Ten of the Best: Picture Book Apps
The growing world of digital media has much to offer the picture book reader. With the expected launch of cheaper devices like a mini ipad and Kindle Fire 2, uptake of picture book apps is likely to increase. Many popular picture books are being adapted for this format as well as new stories being written and produced specifically. The challenge of producing a good ‘app’ (as opposed to an e-book: an electronic version of a printed book) is to enhance the reader’s experience, drawing them deeper into the story, usually via interactive features on the pages, animation, music and sound effects. ‘Read to me’ features support independent readers and mean younger children can access and enjoy the story without an adult. Games on many apps provide some entertainment. A word of warning; children quickly learn what to expect from the best story apps and those with little to tap, swipe or shake on a page may disappoint: a well loved picture book may not be a well loved app. Of course, nothing can replace the joys and benefits of the shared reading experience, so enjoy the app with the child and don’t get rid of your books! says Lucy Russell who chooses her top ten picture book apps.
Spot Goes to the Farm
Eric Hill, Penguin, £1.99
A delight for younger users, this version of the popular lift the flap book works well as an app. As well as tapping to ‘lift’ the flaps, there are hidden animations and sounds on each page for little hands to find, and tapping on the text repeats them. Birds fly, geese honk and the dogs wag their tails happily. Also currently available is Spot Goes to School. (Toddler)
Dear Zoo
Rod Campbell, Pan Macmillan, £1.99
Simply but beautifully executed, this app will prove popular with faithful fans of the book and new readers alike. The flaps of the original are replaced by tapping the crate, which creaks open to reveal the animal. Straightforward animation and sound effects add to the story – the lion roars, the frog hops around when tapped and the snake slithers across the screen. The arrows to guide the reader are a little slow to appear for impatient toddlers, but they will enjoy the picture pairs game. There’s also a word matching game for older readers, as well as helpful tips for the adult user in the extras. Distinctive narration by Caroline Quentin completes the experience. (Toddler)
Mog the Forgetful Cat
Judith Kerr, HarperCollins, £2.49
This well known picture book has been brought to life in an app. There is gentle animation of the illustrations with sparkling stars to hint at interactive features, such as Mog eating her food and jumping up at the kitchen window. The original text can be removed allowing for audio only, or selected on the page for a read along or independent option – a great encouragement and support to developing readers. Good-humoured music accompanies the narration by Geraldine McEwan. This is a delightful addition to a child’s ‘app library’, adding a new dimension to this favourite story. (3+)
Rumble in the Jungle
Giles Andreae, ill David Wojtowycz, The Storyworks Digital for Orchard, £1.99
Bright colours, jungly music and animal sound effects make this collection of animal rhyming verse an agreeable romp through the jungle. Splendid narration by Hugh Laurie will keep young readers engaged and amused. Simple animations are easy to find on each page as well as the animal noises which can be repeated as many times as the reader would like! The text is highlighted as it is read aloud, which older and independent readers may find a helpful support, especially when following the rhythm of the narrative. Also recommended from this publisher, Dig Dig Digging by Margaret Mayo, ill Alex Ayliffe. (2+)
Rounds: Franklin Frog
Barry and Emma Tranter, Nosy Crow, £2.99
This original non-fiction app is the first in a new series, shortly to be followed by Rounds: Penguin (November 2012). Striking but simple pictures inform the young reader about the lifecycle of the frog and a chirpy child’s voice narrates a simple text, largely though speech bubbles. Readers can make Franklin Frog jump, swim and catch flies, whilst learning about frog behaviour. After feeding the newly hatched tadpole, which swims and develops into Fraser the frog, the story starts again, with Fraser as the main character, followed by Fletcher the frog and so on. This app is a clever and fun way for this age group to begin to understand life cycles, including an early introduction to appropriate vocabulary in context: ‘algae’, ‘hibernate’, ‘froglet’. (3+)
Miss Spider’s Tea Party
David Kirk, Callaway Digital Arts, free for a limited time
