CHILDREN'S
Released: Jan. 7, 2012
"This impressive photo set makes for a stunning, if occasionally overwhelming geographical experience. (iPad informational app. 3 & up)"
A photo gallery–as-app is light on features yet becomes a moving visual statement communicated through the faces of hundreds of kids from around the world.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Jan. 11, 2012
"A simple, lovely lullaby. (iPad storybook app. 1-4)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: Jan. 13, 2012
"A winning app that could easily be deemed the jazz version of The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. Smooth. (iPad storybook app. 2-8)"
This highly user-friendly primer gives kids both a macro and micro lesson about jazz music.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Jan. 20, 2012
"Not particularly therapeutic, but the art and the plot are engaging--as is the translation, which is so consistently amusing that the awkwardness may well be intentional. (iPad storybook app. 10-14)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: Jan. 30, 2012
"A winner: beautifully illustrated, nicely designed and solidly informative. (iPad informational app. 6-9)"
A seamless blend of realistic graphics, high-resolution photography and well-chosen interactive features makes for an inviting introduction to bat behavior and types.
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ADULT
Released: Feb. 8, 2012
"A welcome addition to a logophile's arsenal--the last word, we learn, coming from an Arabic phrase meaning "house of industry," though this is a lot more fun than all that."
An iPad-only app that displays networks of word associations in trees that unfold into branches and sub-branches of meaning.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Feb. 8, 2012
"This well-designed odyssey truly does put the universe at viewers' fingertips. (iPad informational app. 6-12)"
A "powers of 10" app that takes young explorers from quarks to the furthest reaches of the observable universe.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Feb. 23, 2012
"Smooth pans of the double-screen illustrations and interactive features that are as high in child appeal as the sidesplitting plot add up to an unusually successful crossover to the digital domain. (iPad storybook app. 6-9)"
Rapid tapping calls up cascades of pigs, pork chops and more from this lightly edited version of Lear's hilarious "The New Vestments."
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CHILDREN'S
Released: March 7, 2012
"Clean, simple, seamless--just right for the nursery-school set or children with special needs. (iPad storybook/dexterity app. 1-3)"
A little green lizard will trail a fingertip home in this mini-Odyssey, the third of Larry's interactive outings.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: March 9, 2012
"A triumphant blend of classic literature and tablet technology. (iPad storybook app. 2-5)"
Feline and fowl profess their love for one another in this winning adaptation of Lear's popular 1871 nonsense poem.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: March 15, 2012
"This spectacular synthesis of elements creates magic on the iPad. Parents and kids won't want to tear themselves away. (iPad music app. 3-10)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: March 15, 2012
"Well told, cleverly illustrated and beautifully supported with interactive surprises that make sense and are great fun, this is a stellar example of iPad storytelling. (iPad storybook app. 4-8)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: March 16, 2012
"With a format that includes science, math, art, music and reading, it still manages to be what learning should be--fun. (iPad informational app. 4-8)"
This beautifully illustrated counting and singalong app version of the 2004 book introduces young readers to the creatures of the coral reef.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: March 23, 2012
"There's a sunny, boisterous sense of fun about the whole thing that's positively endearing; both robot and app have got a lot of heart. (iPad storybook app. 4-10)"
An impressively scruffy app with scribbly artwork and nary a straight line to speak of, this mix of low-fi presentation and top-shelf interactivity is a unique pleasure.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: March 24, 2012
"Good-natured fun and some well-designed interactive elements distinguish this fairy-tale remake. (iPad storybook app. 4-8) "
Over-the-top and hokey, but somehow this "choose your adventure" fairy tale works by never taking itself too seriously
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CHILDREN'S
Released: March 26, 2012
"Well-used technology paired nicely with solid characters make this a promising series opener. (iPad fantasy app. 8-10)"
An interactive introduction to three female friends linked by their love of horses and a fantastical adventure.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: March 27, 2012
"A fantastical and historical ghost story that benefits from technology and the presence of young love. (Paranormal romance. 15-17)"
An interactive ghost tale weaves together historical fiction and a supernatural love story with satisfying results.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: March 31, 2012
"Brief, but loaded with appeal for younger readers and pre-readers. (iPad storybook app. 3-5)"
An abandoned bunny doesn't stay homeless for long in this understated, simply illustrated import.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: April 11, 2012
"A story is only as engaging as its storyteller; this winsome offering leads the way in one crucial area where many digital storybooks fall tellingly short. (iPad storybook app. 2-5)"
This short, imaginative tale simply wasn't meant to be but is so fantastically narrated, readers won't soon forget.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: April 19, 2012
"Set apart by outstanding visuals and a tongue-in-cheek tone, if lacking the psychodrama of more traditional variants. (iPad storybook app. 8-11)"
Illustrations and animations done in a style strongly reminiscent of classic Disney feature-length cartoons boost this rendition of the tale over the zillions of other digital versions.
