Elly Book 10, as the name may imply, is the 10th book in the wonderful series of interactive storybooks starring Elly, a most endearing and relatable reindeer – now a good friend of my son’s as well.

Like the other titles in this series by UK author and illustrator, Jon Higham, this story consists of Elly and gang helping a new friend who needs to find his way back home.

One has the option of listening to included narration or reading this book by oneself. Both options here are delightful, as the narration by Rose Higham is lovely as usual, including the creation of different voices used for each of these characters, each cute and charming.

Although the included narration will be a favorite element to other children, reading these books out loud to my son has long been my family’s favorite way to spend app time that we really enjoy. These simple books flow really well, are easy to read and will make lovely first readers when my son is ready.

Here, a new character to this series is introduced, Lumi, a lost polar bear who is in need of help in finding his way back to the North Pole. Elly is at a loss as to what to do, so she asks her friends to lend a hand, helping Lumi make his way home, as well as gathering food and building shelter until he is able to make this trip.

Typically, adult humans are not found among these stories that revolve around Elly the reindeer, her animal friends, and her human friend Aapo. I think that it is a nice to include Aapo’s uncle, an explorer who is able to help Lumi go back home, as sometimes adults need to help children with problems that they may face. I am also very fond of how cooperation in general is a theme among these titles as Elly often needs to ask for help from her friends – great lessons for children to learn.

My son loves this story, as he does the other Elly apps. The mild drama of a lost creature in need of a helping hand is very captivating to my son, as his favorite game at the park is saving me – his “baby” – from alligators or hot lava, and now I am sure he will create a game where he needs to help me – as an animal that needs to find its way back home too.

The details from the airplane with skies to the building of an igloo to keep Lumi cool and comfortable were of great interest to my son, but what really fascinated him was the talk of the “magic lights” – a moment especially well narrated as well.

Like the other Elly books, hotspots are found in the corners of these pages, nicely marking where to tap, making it easy for the youngest children to explore these included sound effects. Although my son has access to the most interactive apps available, these lovely storybooks are still quite dear to his heart, also loving these simple additional sounds found throughout, tapping each one as I read these pages.

For the first time, an animated element has also been included, bringing the Northern Lights to this story as they magically appear in the sky for Elly and friends to see as they bid their new friend Lumi good night a long way away in the North Pole, and my son had a real moment watching the aurora borealis flicker across the last page of this story, making this a perfect bedtime story that gently introduces the idea the the world is bigger than one’s backyard.

My son’s face beamed throughout as I read this story to him. At the end, he asked my to read it again – high praise as he typically requests a variety of apps instead of a repeat performance the way he does with this darling polar bear story.

I am really happy that this series of Elly apps has included so many titles, allowing my son to get to know these creatures as they demonstrate true kindness and friendship. As a parent, I would be happy for my son to emulate these relationships. I hope more Elly books are to come.

Animals, Art, By Age Range, By App Feature, Just For Fun, Language, Preschool, Primary School, Reading, Reviews, Social, Stories, Toddlers

Advent Tree 2011 is a very nice universal children’s app which includes 24 mini-games to be played as one taps the numbers found on the Christmas tree from 1 to 24.

Although a calendar mode exists allowing players a new game starting December 1st, it makes most sense at this late date not to use this function but to allow the included games to be played all at once. This being the case, gameplay is intuitive as this app opens up to a nicely decorated tree which includes numbers from 1-24, each moving to get the player’s attention, with a tap bringing players to each new game.

The included mini-games are each short, but the inclusion of 24 activities in total gives this app a lot of nice content. This app would be great for toddlers who need quick and simple activities.

Mini-games include puzzles, connect-the-dots activities, find the difference games, adding the face to a snowman or a simple game of “memory.” I can definitely see toddlers and early preschoolers really enjoying this app with a parent, and I like that these games are explained with the tap of a question mark, with the explanation including text as well as a visual clue, aiding children who are not yet reading.

I appreciate that this app saves the progress one makes tapping from 1-24, but it would be especially nice to choose favorite game levels as well.