Sophisticated visuals combine with a rhyming text, accompanied by atmospheric music to tug at the heartstrings. This app is a subtle counting story, in which Miss Spider would love to have some friends for tea. However all the insects are scared of her and she is disappointed and lonely until a happy resolution occurs involving a rain-soaked moth. There are high levels of interaction on every page: when tapped, bees buzz, ants wave and cry ‘no, no!’ and tears flow from Miss Spider’s eyes. The story may be a little sugary for some tastes but the app is beautiful and involves the reader deeply in the story. The ‘read-to-me’ option ensures that younger readers can fully access the story; independent readers may need support with vocabulary. Extras include pairs, puzzles and colouring. There is a read along or ‘watch’ option with highlighted text and enhanced animation –a crossover between a picture book and movie. (3+)
Cinderella
Nosy Crow, £3.99
This app is also an original retelling of this popular tale and demonstrates the exciting potential of this format for young readers. The usual options of read-aloud or read by yourself are present, with many delightful interactive features to draw the reader in on each page. For example, characters can be made to speak individually in addition to the narrated story, the reader can help Cinders tidy the kitchen, dress the Ugly Sisters and the music at the ball can be changed to suit the taste of the reader! The text (a few lines on each page) is accessible for an independent reader but a 3 year old was able to fully enjoy the manipulation of the features and access the story independently through the read aloud feature. Other highly recommended titles from Nosy Crow are Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, Bizzy Bear on the Farm and Bizzy Bear Builds a House. (3+)
Collins Big Cat Playing Story Creator
Tim Hopgood, HarperCollins, £2.49 (free for a time)
As an educational tool this is more than a picture book app, but whilst its use may be ideally suited to the primary classroom, it also has much to offer the home reader. Part of the Big Cat series of book banded titles, the app offers high quality illustration and a simple repetitive text about playing in the rain, snow, garden etc suitable for beginning readers of 4+. There are many opportunities for interaction on each page, accompanied by hints to find them. Text is highlighted as it is read and there is helpful advice on how to get the most out of reading with your child. The unique feature of this app is the Story Creator which enables the child to produce their own version of the story by choosing backgrounds, pictures and text (an optional word bank shows Collins’ expert knowledge of their audience). Users can add their own sound effects or record a reading of the story and have it played back to them. As a support to teaching literacy and ICT in the classroom this app has fantastic potential and may be easily enjoyed by parents wishing to support their child’s reading and writing at home. 4+
The Heart and the Bottle
Oliver Jeffers, HarperCollins, £3.99
Oliver Jeffers’ picture book has been adapted into this sophisticated app. The subject matter makes this one for older readers, as a young girl comes to terms with the loss of her beloved grandfather. Sensitive children may find it too sad, but this beautiful story provides comfort for those dealing with loss and sadness and, as any good book would do, opens the door for youngsters to begin to make sense of the hard things in the world around them. Hints are available on every page to find the hidden interactive features and there are clear examples of how the digital format can enhance story telling: for instance the reader can use a height chart to make the girl grow taller, seeing how her thoughts change with the passage of time. Sympathetic narration by Helena Bonham Carter completes the experience. (4+)
When I Grow Up
Al Yankovic, ill. Wes Hargis, HarperCollins, £2.49
This hilarious caper through the imagination of young Billy in a show and tell session at school will amuse those with a taste for the crazier things of life. Could he be a snail trainer, a gorilla masseur or milk a giraffe? Rhyming text by ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic, sound effects and comedic music accompany the story with clever illustrations by Wes Hargis and lots of hidden interactions on each page. UK users may find the author’s US narration and vocabulary a little grating, but for some children (and parents!) this will be a favourite to read time and again, and there is a ‘read by myself’ option if preferred. There are also several riotous games embedded in the story or to be selected from the home page. 4+
Lucy Russell has been a primary school teacher for 16 years and has a keen interest in children’s books. She is also the mother of two book-loving children.