Bottom Line: Outstanding! I can't think of an ebook I liked this much.
First: The narration. It's done by Sarah-Jane Honeywell (CBeebies) and is the best I've heard in an app.
Second is the story by Fiona Treweeke. It's about a tiger cub who sets out for food when his Mummy has a hurt paw. At the end E said "He didn't really do any hunting, but he made a bunch of new friends!" That sums it up pretty well.
Third: The illustrations by Mike Stonelake. They are different and cool, sort of like a coloring book with different textures for different items. (I don't usually drop names BTW but I felt it was owed in this case.)
Fourth, the developers (Kid-estorybooks) clearly tried to make every little detail special. Items can be touched to hear and see their name; there is nice background music; and when the child presses the next arrow, they hear a small tiger growl. Just really great stuff. My kids giggled every time they turned the page and ran to their mother to show her.
Fifth, the words are highlighted when read in the read-to-me option AND read when touched during read-it-myself. Sixth, it's only $1.99 which is as cheap as most native iPad apps get. Seventh, it has two bonus features: A matching pairs game and three puzzles.
The primary feature the app is missing is autoplay (where the pages are turned automatically for younger toddlers).
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If you would like to purchase Hide Run Growl please use the links provided. The cost is the same, but Smart Apps receives a small percentage. Thanks for your support!
iPad ($1.99): U.S. Canada U.K. Australia
The last couple of posts don't have an Australia link. I would like to buy via your page to help you out. Do you have links to the Australian store?
Posted by: Carolyn Spencer | 09/26/2011 at 06:09 PM