Although a Christmas app, I can imagine young children enjoying this application long after tho holiday season, as these games are numerous and very short to complete, making them perfect for a toddler’s first experience with these types of activities.

By Age Range, By App Feature, Just For Fun, Matching, Preschool, Puzzle, Reviews, Toddlers

Santa’s Big Helper: 9 Christmas Apps in 1 is a really fun app for Christmas that integrates technology nicely into this Christmas app that will be appealing to children, especially precocious ones who may begin to doubt the existence of Santa.

A fun Christmas sound board is included, allowing kids to hear festive sounds with the tap of a finger. A magical compass is also offered, pointing its way to the North Pole and includes some fun sound effects as well. A Naughty or Nice list is also included that kids can check to see their status, and a Christmas countdown is featured, letting kids know how many sleeps it is until the big day, down to the hour, minute and second of Santa’s impending arrival.

Writing a letter to Santa is made easy as well here, and thanks to email, one can be sure he receives a note in a timely fashion.

For me, by far the best functions of this app are the “Elf Updates” and F.A.Q.’s also answered by this informative elf, “Dozey Toes” in the “Ask an Elf” section of this app.

These updates are brilliant, as topics such as “No Chimney, No problem” or “Dasher the reindeer needs glasses” are taken very seriously, with some quite witty, laugh out-loud moments that I really appreciate. Questions for Santa include such topics as “Is Santa real,” “How does Santa visit everyone in one night” or “Why is Rudolf’s nose red”. Each answer is quit funny and for children, thought-provoking, I am sure.

I really enjoy these elf videos, but it may be worth noting that the style chosen for this elf may be an acquired taste, as he is a rather large man in an, I assume, a purposefully ill-fitting and inexpensive or amateurishly made elf costume – details that I find quite endearing although it did take some getting use to.

These daily elf updates and the questions answered are well-written and delivered, and yield a lot of laughs and some valuable Santa information that can be found nowhere else, making this app a good choice and worth the $0.99 price.

Another very interesting feature here is the “World Famous Patent-Pending Elf Cam” which allows one to see Santa entering one’s home on surveillance camera to prove to children of his existence after the fact, a well-done element that will impress children.

A parent’s section is included, nicely-password protected, to let adults add their children to the naughty or nice list, as well as configure the video of Santa entering the house via chimney or simple magic – a thoughtful addition for those who do not have a chimney. The videos created here are really cute and fun, something kids will really enjoy and parents will have fun with as well.

Christmas is not a holiday that we as a family in a religious sense celebrate, but as my son is in preschool and exposed to the secular concept of Santa, my husband and I enjoy the idea of Santa coming for a visit to drop off a small, token gift for our son to honor the fact that he has had a good year in preschool so far.

I have really enjoyed the Elf updates and questions answered, as has my son, who has started asking similar questions about Santa, although the fantastical answers we have made up to answer these questions don’t match up always with the answers this app provides. These sections have been a source of humor that we all enjoy, and I appreciate the fact that my son can watch these short videos without the use of an internet connection.

Christmas is right around the corner and some families may not want to bother purchasing such a topical app that may not be enjoyed past the holiday, but this app is so much fun, it is worth a closer look in iTunes.

By Age Range, By App Feature, Creativity, For Parents, Just For Fun, Preschool, Primary School, Reviews, Social, Sounds, Toddlers

12 Days of Christmas – Polk Street Press Singalong is a charming iPad application which truly brings the traditional song of the same name to life, as well as re-enforcing number sequencing along the way.

I do so very much love the look of this app, as each of the verses of this song is illustrated by wonderful illustrated scenes demonstrating each of these twelve days, such as Three French Hens or Five Golden Rings, complete with cute animated elements, lovely details and patterns adding to the richness and whimsy of lovingly crafted application.

I find the color palette used here quite pleasing, with warm muted colors alongside brighter color choices of many shades of green, turquoise and orange that I very fond of. The subtle shading and brush strokes used here add to this app’s beauty and hand-painted quality that adults and children will enjoy, and I would feel privileged to be able to hang images from this app on the walls of my home.

