Antarctica by KIDS DISCOVER

by KIDS DISCOVER

Price: 3.99$

iPad

Overall Score: 90/100

version reviewed: 1.1

reviewed: 28/05/2013

Best for: Education, Understanding of the world

What it is: an interactive book + extra activities introducing kids to Antarctica (e.g. formation of ice floes, penguins, racing to the South Pole etc).

What you do with it: explore the chapters using the main index or on page by page basis. Some pages contain extra photos, short animations or diagrams illustrating the topics.

The extra activities include: word scramble, dressing for survival dress-up game and a simple science quiz.

What we liked: the concept. High quality videos and illustrations. Range of topics covered. Good educational value.

What we didn't like: we wish there were more interactive features. No narration. Navigation could be more intuitive. The extra activities are very basic.

Appysmarts

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2
4
6
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10
13
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iPad

Simple Machines by Tinybop

by Tinybop Inc.

Price: 2.99$

iPhone + iPad

Overall Score: 89/100

version reviewed: 1.0.5

reviewed: 21/12/2015

Best for: Education, Attention & concentration, Understanding of the world

What it is and what you do with it: explore 6 simple machines: levers, pulleys, inclined planes, wedges, wheels, axles and screws.

Play with the machines, change their features and learn about physics, actions and reactions, force and motion. For example experiment with a lever and use it as a catapult to destroy a castle or use wedges to break up rocks and look for fossils.

What we liked: the concept. Fun interactive scenes helping students understand the concept of simple machines. Original artwork. Extra features including 'labels' helping kids to learn new vocabulary connected with the topic. Good set of extra features (interactive labels, multiple user accounts). No ads or other distracting features.

What we didn't like: no commentary or narration (we recommend parental/teacher assistance).

Appysmarts

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2
4
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8
10
13
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iPhone

iPad

Bobo Explores Light

by Game Collage, LLC

Price: 4.99$

May contain `more apps` links

iPad

Overall Score: 89/100

version reviewed: 2.1

reviewed: 12/03/2013

Best for: Education, Attention & concentration, Understanding of the world

What it is: an interactive book introducing kids to the scientific concepts of light and light phenomena. 16 main chapters (the Sun, Lightning, Fire, Thomas Edison, Lasers, Reflection, Refraction, Lasers, Telescopes, Color, The Human Eye, Glow in the Dark, Bioluminscence, Photosynthesis, Sunset, Auroras).

What you do with it: navigate through the topics, read the descriptions and perform simple on-screen experiments (e.g. play with mirrors to learn about reflection, mix colors etc).
Each chapter contains extra photos, videos, text facts and trivia related to the topic.

What we liked: the concept. Broad range of topics covered, good educational value (as the introduction to science). Many elements enhancing the reading experience (especially the interactive 'experiments' in the Reflection, Refraction and Color sections). Quality illustrations and animations. Humor and fun factor.

What we didn't like: no narration (we recommend parental assistance as many pages are not 'young reader friendly'). Some of the interactions (wriggling text etc) may not be too engaging for the target age group. The interface is gorgeous but... we found it a bit distracting.

Appysmarts

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2
4
6
8
10
13
(years)

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iPad

Toca Nature

by Toca Boca AB

Price: 3.99$

iPhone + iPad

Overall Score: 88/100

version reviewed: 1.0.1

reviewed: 09/12/2014

Best for: Interactive play, Creativity, Interaction, Thinking & problem solving, Understanding of the world

What it is and what you do with it: design your own virtual habitat and observe the nature. Plant different kinds of trees, grow forests, raise mountains and create ponds and rivers then navigate your 'world', collect berries, mushrooms or nuts and feed the animals you meet.

You can also take pictures of your habitat and save them in the photo album.

What we liked: the concept. Good range of features (terrain modeling, forests with various kinds of trees, animal 'behaviors', day/night mode etc). Sounds and sound backgrounds. No distracting elements. Overall quality of the app.

What we didn't like: we missed some sort of visual guide/clues. The educational value could be higher.

Appysmarts

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2
4
6
8
10
13
(years)

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iPhone

iPad

KIDS DISCOVER SPACE

by KIDS DISCOVER

Price: 3.99$

May contain `more apps` links

iPad

Overall Score: 88/100

version reviewed: 2.0

reviewed: 20/01/2013

Best for: Education, Interaction, Understanding of the world

What it is: an interactive book (40+ pages) introducing kids to Space and Space Exploration.

What you do with it: navigate through the topics, read (or listen to the narration). Some pages contain extra photos, videos or diagrams illustrating the topics. The topics include: stars, galaxies, black holes, the Solar System, phases of the Mooon, Mars rovers and space probes, the International Space Station etc.

What we liked: the concept, good educational value (the information is very well presented), broad range of topics covered great layout and graphics, professional narration, no distracting elements.

What we didn't like: almost no interactive features (just a couple of 'interactive diagrams' and a simple memory game). The navigation is not very intuitive. No narration on some of the pages .

