Review: Two New Toddler eBooks for your iPhone or iPod Touch!
2:59 PM Posted by Desi @ Wee Share
It is hard for me to believe sometimes just how well Raileigh can operate the iPhone. Darren purchased this smart phone back in February, and almost instantly Raileigh was teaching herself how to use it!
Since then, I have became aware just how many apps are designed with toddlers and children in mind. Raileigh can view books, learn with flashcards, make music, watch television episodes, play educational games, and more. Because she enjoys this so much, I am always on the look out for new apps that she might enjoy.
Recently, I was introduced to a fantastic company called Oceanhouse Media. Their library of over 115 apps are designed to uplift, educate, and inspire. They have created an assortment of apps including games, books, musical instruments, oracle cards, and more! Since we are a family who really enjoys reading, I was especially interested in the books. You see, Oceanhouse Media has partnered with favorites such as Dr. Seuss and the Berenstain Bears to bring many beloved children's stories to life!
Just in time for Halloween, we had the opportunity to check out two of the newest titles in the Oceanhouse Media library- What Was I Scared Of? by Dr. Seuss and The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano.
What Was I Scared Of? by Dr. Seuss
About the eBook (as taken from the Oceanhouse Media website)
Perfect for Halloween or any time of year, this story delivers a timeless message about fear and tolerance. The tale begins with a character who repeatedly meets up with an empty pair of pale-green pants. The character is initially afraid of the pants, which are able to stand on their own despite the lack of a wearer. However when he screams for help and the pants also start to cry, he realizes that "They were just as scared as I!" Putting fear in the proper perspective, the empty pants become good friends with the character.
Our Thoughts
I had actually never heard of this book until about three years ago when a friend loaned me her copy of the story. Instantly, I fell in love with this new-to-me Dr. Seuss tale. So, needless to say, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to share this story with Raileigh in eBook form.
There are actually three different ways to enjoy this book:
We tried out all three of the modes and all were very well done. I think that the "read to me" method works best for Raileigh. She cannot read to herself yet, and this method allows her to be able to hear and enjoy the story. The words are also highlighted as the narrator reads them, so it's actually a great pre-reading activity. Plus, once all of the words on a page have been read, there are some fun bonus features that she can enjoy before turning the page.
Whenever you touch one of the beautiful and authentic Dr. Seuss illustrations, the corresponding word zooms up and is spoken aloud by the narrator. I love this fun little extra. It exposes Raileigh to some new vocabulary and gives her the perfect way to interact with the story.
When we are having some quiet time and I am trying to wind Raileigh down, I have found that "auto play" is a great option to use. We can both just sit there and listen to the story without having to turn the pages or do anything. The "read it to myself" option also comes in quite handy. For example, when we take Raileigh to the doctor, I am not a big fan of her reading the books they have in the office. After all, I don't want her picking up another child's germ that we didn't have when we arrived. Instead, I can pull out this handy eBook app and read her a story on the iPhone.
About the eBook (as taken from the Oceanhouse Media website)
Perfect for Halloween or any time of year, this story delivers a timeless message about fear and tolerance. The tale begins with a character who repeatedly meets up with an empty pair of pale-green pants. The character is initially afraid of the pants, which are able to stand on their own despite the lack of a wearer. However when he screams for help and the pants also start to cry, he realizes that "They were just as scared as I!" Putting fear in the proper perspective, the empty pants become good friends with the character.
Our Thoughts
I had actually never heard of this book until about three years ago when a friend loaned me her copy of the story. Instantly, I fell in love with this new-to-me Dr. Seuss tale. So, needless to say, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to share this story with Raileigh in eBook form.
There are actually three different ways to enjoy this book:
- "Read to Me" — listen to the narrated story with words highlighted as they are read
- "Read it Myself" — read the book in its traditional form
- "Auto Play" — plays like a movie, automatically reading and turning pages.
We tried out all three of the modes and all were very well done. I think that the "read to me" method works best for Raileigh. She cannot read to herself yet, and this method allows her to be able to hear and enjoy the story. The words are also highlighted as the narrator reads them, so it's actually a great pre-reading activity. Plus, once all of the words on a page have been read, there are some fun bonus features that she can enjoy before turning the page.
Whenever you touch one of the beautiful and authentic Dr. Seuss illustrations, the corresponding word zooms up and is spoken aloud by the narrator. I love this fun little extra. It exposes Raileigh to some new vocabulary and gives her the perfect way to interact with the story.
When we are having some quiet time and I am trying to wind Raileigh down, I have found that "auto play" is a great option to use. We can both just sit there and listen to the story without having to turn the pages or do anything. The "read it to myself" option also comes in quite handy. For example, when we take Raileigh to the doctor, I am not a big fan of her reading the books they have in the office. After all, I don't want her picking up another child's germ that we didn't have when we arrived. Instead, I can pull out this handy eBook app and read her a story on the iPhone.
About the eBook (as taken from the Oceanhouse Media website)
“One day in the pumpkin patch the strangest little pumpkin hatched.” Spookley the Pumpkin was different. In a world where “the only good pumpkins are round pumpkins,” Spookley The Square Pumpkin is shunned until a mighty storm threatens to destroy the entire patch. As the storm rages, Spookley realizes “it’s fine to be round while the weather is fair, but there are times it’s better to be a square! Sometimes being different can save the day. In "The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin" a very unique pumpkin delivers a special message of tolerance and self-acceptance that's just right for Halloween...and every day of the year!
Our Thoughts
The press release from Oceanhouse Media announcing these two new titles dubbed Spookley one of the "all-time best selling children’s Halloween books". However, I had never heard of it before! I love finding new books to love, and was encouraged by the fact that so many others had already fallen in love with this story.
There are three ways in which to enjoy this eBook:
- "Read to Me" — listen to the narrated story with words highlighted as they are read
- "Read it Myself" — read the book in its traditional form
- "Auto Play" — plays like a movie, automatically reading and turning pages.
The second time we read the story, we used "read to me" mode. I absolutely loved this mode! The narrator has the perfect to read children's stories aloud, and we really enjoyed just listening to him. Plus, since I wasn't focusing on reading the words, I was really able to enjoy watching the pictures pan and zoom as the story was read aloud. During this mode, we were still able to find hidden sounds within all of the pictures. I would definitely say that this was our favorite way to read about Spookley!
Though each of these titles were released in time for Halloween, they really are great stories to enjoy all year long. I found each of the eBooks to be very well done with many ways for Raileigh to interact and therefore stay focused. I cannot wait to check out some of the other wonderful titles from Oceanhouse Media!
Each of the titles, along with the rest of the Oceanhouse Media Library, is available for purchase in the iTunes Store.
Don't forget to stay in touch with Oceanhouse Media so that you can stay up to date on all of their exciting new apps!
- Join the Oceanhouse Media email list
- Like Oceanhouse Media on Facebook
- Follow Oceanhouse Media on twitter
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