Kids iPad App Review -- A Duck in New York City By Les Productions Folle Avoine

Read, listen, watch or sing! Choose the way you'd like to follow the story about a little duck from the prairie who has a big dream—making it to New York City and doing his ducky dance on Broadway. It turns out to be an adventurous journey that appears bound for failure, until he meets up with a truck driver named Big Betty. She points him in the right direction and gives him that little nudge he needs to tackle the Big Apple.
Something to quack about !

· Heartwarming funny story about self-esteem and following your dreams
· Stunning illustrations and sophisticated animation
· Superb musical performance and captivating narration
· Exceptional recording quality
· Highly readable, engaging experience and age-appropriate
· Beautifully designed with quick and easy navigation

Just ducky - five features means five ways to enjoy the story.

· Read the story
· Listen to the narrated story
· Watch an animated version of the story
· Listen to the theme song
· Sing the theme song in karaoke

The app "A Duck in New York City" 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.

 

My Thoughts:

I have bought, as well as reviewed a lot of apps recently, to use with my daughter, Savannah, and have to say that A Duck in New York City is by far one of the best I have seen in a long time.  What a cute story – a duck wants to make it to NYC to sing on Broadway.  What a great way to teach your children to follow their dreams and persevere.  The duck never gave up, even when the others laughed at his dream.  He didn’t let them get to him, and headed to NYC to make his dreams come true.  This heartfelt story is brought to life through this app in a beautiful way.  I love the stunning and bright illustrations and the ease of navigation of this app.  My daughter was able to stay engaged and loved the musical aspect of the app, including the sing along karaoke portion.  I have to warn you, the theme song is addicting.  Just this evening, I found myself humming the tune while preparing dinner. 

Overall, this is a great app to download and share with you children.  They can either choose to listen to the narrated story, or practice their reading skills by reading it out loud.  Either way, everyone, including parents will enjoy this story about a duck who had a dream and made it a reality!

--BUY NOW--

Head on over to iTunes now and buy this app for only $3.99 for your iPad.

Disclosure:  I was sent this app to review in order to share my honest opinion on it.  The views above are mine and mine alone.

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Tech Talk -- Great App for Kids -- ANGELINA BALLERINA'S BUBBLE POP! GAME (Review and Giveaway)

CLOSED.  And, the winner is:  Justin!!!!

Savannah and I had a fun afternoon trying out the new Angelina Ballerina Bubble Pop! Game available for iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches.  Right now, Savannah loves most of the shows on Sprout, including Angelina Ballerina, so I was excited to try out this app firsthand and see her reaction.

The Angelina Ballerina’s Bubble Pop! game app is an engaging interactive game featuring Angelina Ballerina™, everyone’s favorite mouseling, with 3D animation, two modes of game play and captivating sound effects and music.

This is a great app for little ones, especially those under the age of 5, as it helps them develop their eye-hand coordination.  Savannah couldn't stop laughing and smiling as she tapped the various flowers on the scene.  Children older than 5 may find this game too easy, as it only has one level (but speeds up at the end, with flowers dropping more quickly -- similar to the old Tetris blocks dropping faster and faster as the game progresses).  If your little one loves Angelina Ballerina, then they will definitely love this new app from Callaway.

Another key feature to this game is that each round is relatively short, so if you are monitoring how long your child is playing with the computer, or have 2+ children who are waiting for their turn, this will help limit their usage of play.  

The game is easy to understand, similar to matching games, you have to click on the flower that Angelina is thinking of (there are only 3 that are shown on the screen at a time), and make a match.  Once you do, then the game continues.  You gain stars for correct matches and lose stars for each incorrect match you make.  I would suggest sitting down with little ones in the beginning to show them how to play the game, but in minutes they should be ready to take on the game by themselves.

Overall, this is a great app, which amazing 3D animations that are sure to excite and engage young fans of Angelina Ballerina.  This is definitely an app you should have on your iPhone or iPad to keep the little ones busy.

---BUY NOW---

Head on over to the iTunes store today to buy the Angelina Ballerina’s Bubble Pop app for only $0.99.  You can't beat the price, and it will keep your little ones entertained for hours.

---GIVEAWAY---

One lucky Inspired by Savannah reader will win a code to be redeemed at the iTunes store for this app for FREE.  To enter, let me know what other kid-friendly app your child is currently play with right now, and why they like it so much.  Make sure to include your email address with your comment, so that I can contact you if you win.  

