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| "All Kinds of Santas" photo by Paula Slade |
This is the ninth installment of this series that provides numerous entertainment options for holiday gift giving for children and teens, and today we turn our attention to one of the hottest emerging categories for entertainment- applications (also known as “apps”) for iPads, iPod Touch and iPhones.
Children and teens are rapidly embracing these new technologies and there are numerous apps provided for entertainment, many of them extremely affordable, once you determine the choice of your technology device.
The applications for the devices appear below and have been researched for quality as well as value. All are geared to provide hours of positive and fun-filled entertainment.
If you happened to have missed earlier posts to this series, which began in November, links are provided in the right hand column on this page. Also, be sure to check out archived posts from this year and last year, as many products, in multiple categories, have been featured.
As always, you are the best judge of what is appropriate for your child’s entertainment.
The Night Before Christmas
Based on the 5-star book and recording published by Imagine Books, this recently released app is a totally charming interactive and musical re-telling of the all-time favorite holiday tale by Clement C. Moore.
The Night Before Christmas includes magnificent illustrations by Eric Puybaret; narration, music and sounds by Peter Paul and Mary, and interactive magic added by Touchoo.
This app has numerous functions: Auto Play; record; listen to the recording; read to me and read by myself, along with pages that spring to life with touchable surprises.
Below is a video preview of The Night Before Christmas, which is compatible with Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad and requires iOS 3.2 or later.
Additional information, and screenshots, for The Night Before Christmas are available through iTunes where the app is priced at $1.99.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
From Loud Crow Interactive, comes a true classic translated into an interactive storybook delight.
The whole family will have fun with the entire Peanuts gang as they discover the true meaning of Christmas.
You’ll be able to unlock decorations for a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree; play Schroeder's piano; finger-paint with Peanuts characters and more, while you listen to the story, which is narrated by Peter Robbins, the original voice of Charlie Brown.
Below is a video preview of A Charlie Brown Christmas, which is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, and requires iOS 3.2.2 or later.
Additional information, screenshots, and reviews for A Charlie Brown Christmas are available through iTunes where the app is priced at $6.99.
There’s No Place Like Space!: All About Our Solar System
From Oceanhouse Media, Inc. and The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library, comes an app that not only entertains but educates young ones.
The “Cat in the Hat” is your child’s guide as he takes “Sally” and “Dick” on a voyage through our solar system. Along the way, kids will learn fascinating and fun facts; interact by tapping on stars to see constellations; learn about the planets and more.
This app is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad and requires iOS 3.0 or later.
Additional information, screenshots, and reviews for There’s No Place Like Space! : All About Our Solar System is available through iTunes where the app is priced at $5.99.
A Duck in New York City
Kids will have a great time, reading, listening, watching and singing along with this excellent app for iPad.
A Duck in New York City app is based on the critically acclaimed Parents' Choice Gold Award-winning storybook - music CD by author/singer/songwriter Connie Kaldor, illustrated by Fil & Julie, and published by The Secret Mountain.
The story is about a little duck from the prairie that has a big dream—making it to New York City and doing his ducky dance on Broadway.
Filled with stunning illustrations, sophisticated animation, superb musical performance and captivating narration, this is a heartwarming and funny tale about self-esteem and following your dreams.
Below is a preview of A Duck in New York City, which is compatible with iPad, and requires iOS 4.3 or later.
Additional information as well as screen shots for A Duck in New York City is available through iTunes where the app is priced at $3.99.
Let's Go Chipper - Nature and Environmental Movies, Books and Activities
From IAGmedia, a conscientious green media company that playfully delivers content and programs that instill positive life skills and respect for the environment in young children, comes adventures in nature with Chipper, the ambassador of the great outdoors.
Chipper playfully teaches good character, and a love for animals and the environment in this all-inclusive portal to the parks filled with coloring activities, nature-inspired movies, books, music videos, activities and more.
No in-app purchases are required, plus you get a free gift with download.
Honored as an I-Parenting "Hot Product" winner, and a Disney Family Fun winner, this app is educational and fun, encompassing academic standards in Science, Arts, Literature, and Social Skills.
Chipper and friends sing songs, tell stories, and provide games that help foster the social and emotional growth of young children - playfully.
To learn more about Let's Go Chipper! Into the Great Outdoors series, please visit www.letsgochipper.com.
The app is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad and requires iOS 3.1 or later.
Additional information as well as screen shots for Lets Go Chipper is available through iTunes where the app is priced at $0.99.
Not Without Bear
This is an absolutely endearing story about a little girl,”Audrey” and her best friend “Bear,” who goes missing at bedtime.
This app, published by appropo llc, is sure to become a bedtime favorite.
Children will listen to the story or have it read to them; they’ll be able to move pillows; travel around the world; open cupboards, smooth blankets, listen to music and so much more –all enhanced with sound effects and the ability to touch words and hear them spoken.
Based on Anna Grossnickle Hines charming picture book, this app is a delight.
Check out the animated screen shots at: http://www.appropo.co/appropo/home.html
This app is compatible with iPad and requires iOS 3.2 or later.
Additional information as well as screen shots for Not Without Bear is available through iTunes where the app is priced at $3.99.
NASA App HD by NASA Ames Research Center
This is a totally FREE app from NASA for iPad, sure to be treasured by teens who are interested in science and astronomy. They will be amazed at the number of features in this app- everything from live-streaming of NASA TV and launch information as well as countdown clocks to ISS and an Earth Orbiting Satellite Tracker, plus Facebook® Connect and Integrated Twitter™ for sharing.
The app is compatible with iPad, and a WiFi or 3G network connection, and needs iOS 4.3 or later.
The application collects, customizes and delivers an extensive selection of dynamically updated mission information, images, videos and Twitter feeds from various online NASA sources in a convenient mobile package.
The video below of the NASA App HD will show you the wealth of NASA information available for your teen’s iPad.
To download FREE, visit iTunes.
A Present for Milo: A Touch-and-Surprise Storybook
From Ruckus Media Group comes an app that provides more than 80 tap-interactive objects that initiate more than 125 animations.
This charming digital storybook provides narration, sound effects, music, read-along function, and surprises on every page that will provide hours of enjoyment for active little minds and busy fingers.
A Present for Milo has been honored with About.com's "2011 Readers' Choice Award for 'Best App for Kids’"; a Parents' Choice Award Winner: Mobile Apps; a “Best Apps Ever Award" Finalist (from 148apps.com) and a " Mom's Choice Award for "App and Software."
Below is a video preview of A Present for Milo, which is compatible with iPad, and requires iOS 3.2 or later.
Additional information as well as screen shots for A Present for Milo is available through iTunes where the app is priced at $3.99.
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