The animals as well as the people incorporated within are simply adorable. I also greatly appreciate that the people found in such scenes such as the pipers piping, lords-a-leaping or drummers drumming include a variety of skin tones and hair textures which create a nice visual effect as well as a multi-cultural experience, something I would love to see more of in the U.S. iTunes store in general.

Two general sections are included, specifically Playalong and Singalong and I enjoy how this app opens up to 12 images, found in 6 squares – top and bottom – that represent each of the days included in this song – an important element in the Playalong section.

Here, children have an opportunity to learn about number sequencing as this app plays each verse and then pauses, allowing children to tap the number in descending sequence, starting with days 1 and 2, then asking the player to tap the number 1, as it is the start of the long trail of presents received on each day that build as the days go by, ultimately allowing young children to test their number recognition and sequencing skills counting back from day 12.

This app also allows children to record their own version of this song, including simply audio or video as well for iPad 2 users. Options include being accompanied by singing along words with the original recording or singing to an instrumental version by oneself.

The words in this section are not highlighted karaoke-style but are delivered line-by-line as one watches this song’s animation on the top half of the screen. I don’t think the lack of highlighting will make keeping in time with this song difficult since it is so well-known, and I like that one can sing along while being somewhat prompted by the singer to keep in time, or sing by oneself as the instrumental version is being played. Sharing one’s recordings via email or Facebook is made easy, and I also enjoy the fact that one can also watch this lovely illustrated song without making a recording.

12 Days of Christmas – Polk Street Press Singalong is a great app for iPad for any family who enjoys singing or listening to traditional festive Christmas songs. The illustrations used are perfectly realized for this application, and I hope to see more from artist Lesley Breen Withrow in the future.

Animals, Art, By Age Range, By App Feature, Counting, For Parents, Just For Fun, Music, Preschool, Primary School, Reading, Reviews, Toddlers

Biscuit Gives a Gift is a universal storybook app based on the book of the same name, part of the hugely popular “Biscuit” series of children’s books about a cuddly yellow puppy named Biscuit and the adventures he goes on with his companion – The Girl With the Purple Sneakers (here wearing purple boots) – a character also found throughout this series.

This is a nice story where Biscuit and the girl deliver gifts of all shapes and sizes to neighbors, family and friends. From giving home-made gingerbread to relatives or birdseed to birds, this is a simple and sweet story about giving, and I like that less tangible gifts are given as well, such as sharing a story or even a kiss from Biscuit to the girl at the end which is considered the best Christmas gift of all.

This application includes some mild interactions where tapping creates some subtle but effective animations, allowing these characters to move. Narration is an option, as is Autoplay, and when this story is read by the narrator, the text is highlighted when read. Of course, this app can be read out loud as well.

Kids will also enjoy searching for Biscuit’s bone that has been partially hidden in each page – a fun seek-and-find type of game to play as one reads this storybook.

A coloring book, sticker book and memory game are also included that kids will enjoy, but I wish there was a way of muting the sound effects found as one colors or arranges the stickers as these sounds can be loud and possibly distracting.

The youngest of children through preschool will enjoy this story about Biscuit, as they have for over a decade now. The illustrations are lovely, as is Biscuit himself, making this app a nice choice for fans of these books, young dog lovers or for children who simply enjoy a nice story.

Animals, By Age Range, By App Feature, Just For Fun, Preschool, Primary School, Reading, Reviews, Social, Stories, Toddlers

Toca Boca Hair Salon – Christmas Gift is a wonderful new Toca Boca app based on their Toca Hair Salon, which is free as a gift to all their loyal fans, also giving others a taste of what Toca Boca has to offer.

I always enjoy this time of year to see which of our favorite apps have come up with holiday-themed updates, oftentimes adding Christmas content to an existing app which is then removed after the holidays. These updates by their nature are offered to those who have previously downloaded these apps, so I think it is lovely that Toca Boca has come up with this idea to offer this application for free as a lovely Christmas gift to all.

I love this application as I do Toca Hair Salon. Here players get to groom Santa himself as well as a Christmas tree. The look and game play are very similar, as is the scene found outside the salon is now transformed nicely to a winter scene, with snow on the ground as well as falling from the sky. Once inside, choose a client and get to work changing his look in any way possible.