Contest will run until 9/30, so get your comments in now!!!!

Good luck!

Disclosure:  I was sent a code to redeem this app for free, in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.

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Tech Talk -- Great App for Kids -- Heidi Part 2 for the iPad and iPhone (Includes Giveaway)

A few weeks ago I shared with you a new app available for the iPhone and iPad -- Heidi.  If you missed my post, click here to read it now.  Today, I am happy to announce that Part II in this three-part app series has been released.  Having used Heidi, Part I for the past few weeks, I have to say this is one of my favorite iPad audio book apps.  I enjoy having the option of reading it to Savannah myself, or choosing the read-along version, and simply enjoying the story with her.  The second part in this series follows suit, and will amaze you with the beautiful illustrations and story.  It will definitely become a family favorite in your household, as it has in mine.

Here is a little bit more information on Heidi, Part II:

In this second of three sequels, Heidi is taken to Frankfurt by her Aunt Dete, to be the companion of the wheelchair bound Klara, who's mother has died some time ago.  There, everything starts to get topsy-turvy after Heidi's arrival ...

This bilingual interactive picture-audio book with wonderful illustrations by Diana Kizlauskas will delight your children.  Over 130 years ago, the Swiss author, Johanna Spyri, wrote about Heidi.  Nobody then would have thought that Heidi would become so famous.

Features:

• Professional narration in English and German
• Choose between "Read to Me" and "I Want to Read Myself"
• Touch the person to make them speak (in the German version, have the Swiss people speak in Swiss dialect or German)
• Touch animals and objects to them make sounds

JustKidsApps is a member of Moms with Apps, a collaborative group of family-friendly developers seeking to promote quality apps for kids and families.

Recommended Ages: 4-7, 8-10
Categories: Books, Classics


Here is a sneak peek at Heidi, Part II -- You can see for yourself how great this app for kids really is!!!

---BUY NOW---

Click here to buy the iPhone App of Heidi, Part II for only $.99.
Click here to buy the iPad App of Heidi, Part II for only $1.99.

Act now, as these prices are only valid until June 30th.  After that, the prices will raise it $3.99 for the iPad app and $2.99 for the iPhone app.

Part I will be available for $0.99 (iPad and iPhone version) during that time -- so, if you haven't purchased this part in the series, get it at this amazingly cheap price.

---GIVEAWAY---

The first 3 people to email me with the subject line, Heidi, Part II, will receive a FREE code to download this great app.

Don't forget to become JustKidsApps fans on Facebook  and Twitter to keep up to date about the progress and release of Part III.

Disclosure:  I was compensated for my time in writing and sharing this review.  The views above, however, are mine and mine alone.

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1-2-3- Draw iPad App Review

As many of you know, we just love our iPad, especially Savannah.  And, we are always on the lookout for great family-friendly/kid-friendly apps.  Well, do I have the perfect app for you -- 1-2-3 Draw, by Peel Productions.  This is a drawing instruction app for the iPad, which offers hours of fun for both children and adults alike.

Take a look at this quick tutorial of 1-2-3 Draw:

"The 1-2-3 Draw app pairs a clean but powerful user interface with step-by-step lessons from cartoonist Steve Barr and illustrator Freddie Levin, authors of the popular 1-2-3 Draw book series. A Free Draw Zone provides artists a blank canvas for their own creations. Finished drawings can be emailed or posted to Facebook."

In addition, you can create individual artist accounts via the Supervisor Zone. So, if you have more than one child, this prevents fights when each child wants to take turns, or wants to save their artwork.  And, once an artist completes a series of drawings, they are awarded with a rewards badge, that is seen upon login.  

And, with the supervisor control, you can manage each artist's account and set features up with supervisor approval needed.  Additional lessons are available through in-app purchase for only $.99 (only available to the supervisor when Supervisor Mode is enabled). In addition, free tips and lessons are posted through the app blog at 123drawapp.com.

So, if your children love to draw or doodle and you have an iPad, I would highly suggest purchasing 1-2-3 Draw today.  Beware, this app can get addictive.  I am not a drawer myself, but love the step-by-step instructions and am amazed at the creations I make with simple steps.

Buy Now: 

Head on over to iTunes today and purchase 1-2-3 Draw for only $3.99.

Don't forget to follow 1-2-3 Draw on Twitter and Facebook.

Disclosure:  I was given a sample of the 1-2-3 Draw app to try out, in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.

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