This week in apps offers animal games, money education, a Disney adventure, dance, and "Weird Al" Yankovic.
Title: Animal Show
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Release date: June 8, 2011
Price: $1.99
Background: Children can play and learn with 31 farm and zoo animals, and more than 100 noises and animal facts. Players can touch the animal photo to hear the animal noise, swipe across the animal name to hear the name spoken, or touch the individual letters of the name to hear the animal name spelled. Each animal has three fun, child-friendly facts to listen to.
Features: Includes four preschool-appropriate games, which build counting, recognition, memory, and matching skills: Counting eggs 1 to 10, memory game, matching game, and find the animal game.
Title: Angelina Ballerina’s New Ballet Teacher
Publisher: Callaway Digital Arts
Release date: June 9, 2011
Price: $0.99
Background: Ms. Mimi is nothing like Angelina expects her to be, and Angelina worries that she’ll never fit in at her new school. Can Angelina work things out with Ms. Mimi, or are her dancing days over for good? Players join Angelina on her first day and navigate her new surroundings using multi-touch animation and interactive reading experiences.
Features: CGI animation, pop-up ballet lessons, dynamic narration, puzzles, painting activities.
Title: Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue – A Magical Adventure
Publisher: Disney
Release date: June 13, 2011
Price: $3.99
Background: Tinker Bell is trapped on the mainland; find out how Vidia, Rosetta, Silvermist and the other fairies use their talents to rescue Tink in this storybook app. Features signature Disney music, and an interactive story that activates through the touch screen.
Features: Blow into your mobile device’s speaker to spread fairy dust throughout the adventure, tap on characters and objects to see them come to life.
Title: Chuck and Friends: Friends for the Long Haul
Publisher: Ruckus Media Group
Release date: June 14, 2011
Price: $3.99
Background: Join Chuck and his friends as you tap the screen to learn letters and words, play games and watch videos. This interactive reading adventure is aimed at young truck-lovers, fans of HUB TV and Hasbro toys. Read along as Chuck and his pals embark on a journey where they learn about honesty, teamwork and friendship.
Features: An original story of more than 70 “pages,” narrative-driven matching, spelling activities, picture/word association, read along or play along and record your own voice.
Title: It's Not What You've Got!
Publisher: Oceanhouse Media
Release date: June 14, 2011
Price: $3.99
Background: Dr. Wayne Dyer addresses the topics of money, with the aim of helping children develop a healthy view of money by using themes and images they can relate to. Topics include: "Money does not define who you are," "It doesn't matter what others have," and "Abundance comes in many forms." A positive, spiritual approach to the meaning of money.
Features: Three ways to read, "Read To Me," "Read Myself," or "Auto Play." Also features follow-up questions to go over with children.
Title: Al Yanokovic: When I Grow Up
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Release date: June 14, 2011
Price: $2.99
Background: “Weird Al” Yankovic’s bestselling picture book comes to life with multiple interactions and animations on every screen, games, and exclusive audio. The story features wordplay, humor, and is focused on the topic of thinking about what players want to be when they grow up.
Features: Add your name to personalize the story, "Read Myself" or "Read to Me" options, tap, swipe, and tilt your device to interact with the characters and setting. Also features Easter eggs and narration by Weird Al.
