Scholastic Media has released its very first line of interactive children's storybooks for iPad. The three apps, I Love You Through and Through, The Magic School Bus: Oceans, and Go, Clifford, Go!, provide re-playable and fully interactive reading experiences for young children. They are also intended to provide even the youngest of children with the ability to follow along with the stories independently, which is great news for parents that are looking for a little free time.
I Love You Through and Through ($4.99) is based on the Scholastic board book by the same name -- which has sold more than 1.8 million copies -- and is perfect for the preschoolers in your family.
It features lively audio narration with words that are highlighted as they are read, original music, and sound effects, which can all be disabled if necessary. When images are touched an animation will begin, and if the iPad is tilted, the story characters will lean and move.
The Magic School Bus: Oceans ($7.99) is based on the Scholastic print book The Magic School Bus: On The Ocean Floor and is intended for children of ages four and up. The story follows Ms. Frizzle's class on a field trip to the bottom of the ocean.
It features narration with over 20 individual voices, original music, and sound effects. Seven different interactive science explorations, characters, animals, and objects can be touched and an animation will begin. Tilting the iPad will reveal underwater bubbles which grant access to 26 photos and 11 videos of underwater animals and plant life. It also includes hundreds of facts about underwater life.
The Magic School Bus includes a single game where your child can play to earn points for more science facts, and to travel to other areas of the ocean.
Scholastic is also providing a
free lite version of The Magic School Bus: Oceans in order to give you an idea of what to expect.
Finally, Go, Clifford, Go! ($4.99) is based on the Scholastic board book by the same name and is intended for preschoolers. The book allows your child to play along with the big red dog as he encounters trucks, trains, planes, and motorcycles.
Like I Love You Through and Through, this storybook features lively audio narration with words that are highlighted as they are read, original music, and sound effects. Character images can be touched to see them move, and tilting the iPad will result in the trees swaying, waves rolling, and characters moving.
Clifford isn't just about reading, either, as it includes a mini-game that allows your child to drive the vehicles featured in the story and collect bones.
All of Scholastic's storybook apps and previously released games have been developed in-house to ensure that they convey the tone, look, and feel of their print products. So, if you are a parent who has always been fond of what Scholastic has produced, you shouldn't have any reservations about the child friendliness of their iPad content.
