Appysmarts.com Best Apps for Young Brains

A Very Yo Gabba Gabba! Christmas

A Very Yo Gabba Gabba! Christmas

Price: 1.99$

iPhone + iPad

Overall Score: 99/100

version reviewed: 1.1

reviewed:


Best for: Interactive play, Attention & concentration, Eye-hand coordination, Thinking & problem solving, Understanding of the world

What is it/what do you do with it: 5 role-play activities (e.g. building snowmen, decorating christmas trees, making gingermen) plus a set of coloring pages featuring creatures from the Yo Gabba Gabba world.

Includes "Christmas is Upon Us" music video.

What we liked: fun interactive Gabba characters. Sounds and sound backgrounds. Ease of use. Good variety of features in the coloring activity. No distracting elements. Great for the youngest Yo Gabba Gabba! fans.

What we didn't like: no narration/spoken instructions. The role-play activities could offer more variety. We wish there were more interactive features.

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Felt Board Christmas

Felt Board Christmas

Price: 2.99$

iPhone + iPad

Overall Score: 99/100

version reviewed: 1.0.1

reviewed:


Best for: Crafts, Attention & concentration, Creativity, Interaction, Understanding of the world
Video

What it is: an app for creating Christmas themed sticker scenes. 18 backgrounds, over 100 stickers in 6 theme sets (Santa, Christmas Tree, presents, gingerbread house, snowmen, Nativity Scene).

Created designs can be saved to the Photo Library on the device.

What we liked: the concept. Good selection of themed backgrounds and stickers. Ease of use. Video tutorial. What we didn't like: it's difficult to create more complex designs. Small elements are difficult to manipulate. No background music.

Appysmarts


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Jack & Jill's ABC's of Christmas

Jack & Jill's ABC's of Christmas

Price: 0.99$ (was 2.99$)

May contain `more apps` links
iPad

Overall Score: 93/100

version reviewed: 1.0

reviewed:


Best for: Interactive books, Attention & concentration, Early literacy, Interaction, Understanding of the world
Video

What it is/what you do with it: Christmas themed interactive alphabet book.

Choose the narrator (boy or girl) who will guide you through the story. Tap on the pictures for simple animations.

What we liked: nice rhyming story. Cute narration. Simple illustrations.

What we didn't like: limited reading options (words are not highlighted, no access to single pages). The interactive elements are very basic.

Appysmarts


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  • 2
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  • 13
  • (years)
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PopOut! Night Before Christmas - Android version

PopOut! Night Before Christmas - Android version

Price: 3.99$

Android

Overall Score: 93/100

version reviewed: 2.1

reviewed:


Best for: Interactive books, Attention & concentration, Early literacy, Interaction, Language, Personal & social, Understanding of the world

What it is and what you do with it: an interactive version of the classic story. Features illustrations by William Denslow.

2 reading modes. 50 pages. Touch objects/characters on pages for animations and sounds.

What we liked: the story. Beautiful illustrations. Sounds and sound backgrounds. Professional narration. Good reading features (including words highlighting and the option to have single words read out by the narrator). Interactions complementing the storyline. Overall quality of the app.

What we didn't like: only page-by-page navigation. Some of the interactions are very basic (e.g. the character will just bounce when touched).

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PopOut! The Night Before Christmas

PopOut! The Night Before Christmas

Price: 1.99$ (was 3.99$)

iPhone + iPad

Overall Score: 93/100

version reviewed: 1.6

reviewed:


Best for: Interactive books, Attention & concentration, Early literacy, Interaction, Language, Personal & social, Understanding of the world
Video

What it is and what you do with it: an interactive version of the classic story. Features illustrations by William Denslow.

2 reading modes. 50 pages. Touch objects/characters on pages for animations and sounds.

What we liked: the story. Beautiful illustrations. Sounds and sound backgrounds. Professional narration. Good reading features (including words highlighting and the option to have single words read out by the narrator). Interactions complementing the storyline. Overall quality of the app.

What we didn't like: only page-by-page navigation. Some of the interactions are very basic (e.g. the character will just bounce when touched).

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Merry Christmas Mom and Dad - Android version

Merry Christmas Mom and Dad - Android version

Price: 1.99$

Android

Overall Score: 90/100

version reviewed: 1.44

reviewed:


Best for: Interactive books, Attention & concentration, Early literacy, Language, Personal & social

What it is and what you do with it: an interactive version of the book by Mercer Mayer. 17 pages.