Appysmarts

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2
4
6
8
10
13
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iPad

There’s No Place Like Space! (Dr. Seuss/Cat in the Hat)

by Oceanhouse Media

Price: 5.99$

May contain `more apps` links

iPhone

Overall Score: 87/100

version reviewed: 1.08.1

reviewed: 18/01/2013

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

What it is: an interactive book from the Cat in The Hat's Learning Library about the Solar System.

What you do with it: two modes of 'reading' the book: listen to the narration and follow the text or read the story yourself (or have the story read to you by a parent). Touch the objects on pages and their name will be displayed and read out. Touch highlighted words for definitions and explanations.

What we liked: the story, very good educational value, excellent reading options (words are highlighted, you can touch a word to have it read out, you can touch and hold the words to repeat a paragraph), picture-word associations, professional narration, sounds and sound backgrounds.

What we didn't like: almost no extra interactions/functions (compared to the other books from this series).

Note about ads: the app has an option to display news and ads from the publisher but this option can be turned off in the settings menu.

Appysmarts

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2
4
6
8
10
13
(years)

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iPhone

iPad

From Earth to Space

by Chocolapps

Price: 1.99$

May contain `more apps` links

iPhone + iPad

Overall Score: 86/100

version reviewed: 1.1

reviewed: 28/03/2013

Best for: Education, Language, Understanding of the world

What it is: a mini-encyclopedia with about 60 entries.

What you do with it: 'navigate' through the earth, oceans, skies and space. Tap the objects to display pop-up windows with facts, trivia and pictures.

What we liked: the concept (interactive map). Ease of use. 7 language versions included in the app.

What we didn't like: the information could be presented in a more kid-friendly way (e.g. too many numerical info, some of the subjects may be too abstract). We wish there were more entries. The descriptions are not read out by the narrator.

Appysmarts

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2
4
6
8
10
13
(years)

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iPhone

iPad

Thomas Edison's Secret Lab

by FatRedCouch

Price: free (was 0.99$)

iPhone + iPad

Overall Score: 86/100

version reviewed: 1.0

reviewed: 23/12/2015

Best for: Education, Eye-hand coordination, Interaction, Understanding of the world

What it is and what you do with it: interactive app based on the Thomas Edison's Secret Lab television show.

Activities include: a gallery of famous scientists and inventors with bios, facts and quotes, 3 arcade games, 6 episodes, 6 video clips and the Secret Lab where you can discover experiments and projects you can do at home.

What we liked: the concept. Characters, illustrations and animations based on the TV show. Quality educational content. Professional narration. Sound backgrounds and sounds. No ads or other distracting features.

What we didn't like: navigation could be more intuitive. No index/reference screen. We wish there was more content in the Library in the Inventions and Discoveries section.

Appysmarts

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2
4
6
8
10
13
(years)

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iPhone

iPad

Alligator at Saw Grass Road - Android version

by Oceanhouse Media

Price: free

May contain `more apps` links

Android

Overall Score: 86/100

version reviewed: 1.30

reviewed: 21/02/2013

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

What it is: an educational book (about 15 pages long) about the life of an alligator and her young.

What you do with it: three modes of 'reading' the book: listen to the narration and follow the text, read the book yourself (or have the story read to you by a parent) and autoplay. Touch the objects on pages and their name will be displayed and read out.

What we liked: good educational value, quality artwork, excellent reading options (words are highlighted when read, you can touch a word to have it read out, tap twice to repeat a paragraph, picture-word associations), professional narration, sounds and sound backgrounds.

What we didn't like: the pages are very static, there are no interactive elements (apart from the read-out features).

Note about ads: the app has an option to display news and ads from the publisher but this option can be turned off in the settings menu.

Appysmarts

Graphic quality:

Length of play:

Educational value:

2
4
6
8
10
13
(years)

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Android

Alligator at Saw Grass Road - Smithsonian's

by Oceanhouse Media

Price: 2.99$

May contain `more apps` links

iPhone

Overall Score: 86/100

version reviewed: 2.1

reviewed: 11/02/2013

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

What it is: an educational book (about 15 pages long) about the life of an alligator and her young.

What you do with it: three modes of 'reading' the book: listen to the narration and follow the text, read the book yourself (or have the story read to you by a parent) and autoplay. Touch the objects on pages and their name will be displayed and read out.

What we liked: good educational value, quality artwork, excellent reading options (words are highlighted when read, you can touch a word to have it read out, tap twice to repeat a paragraph, picture-word associations), professional narration, sounds and sound backgrounds.

What we didn't like: the pages are very static, there are no interactive elements (apart from the read-out features).

Note about ads: the app has an option to display news and ads from the publisher but this option can be turned off in the settings menu.

Appysmarts

Graphic quality:

Length of play:

Educational value:

2
4
6
8
10
13
(years)

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iPhone

iPad

Best apps for kids: Early science.

Antarctica by KIDS DISCOVER

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Simple Machines by Tinybop

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Bobo Explores Light

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Toca Nature

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KIDS DISCOVER SPACE

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There’s No Place Like Space! (Dr. Seuss/Cat in the Hat)

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From Earth to Space

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Thomas Edison's Secret Lab

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Alligator at Saw Grass Road - Android version

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Alligator at Saw Grass Road - Smithsonian's

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