TWO Exciting Berenstain Bears eBooks for your iPhone or iPod Touch!

I know that I have been talking a lot about iPhone apps for children lately. That is because the iPhone is a piece of technology that my toddler really enjoys. Recently, I introduced you to a wonderful company called Oceanhouse Media (in case you missed it, check out my review HERE). Oceanhouse Media has a fantastic library of over 115 apps are designed to uplift, educate, and inspire. This company was founded in January of 2009 and has quickly grown into a major player in the iPhone app industry.

One thing that makes Oceanhouse Media stand out to me is their unique licensing agreements with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Hay House Publishers and others. This means that they can bring us apps featuring well-known favorites such as The Cat in the Hat, Little Critter, and the Berenstain Bears. Those are all characters I knew and loved growing up, so naturally I want to share them with Raileigh as well!

It seems that the library of Berenstain Bears eBooks available from Oceanhouse Media is growing quite quickly! There are currently 10 titles available, and I am sure several others are in the works! We had the opportunity to check out two of these eBooks- The Berenstain Bears Say Their Prayers and The Berenstain Bears Go to Sunday School.





About the eBook (as taken from the Oceanhouse Media website)

Although saying bedtime prayers is a habit in the Bear household, Brother Bear isn’t sure why they do it. But when he sees a friend on his baseball team praying at the game, he decides to try it himself. Things don’t work out as he expects though...

In "The Berenstain Bears Say Their Prayers," Brother Bear discovers that God answers every prayer in his own way and time. Children will learn, along with Brother Bear, that praying isn't just for bedtime.

Our Thoughts

This is actually a book that Raileigh has in paperback book form as well. She received it as a gift from her Nana last year, and it is a story we enjoy reading together. So, when I heard that a story we both enjoy had been made into an eBook for the iPhone, I was pretty excited!

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.

Unlike the traditional paperback book, this eBook is very interactive! It is a great way to help expand Raileigh's vocabulary. When you touch a picture, the word associated with it zooms up onto the screen and is spoken by the narrator. Not only does this help her to learn new objects she isn't familiar with yet, but it will also be a great beginning reading tool in a few years.

As you view the eBook, the pages zoom and pan to offer a more movie-like book reading. I think this might be more engaging for Raileigh. She really enjoys books, but is easily distractable, so I welcome anything that can help hold her attention!

The message of the story is great for any child to hear. Brother Bear learns that prayers are not just for bedtime. I think that Raileigh most associates prayers with mealtime as we are always good to say a blessing as a family when we eat. I like that this story can help teach her that is okay and good to pray anytime!




About the eBook (as taken from the Oceanhouse Media website)

Sundays find the Bear family busily enjoying all sorts of activities, but church isn't one of them. In "The Berenstain Bears Go to Sunday School," the children discover the value of going to Sunday school as a family.

When Mama Bear decides it’s been too long since they’ve attended church at the Chapel in the Woods, the Bear family works to get back in the habit. It isn’t long before the family remembers what a wonderful place the church is and finds that going to church is something they look forward to every week. "The Berenstain Bears Go to Sunday School" was the 2009 Retailers Choice Award winner in the Children’s Nonfiction category.

Our Thoughts

This is another story that Raileigh has in paperback book. It was part of the set that she received from her Nana. This isn't a title we had really previously read too much. Because of her September birthday, she missed the opportunity to move up to a Sunday School class at church, and is still in the nursery.

However, once we get Raileigh potty trained (started yesterday, and so far 18 hours accident free!), she can move up to the older class anyhow. So, it was really a great time to start teaching her about what Sunday School really is. Again, there are three ways to enjoy this title:

• "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.

There are many similarities between this title and the one above-- picture/ word association, page zoom, and pan, and more. There is also top notch narration for both eBooks. The narrator speaks clearly and really has quite a pleasant reading voice!

The message in this book is wonderful. I like that it teaches why Sunday School is so important. I grew up going to Sunday School each week, and that it something I want for Raileigh as well. I know that in today's society, many families feel that they are just too busy to attend Sunday School regularly. This eBook is a great lesson for Raileigh and me as well as to why we should always do our best to make it to Sunday School.


These are just 2 of the 120+ apps available from Oceanhouse Media. You can visit their website today to see all of the other apps that they have to offer. Each is available for purchase at the iTunes store. Even if you have never used your iPhone as a teaching tool for your children before, I encourage you to check out these wonderful eBooks. I am sure that you will not be disappointed!

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

No monetary compensation was received for this post. Two eBooks for iPhone were provided to me for review. All opinions expressed above are my own.