THE THREE LITTLE PIGS

A respectable rendition to add to the more than 100 others in the iTunes store.

This version of the classic fable sticks closely to the typical telling. Three pigs. Three houses. One wolf. And a whole lot of huffing and puffing. With the basics covered, the question becomes one of function: How does this adaptation utilize the interactivity the iPad affords, and how effective is the overall presentation? This app scores high marks for seamless navigation. Pages are quick to load and can be easily traversed, and help is easy to come by. There are listen, read and autoplay options—the last of which pauses about 12 seconds between page turns to allow time for interactions. The developers have struck a near-perfect equilibrium between stimulation and overload, a factor that often makes or breaks digital storybooks. Illustrations are rich in color and shape but not cluttered. Tactile features are ample but not overwhelming—bugs fly, pigs tremble and squeal, a woodpecker pecks. The interactive cherry on top is readers’ role in helping the pigs stay ahead of the pursuant wolf. Kids will go hog wild with the memory, puzzle and painting games. In the end, the story finds the wolf cooked in a pot of boiling water he falls in (though the visuals imply otherwise).

Overall, a cut above most.