The styles one can create here are truly endless as one has the choice of tools to use, including a comb, scissors, hairdryer and buzzers. One of the best elements to this game is the magic potion G.R.O that when applied, will grow back hair that has been cut or shaved, even to simply lengthen hair as far as the screen will allow. A very nice selection of hair colors is also available, including both natural as well as other fun colors. Spray color slightly for more of a highlight effect or more intensely to fully dye a character’s hair a different color totally, complete with the fun sounds of ball bearings rattling around in a metal can as one makes a color choice.

Although much of what is offered here mirrors what is available in the Toca Salon, this app is not to be confused with a simple “lite” version of Toca Salon (although this app can easily be used by those new to Toca Boca to see if Toca Salon is of interest to their family) as here, wonderful decorations in the style of ornaments and such have been added which my family has gotten a huge kick out of, which vary from the more traditional hair decorations recently added to the classic Toca Salon.

From bows to ball ornaments, stars and other hanging decorations, place these items where you wish, making note that each of these choices has a variety of colors or patterns to choose from, a fun detail that is utterly Toca Boca

What I love most about these decorations is their relationship to physics, as using the hair dryer after adding these decorations will blow the ornaments away, and shaving or cutting the hair can also remove these decorations. I would love to also be able to simply move or take away these decorations with the drag of a finger after they have been first positioned, something not possible at the present time, but would be nice for a future update.

The addition of these decorations has brought this app to a whole new level of creative play that we just adore. I would also love to see more salon updates or solo apps for Halloween as well, possibly styling a wolf man, vampire or witch and glitter, curling and flat irons would be interesting choices to include as well.

Also new is the ability to turn off the camera function found within these salon apps.

This function saves parents the time it takes to delete possibly hundreds of photos from their camera roll. The camera itself remains, allowing children to still have fun taking snapshots of their characters, complete with fun bulb flashes and sound effects without any image being saved.

For some children this is a great compromise, but I worry that my son may go looking for his images and be disappointed not to find any.

In situations like this, other families may find that having the option to remove the camera altogether may be a better solution – hard to say as the photo-taking is super-cute, even if no images are being saved.

I don’t begrudge my son’s picture taking, and I confess that I have a hard time deleting his creations, but personally, I would love to see an option where the camera takes only one shot of a given character specific style, with the second, third and beyond images taken in rapid succession without any changes made to the model not to be saved to one’s camera roll.

I am impressed with the generosity of Toca Boca to have made this Christmas app a stand-alone app instead of an update, allowing fans not just specifically of theirs, but of applications in general to download this app for free.

I highly recommend this app as I do all their others, and I have in the past given them credit for making their apps affordable for most. This app is a download one who buys apps for iPhone or an iPad simply can’t pass up, also being a wonderful introduction to the whimsical world of Toca Boca. Toca Boca Salon and their other apps have been reviewed at GiggleApps as well. Please look for them if interested.

Art, By Age Range, By App Feature, Creativity, Just For Fun, Preschool, Primary School, Reviews, Toddlers

Arthur Christmas Movie Storybook is a fun storybook based on the current movie of the same name, also including added interactive elements.

Arthur Christmas is the delightful story about how Santa delivers presents to all the world’s children. This story is a fun one that seems original among the other Christmas stories out there and I really enjoy how in this tale, the job of Santa and the elves make use of technology to get things done in a timely manner, as well as including some very classic elements.

It is nice that one gets to meet Santa’s children, Steve and Arthur, who each have very different personalities, with Arthur taking it upon himself to deliver a forgotten present to a child on Christmas.

Arthur’s adventure while making this delivery is really fun to watch and takes him to places that adults as well as children will be engaged by, as this story takes some fun tangents that I did not expect and had a lot of fun with.

From what I have seen of this film, as we have not yet seen this movie in the theater, this app borrows images directly from this film, giving this application a a wonderfully stylized, colorful and very vivid computer animated look that I really enjoy. I like how each page has an image from this film illustrating it, but the included story goes into details way beyond the included illustration, allowing children to use their imaginations while listening to this story.

