Price: $3.99


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I Need My Monster – Interactive Children’s Book App Review

Our Review

I Need My Monster is an interactive storybook app based on the children’s book of the same name, now also including a few extras such as a memory-styled matching game and a “Simon” styled mini-game.

I know this title well, as I Need My Monster is a story that is often read out loud at our local library’s story time, and when borrowing this book, the pages are worn from being enjoyed by many children.

This is the story of a boy who instead of being afraid of monsters, desperately needs one – a really scary one – to be able to sleep. Unfortunately, his monster takes some time off, leaving the boy to find a new monster under his bed that will do the job. New monsters come and go, never filling the shoes of the original, scary creature under the boy’s bed.

This is a faithful adaptation of this popular story, with the same text as well as included illustrations altered somewhat to fit the iPad, also containing mild animation and hot spots.

Narration is included, yet I am not completely sold on the woman who provides the narration, as this is a tale told in the first person, from the point-of-view of the main character who is a boy. Because of this, I wish a child voice actor were included, as I can think of a few times a child was used in a storybook application to a great effect.

I do like how a male actor sometimes provides the voice for some of these monsters, yet I did not understand the choice of having the monster character “Ralph,” a dapper, well-groomed monster, voiced by a woman with a presumably British-like accent. Instead, I would have preferred a male, more genteel-sounding voice reminiscent of Kelsey Grammer or David Hyde Pierce because the voice included does not relate in any way to the character created, which to me distracting.

Some very effect interactive moments are included that work quite well within this story, especially a scene with a monster scraping her nails across the screen – a moment new to the story not found in the printed book.

Also nicely included is the ability to add the reader’s name to this app as within the printed copy, the sign “Ethan’s Room” which can be seen on the bedroom wall, can now include any name. There are a few hot spots within this app, however, that I thought were not necessary, such as being able to tap some objects in the boy’s room, making sounds that drown out the narration.

Even with these notes, this is a terrific story that differs so wonderfully from the traditional fears children have of creatures under their beds. It is worth noting that here, the boy professes that boy monsters are for boys, and girl monsters are for girls – a moment that for me is cringeworthy yet rings true in the way children at this age may think. This detail aside, this is still a creative story with vivid illustrations.

dataMarch 6th, 2013 by Amy Solomon Share

Application Detail

I Need My Monster - Interactive Children's Book App

I Need My Monster - Interactive Children's Book App


Download on iTunesDeveloper: Y.P.L. Yedioth Publishing Licensing LTD
Released: 2012-12-16 00:00:00
Price: $3.99

Description from the Developer

Please Note: This app requires iOS 4 or later.

“…a well thought out application that brings storytelling to a whole new level and does it even better than some of the biggest names in storybook apps.” Top Educational Apps

“…I think that children would love the animations and interactions – there are many ways to interact by shaking, tilting, and tapping the screen to make monsters appear and disappear, or change the monsters’ costumes, turn lights on and off, etc. I recommend this app if you have kids who like to read storybook apps, it is a fun read.” The iPhone Mom

“…I Need My Monster is an interactive storybook that explores the fantastic and often absurd imagination of juniors. Despite its ominous title and theme, it is actually only mildly scary and mostly amusing. Rather than being frightened, you will delight in meeting the unique monsters that pop out from underneath the narrator's bed.” Geeks with Juniors

“After being afraid of monsters all of these years, there has been a revolution of books and films that show that monsters are non-threatening and that children are no longer afraid of them! "I Need My Monster", written by Amanda Noll and illustrated by Howard McWilliam, takes this concept further, showing that each child needs his or her own personal monster. Recently turned into an application for Android and iOS devices, you can see the monsters in action (and hear them growl). Continue reading to learn how you can use this interactive application in speech and language therapy sessions!” Consonantly Speaking

One night, when Ethan checks under the bed for his monster, he finds a note instead: "Gone fishing. Back in a week. -Gabe" What will Ethan do? He needs a monster under his bed. How is he supposed to get to sleep if his monster is gone?

This new children's book app is based on the bestselling "I Need My Monster" which has won prestigious awards, received critical acclaim, and captured the hearts of children, parents, teachers, and librarians.

Children can join the fun and help Ethan uncover the perfect monster from among all the silly scary substitute monsters that appear in his room.

When children tap on the monsters, they gnash their teeth, drool green ooze, and reveal their claws, but these wacky monsters won't really scare anyone. Especially not Ethan, who just wants his own perfect monster.

Readers are invited to shake, tilt, and tap the device to make monsters appear and disappear, change the monsters' costumes, turn lights on and off, and in a game of dexterity, to try to hide all the monster tails under the bed. And much, much more...

FEATURES:
* Three reading modes: Read to me, Read by myself, and Auto-turn pages
* Lively, interactive animation that responds to touch
* Word highlighting for early readers
* Professional narration, original music, and sound effects
* A memory card game featuring characters from the book
* An auditory memory game featuring characters from the book
* The option to add the child's name on the bedroom wall

Critical acclaims for the print edition:
"[a] monster tale so sly it oozes excellence... irresistible exquisitely creepy...." the Sacramento Bee
"a fun nighttime read for those who enjoy a bit of shiver as they are tucked in to bed" -School Library Journal
" The humorous text diffuses bedtime fears... digitally painted illustrations bring the sort-of-scary, mostly-silly monsters out of their lairs." the Horn Book
"In this humorous, comically exaggerated reversal of the usual fear
of monsters there is plenty of good-natured scary stuff." -Children's Literature

“…a well thought out application that brings storytelling to a whole new level and does it even better than some of the biggest names in storybook apps.” Top Educational Apps

App produced by arrangement with Flashlight Press. Text and illustrations © 2012, 2009 by Flashlight Press.

Screenshots

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