Before Christmas
Loud Crow Interactive; best for ages 4-up; $3.99-$4.99; iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android , Nook
Rating: 4 stars
This version of William Denslow's poem stands out because kids move the story forward by tapping on the illustrations. It lives up to Pop-Out! The Night Before Christmas name by providing the type of pull-tabs — in this case digital — and spinning wheels typically found in print pop-up books. For example, children bring the "miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer" into the scene by sliding a tab below an illustration of the glowing moon, which also results in Santa exclaiming, "Ho, Ho, Ho!"
Why it's aglow: The charming, old-fashioned illustrations contrast nicely with the modern, intriguing interactions.
If you are looking for more digital pop-up fun, check out Don't Open Before Christmas , a hilarious Christmas tale by Bill Doyle.
• A Charlie Brown Christmas
Loud Crown Interactive Inc., best for ages 4-up, $4.99-$5.99, iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android , Nook
Rating: 4 stars
Based on the TV special of the same name, A Charlie Brown Christmas brings the now-classic story to phones and tablets, and then dusts it with digital magic. Featuring Peter Robbins, the original voice of Charlie Brown, and digitally remastered illustrations and animation from the 1965 show, this version also layers on pop-up book features and delightful interactivity. Kids play Schroeder's piano, snap cans off a fence using Linus's blanket and decorate a Christmas tree..
Why it's aglow: As kids explore each page for interactive surprises, they can earn special ornaments to put on the tree featured at the end of the book. This feature encourages kids to reread the book all over again.
For other classic holiday stories as apps, try How the Grinch Stole Christmas! - Dr. Seuss and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer , both from Oceanhouse Media.
• Toca Hair Salon - Christmas Gift
Toca Boca AB; best for ages 3-7; free; iPhone, iPod Touch , iPad
Rating: 3.5 stars
For some holiday silliness kids can turn Santa into a punk rocker or a super-hairy jolly old elf. They can also style the "hair" on an animated Christmas Tree Guy. Toca Hair Salon - Christmas Gift encourages kids to explore all of the wacky tools available in this unique hair salon. They can spray hair into 12 colorful stripes, add holiday bling in the form of ornaments or go from bald to back in the blink of an eye.
Why it's aglow: Santa and the Tree Guy are open to any hair style, and they respond with hilarious expressions as you experiment with the most outlandish ones possible.
If your kids are into "gettin' their style on," Toca Hair Salon 2 offers more crazy characters and zany tools.
• Gingerbread Doodle
Shoe the Goose; best for kids ages 6-10; $.99; iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
Rating: 3.5 stars
Gingerbread Doodle puts more than 150 candies at your fingertips to decorate your own gingerbread house. This virtual baking app makes it simple to whip up a cookie recipe, roll it out, cut it into one of eight house designs, pop it into the ove, and then decorate the one-of-a-kind creation. With 56 colors of frosting, tons of toppings (including candy canes, sprinkles and other candies), pre-made doors and windows, and 20 extra gingerbread cookies, this app ignites kids' creativity. While the controls are intuitive, there are no verbal instructions, making this app best for kids old enough to read.
Why it's aglow: With more toppings than you would have in real life, this no-fail cooking app lets you become a baker extraordinaire.
• For holiday fun on Windows phones, try Christmas Games for Kids: Puzzlesand, for those celebrating Hanukkah, check out123 Color: Hanukkah Coloring Book.
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.