I also enjoy how the actors within this film are also included during the reading of these characters’ dialogue. Narration is included within this app, as is auto play, but one can turn off these features and read this book to oneself as well. At the end of this book, some interactive scenes are also included in which kids can become part of this story.

I know that oftentimes before bed, my son will ask to see a full length film such as this for which we have no time. It is nice that with this app as well as with the other iStorytime apps based on other children’s favorite movies, one can allow children to experience these stories in app form in much less time.

This is a fun and lively app that kids and adults will enjoy. This application does touch upon a lot of plot points but still maintains itself as a good narrative in its own right, and I have enjoyed this story with my son.

Arthur Christmas Movie Storybook has encouraged me to go see this movie, and I am happy that my son can revisit this creative and interesting Christmas story whenever he wishes.

For those interested, other apps based on popular kids movies such as films from the Shrek and Kung Fu Panda franchises, as well as a storybook based on the children’s film Megamind and others also available from these developers. Please check iTunes for more details.

By Age Range, By App Feature, Just For Fun, Language, Preschool, Primary School, Reading, Reviews, Stories, Toddlers

There’s No Place Like Space is the first title from The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library developed by Oceanhouse Media. Like their other Dr. Seuss apps, There’s No Place like Space faithfully adapts the printed version of this book as well as adding some new interactive elements.

For those who may not know, The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library is a non-fiction series for children that teaches different subjects of interest to kids, such as dinosaurs or sea life, always staring the Cat in the Hat and human counterparts – siblings Sally and Dick, as well as Thing One and Thing Two. My son loves these new adventures with the gang from the classic Cat in the Hat books, as do I.

Here, There’s No Place Like Space tackles the topic of outer space, introducing the planets in the solar system, with vivid descriptions of each one, a fun mnemonic to help kids remember each of their names and correct order, as well as fun facts about the sun, moon, constellations and other related information.

Like other Oceanhouse Media apps, this universal app includes narration, also allowing one can read this book to oneself. This app, like many others from this developer, does a great job of incorporating the traditional illustrations found in the classic books, with the use of “The Ken Burns Effect’ as these drawings are panned and zoomed across to create effect.

Some of these single pages have been expanded to create a screen full-screen spread, but the text is the same as found in the printed book, delivered paragraph by paragraph, aiding in threading of these rhymes.

Interesting interactions can also be explored here – a new element found among Oceanhouse Media apps and a nice inclusion to their new The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library series of applications.

Move individual images such as the gang’s spaceship and the planets floating among these pages around the screen, which then fall back into their alignment and can also be moved around the screen as a whole – a nice touch to emphasize their order in the solar system. The ability to create constellations with a tap is also included as well, a personal favorite interaction.

Simple animated movements can also be found such as the planets revolving around the sun – an image, together combined with the relaxing, vaguely science fictionish music found throughout, create a moment that is surprisingly moving.

I like use of Thing One and Thing Two who are somewhat hidden among these pages, encouraging kids to find them and tap, as doing so makes these creatures hold up a sign containing a fun fact or science-related question – an element also found in the published book, made nicely interactive within this application.

I also appreciate how the published book contains a glossary of words touched upon in this story. Here, these words are highlighted and can be tapped to hear and see these glossary words explained. Like the other Oceanhouse Media apps, individual words or full paragraphs can also be tapped to be narrated, as well as any of the objects within the page, as these items will be labeled and spoken when tapped without competing with the narrator reading the text, always a nice touch.

It is worth noting that this application is based on the updated version of There’s No Place Like Space omitting Pluto, which was demoted from planet to dwarf planet in 2006. Because of this, the page pertaining to Pluto and the mnemonic have been removed and changed from my older copy of There’s No Place Like Space to correspond with the re-classification.

I am thrilled that my favorite voice talent, John Bell, is back to narrate this application.

There’s No Place Like Space, although a creative, fun and educational book, is not written by Seuss himself, although it is written in a Seuss-like style. I enjoy this book, as does my son, but my husband and I did comment to ourselves that the text is not as well-written as the classic books by Seuss.