Three reading modes: listen to the narrated story with the words highlighted, read as a 'traditional' book and auto play (automatic reading and turning the pages). Tap on the pictures to hear the associated words read out.

Additional activity: find 14 grasshoppers and 15 spiders hidden in the pages.

What we liked: the story. Original artwork. Sounds and sound backgrounds. Good navigation and reading options (easy access to single pages, words are highlighted when read by the narrator etc.). Professional narration (plus the option to record and share your own narration). The spot the grasshoppers/spiders activity.

What we didn't like: no animations. The pages are very static (apart from zoom in/zoom out type animations).

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The Berenstain Christmas Tree

The Berenstain Christmas Tree

Price: 3.99$

iPhone

Overall Score: 90/100

version reviewed: 2.5

reviewed:


Best for: Interactive books, Attention & concentration, Early literacy, Eye-hand coordination, Interaction, Language, Personal & social, Understanding of the world

What it is: an interactive version of the Berenstain Bears book by Stan and Jan Berenstain (about 53 pages long).

What you do with it: three ways of reading the book: listen to the narration and follow the text, read the story yourself and auto play (automatic narration and turning pages). Touch the characters and objects in pages and their name will be displayed and read out.

What we liked: the story. Original artwork. Excellent reading options (touch the word to have it read out, touch and hold to repeat the paragraph). Professional narration. Sounds and sound backgrounds. The option to record your own narration.

What we didn't like: the pages are very static (no animations, limited number of interactive objects).

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Moving Christmas

Moving Christmas

Price: 3.99$

iPad

Overall Score: 87/100

version reviewed: 1.0.3

reviewed:


Best for: Interactive books, Attention & concentration, Early literacy, Personal & social, Understanding of the world
Video

What it is/what you do with it: an interactive Christmas story with the eco message. About 40 pages (some of them contain simple interactions or extra ecology/climate change related facts). Illustrated by award winning illustrator Max Miceli.

What we liked: the story. Excellent illustrations. Simple animations enhancing the reading experience. Narration/voice acting. Sounds and sound backgrounds. Humor and fun factor.

What we didn't like: limited reading options (words are not highlighted, text layout is not 'young reader friendly'). Very few interactions (and most of them are really very simple).

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A Royal Christmas

A Royal Christmas

Price: 4.99$

May contain `more apps` links
iPhone + iPad

Overall Score: 87/100

version reviewed: 1.2

reviewed:


Best for: Interactive books, Attention & concentration, Creativity, Early literacy, Interaction, Language, Personal & social, Thinking & problem solving

What is it/what do you do with it: 3 Disney Princess Christmas stories (A Very Merry Mix Up, The Holiday Treasure Hunt, A Magical Holiday Feast). Extra features: Princess Tree Trimming (decorate the Christmas tree with items you discovered while reading the stories), 6 coloring pages, 6 jigsaw puzzles.

What we liked: good set of Christmas themed stories. Excellent illustrations and animations. The Tree Trimming activity. Professional narration. Sounds and sound backgrounds. Good reading features (words highlighting, the option to record your own narration). Ease of use. Overall quality of the app.

What we didn't like: we wish there were more interactions and animations. Limiting features in the coloring activity. External links (mailing list etc.).

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The Witch and the Christmas Spirit

The Witch and the Christmas Spirit

Price: free

Lite or Demo version
iPhone

Overall Score: 66/100

version reviewed: 3.0.0

reviewed:


Best for: Interactive books, Attention & concentration, Early literacy, Interaction, Language, Thinking & problem solving

What it is: an interactive book (about 22 pages/scenes long) with extra activities.

What you do with it: read the book or listen to the narration. Tap characters/objects for interactions. Complete mini-games (arcade, arithmetic, alphabet, observation) as a part of the story.

What we liked: the story. Beautiful, vibrant illustrations and animations. Interactions and puzzles complementing the storyline. Humor and fun factor. Narration and voice acting. Sounds and sound backgrounds. Lot's of tiny fun details. 3 difficulty levels for different skill/age groups. Overall quality of the app.

What we didn't like: no word highlighting.

Please note: the overall score and ratings are based on the full (unlocked) version of the book. The free version will let you view 6 books and play one game.

Appysmarts


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