I think the narration by John Bell brings so very much to this application. Having narrated other of Oceanhouse Media’s Dr. Seuss apps before, Bell understands the cadence, rhyme and whimsy found in Dr. Seuss prose, as is able to infuse his narration with a Seussian flair that does not exist as much in the words found on the page as it does within Bell’s brilliant delivery. I hope to continue to hear more of his great talent in other applications.

My son and I and I have really enjoyed this application. Although recommended for ages five to eight, I can’t see why younger children four or possibly younger would not enjoy this app as well. I am very happy to hear that this is only the first app in The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library as I enjoy sharing non-fiction books with my son as well.

I eagerly await to see which book in this series will be adapted next, having enjoyed the extra features not comply found within a Oceanhouse Media app. Having said this, I think the price tag of $5.99 is high compared to other apps at this price point, and a lower price would be more in line with what parents are typically looking to spend per application.

By Age Range, By App Feature, Just For Fun, Language, Preschool, Primary School, Reading, Reviews, Science, Stories, Toddlers

Piece me Circus! is a delightful universal puzzle app with a circus theme that adults as well as children will enjoy,

The interface of this app is very child-friendly, opening up directly to a main page where each of seven wonderfully whimsical circus characters can be found.

This app stands out in the crowd of apps similar to it as the illustrations used are simply wonderful, with bright and bold color choices and a look all their own. I love the palette of colors used here, with the reoccurring color choices of bright turquoise, vivid pink and purple, as well as the other colors used to create circus folk of eccentric colors that I greatly enjoy.

From a bear balancing on a striped ball to a strong man and high wire dancer holding an umbrella, the style found here is both reminiscent of vintage circuses, while maintaining its own unique style that is quite special and great fun to look at.

The backgrounds used within these puzzles are also visually quite interesting as they are well detailed using shades of gray, nicely contrasting to the bright colors used within the puzzles themselves.

After a character has been selected with a tap, one is brought to a faint highlight of the puzzle in question. A shake of one’s device or well- placed tap will randomly toss the pieces across the screen with a satisfying sound, now allowing players to move these pieces into the faint outline offered. It is nice that this outline includes subtle but effective shading, creating depth and the sense of this outline being a dimensional puzzle cutout that one is filling, much like a traditional puzzle.

This classic feel is further realized as the pieces one moves across the screen have a subtle white outline that surrounds each piece but which can no longer be seen when the piece is fit correctly within the master puzzle, complete with a click to let one know that these pieces are in place. These details are simple and may not be specifically noticed, but their inclusion creates a rich puzzle experience that I have become very accustomed to within the best puzzle apps.

Do be aware that these puzzles can be less forgiving than other puzzle apps that I have seen that take a more general approach to the placement of the pieces, as some apps have varying degrees of “pull” where, as if by magnetics, the pieces are drawn to the correct place within their puzzle. Piece me Circus! does lack the element of a lot of “grab” and one must be rather specific with their placement in order to fit each piece in correctly. I do not see this as a flaw, but this app can be more difficult that other apps like it, expecting more from players – something that may or may not appeal to parents.

Even if these puzzles are a little more difficult, the artwork used is so grand that most children will be happy to work a bit harder to solve these puzzles because doing so triggers a fun and whimsical animation as well as narration and text, naming each circus character as well as some fun sound effects. Once these puzzles are complete, one has the choice of resetting to do again, moving on to the other puzzles in this series or going back to the main page to select a new puzzle to work on.

I also like that these images are dissected in the interest of being put back together in ways a little different and special than other puzzles may be, making me think of the first time I put these puzzles together.

It is terrific how the apps with the Piece Me series of apps include bios of the artists responsible for the lively illustrations used throughout. I greatly enjoyed reading the short biography about artist Alberto Cerriteño, seeing a photo of him with his kids and other artwork he has created. It made me very interested in seeing more of his work, becoming possible by an included web address for those like me who are interested in seeing more.

I do love the idea of this series and appreciate the fact that although the puzzles included and the app itself wok the same at the other apps in this series – Piece me Birds! – the specific styles used, although some period elements exist in each collection, could not be more different in terms of both use of color or specific style of artist.

It is great that this app is universal as this app looks great and plays well on the iPhone, but I do recommend using this app for the iPad in order to see the artwork in full impressive detail.

I would love to see more apps added to this series as I find the introducing of children to contemporary artists an invaluable teaching tool.

Art, By Age Range, By App Feature, Creativity, Just For Fun, Preschool, Primary School, Puzzle, Reviews, Toddlers

Peek-a-Zoo – by Duck Duck Moose is a charming new application that teaches subtle social cues and other info using lovely, bright and bold-colored animals that young kids and special needs children will enjoy.

This app first opens up to an area where each of these cute animals is introduced, as a row of friendly animals scroll across the screen. Tap to meet each of these creatures to hear their name and what kind of animal it is.

After all the introductions are made, use the arrow at the top right of the page to bring one to the next section of questions that test children’s social awareness and eye for details.

This next section has eight animals that one has previously met, arranged in two rows of four. A simple question will then be asked, such as “Who is eating,” or “Who is listening to music,” both narrated and printed at the top of the page. Look closely at the screen and tap, in one instance for a giraffe licking a lollipop, in another for a cat holding a radio up to its head.

The questions asked vary nicely, with many topics that may be addressed. Positions are explored, such as upside-down or backwards, and familiar activities, such as waving or sleeping are demonstrated, and it is super-cute when these animals differentiate themselves by being dressed up in a tie or talking on a telephone.

My son especially enjoys the question about who is hiding, with the animal in question blending into the brightly colored background, being concealed by camouflage.

Other times kids will need to identify each animal in terms of type, such as “lion” or “hippo.” For these questions, the animals are arranged around the screen with their bodies out of sight, relying on these animal faces to tell who is who.

Interestingly this app also focuses on teaching social cues, such as who is waving, sticking out their tongue or crying, which may be easy to spot as these actions are very specific, but this app also tackles more subtle emotions such as sadness, anger or surprise.

I appreciate how one must look closely, especially to perceive specific emotions displayed by these delightfully stylized animals as the slight differences in eyes and mouth placement or shape are demonstrative in expressing these emotions.

At first, I can see how one may mistake a few of these emotions, but it does get better as one familiarizes oneself with these darling creatures. My son does take his time studying these included characters before making his selection – a necessity oftentimes needed to make a correct selection.

These animals are quite charming, and my son and I enjoy this app very much, even though my son is older than the target toddler audience.

It is also wonderful that, although a correct answer is the ultimate goal, tapping on another animal is not portrayed as a mistake, but a chance to explore the whimsy that this app has to offer, as other animals may make animal sounds, talk in full sentences like “How are you today,” “I love you,” or “Can you dance the macaroni.”

Sometimes these animals speak in full baby babble or the sounds of children doing their best animal impersonations, as well as more realistic animal sounds. Toddlers will delight in hearing these child narrators delivering these fun details, adding richness to this application.

I think this app would be a wonderful app for toddlers, for the social aspect this offers, as well as for the cognitive awareness this app expects from its players.

Parents may be disappointed if one is expecting to use this app to truly teach animals and their sounds, and although I do think animal identification will be re-enforced, this is not the specific intent of this app, but what it sets out to teach it does well – in a charming manner that does not feel rushed in any way while teaching some thoughtful and important social cues.

For this reason, I think this app will be of huge benefit to children on the autism spectrum or other children with special needs who may need extra help picking up the social awareness that other typically developed children take for granted.

Parent and teachers using this app in this way may want to supplement this app with photos of humans making these same facial expressions to make the info being offered translate further, further demonstrating to those playing this app with what they may be looking for. Adults may want to be familiar with this app themselves to help guide children who may feel stuck on some of these more subtle social nuances.

There is little I would change about this app, but I think that pages where fewer animal emotions are mixed about with more tangible traits such as a party hat and present or upside-down may be easier for those with special needs to decipher – something to think about. A separate section that keeps the comparing of various emotions to a minimum may be helpful to some – maybe something to think about for a future update.

Animals, Art, By Age Range, By App Feature, Just For Fun, Language, Preschool, Reviews, Social, Special Needs, Toddlers