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ADULT
Released: April 26, 2012
"Some narrative weakness aside, a brilliantly designed app; the current benchmark for high-quality storytelling via tablet. "
Mary Shelley's classic rewritten and retooled, with an appealing gothic-style interface and ingeniously immersive format.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: April 30, 2012
"Flo and her unusual offspring easily capture readers' hearts in this story of faith and love. Not bad for a chicken who can't lay eggs. (iPad storybook app. 3-8)"
A cluck-worthy story about a chicken with magical maternal instincts succeeds with flashes of visual wit and a lovable main character.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: May 2, 2012
"A darling first app for little ones to share with their own moms. (iPad storybook app. 1-5) "
ADULT
Released: May 14, 2012
"In all, a first-class photographic portfolio, intelligently aided by multimedia technology to provoke thought and discussion about the world around us."
Canadian photographer Burtynsky turns in a grand tour of the big, usually grimy world of petroleum.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: May 15, 2012
"A low-key, appealingly unpretentious twist on a familiar folk tale. (iPad storybook app. 5-7)"
A revised "Little Red Riding Hood," with unusually simple and effective illustrations and interactive features.
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ADULT
Released: May 22, 2012
"A captivating experience that encourages users to keep coming back for repeat visits."
The inimitable Attenborough conducts a fascinating interactive tour of the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens and its legendary collection of fantastic greenery from around the globe.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: May 23, 2012
"With its distinctive look, a great drawing element that's actually appropriate to the story and a moral that values cleverness over power, Bing-Wen's app is as rare and magical as the dragons he loves to paint. (iPad storybook app. 3-8)"
The story of a magical dragon brush that can bring painted objects to life casts its own spell.
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ADULT
Released: May 25, 2012
"Chicagoans in exile will feel all the more homesick, while Wilco fans, already well-served with music, concert footage and photographs from various sources, will absolutely want to have this in their collections. The price is right, too."
A splendid bit of orchestration by everybody's favorite alt-rock sextet, giving a view of performances in the City with Big Shoulders from backstage and the cheap seats alike.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: May 28, 2012
"Despite some room for improvement, this rendition lends itself equally to shared or independent reading and is likely to become as well-thumbed as it already looks. (iPad storybook app. 9-11)"
Though this adaptation of the classic cuts down on the original's more lyrical flights of fancy in favor of a closer focus on plot, the richly sentimental tone remains in full force.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: June 7, 2012
"Luli's love of colors comes across as both genuine and infectious. (iPad storybook app. 18 mo.-5)"
An appropriately bright primer on the major colors, this tour through the rainbow seems ideally suited to toddlers learning to associate words with objects.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: June 9, 2012
"An outstanding, seamless combination of evocative art, poetic writing and ingeniously designed digital enhancements that mature audiences in particular (but not exclusively) will find profoundly moving. (thumbnail index) (iPad picture-book app. 8-10, adult)"
A centenarian who has just lost everything--nearly everything--reflects on his childhood and his chief regret in a poignant but wonder-filled memoir.
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ADULT
Released: June 14, 2012
"It's as if Orson Welles had gotten hold of an iPad. Though some fixes remain to be done, a top-notch production."
The tale that scared America silly in 1938, courtesy of Orson Welles, returns in a well-made app that would do a Martian invader proud.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: June 21, 2012
"Like the board book it is based on (Bizzy Bear, Let's Go to Work! 2012), this app has only a few pages, but each one is packed with features that encourage budding builders to linger as long as they like. (iPad storybook app. 6 mos.-3)"
Kids who love trucks and construction will identify with Bizzy as he dons his hard hat and "helps" the crew build a house.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: June 30, 2012
"A very well-balanced offering that both educates and entertains. (iPad storybook app. 2-6)"
Little polar bear Kodee and his friend Raccoon learn about echoes in this suitably simple storybook for preschoolers and early readers.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: July 3, 2012
"An inventive and entertaining introduction to the classic. And that kiss at the end: perfect. (iPad epic app. 10 & up)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: July 4, 2012
"A well-crafted app that will hold interest for little ones as they learn and practice their ABCs. (iPad alphabet app. 2-6)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: July 5, 2012
"Children with wheezles and sneezles of their own will sympathize with the droopy monster and perhaps feel a little less anxious about doctor visits, too. (iPad storybook app. 4-6)"
Zub looks like a bad bargain until his new young owner, Harry, realizes that the monster isn't sad and boring but actually ill.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: July 12, 2012
"Overall, the fanciful result is a storybook app with a far longer shelf life than most. (iPad storybook app. 4-9)"
Based on the traditional book of the same name, this interactive storybook takes balloon travel to all-new heights.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: July 24, 2012
"A lesson to be sure, but delivered in a lighthearted blend of equally lively art, sound and animation. (iPad storybook app. 4-8)"
In an episode both funny and pointed, a family of slobs receives an ultimatum from their filthy house and its disgusted appliances.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: July 26, 2012
"Not every reader will share Clara's strong affinity for fashion, but there's no denying the beauty of the showcased. (iPad storybook app. 4-12)"
What begins as a simple story about a girl trying to restore her grandmother's torn hat becomes an unexpectedly detailed look at fashion treasures from a famous British museum.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 3, 2012
"Hard not to smile at this, whether it's read as a tribute to communal living or a simple bit of rustic foolery. (iPad storybook app. 5-7)"
Lively, brightly colored illustrations featuring a full kit of touch-activated details infuse this traditional cumulative tale with infectious cheer.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 3, 2012
"That small splat aside, the app beautifully illustrates how a simple story, well presented, can be simply refreshing. (iPad storybook app. 1-4)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 4, 2012
"Though the story is simple, even obvious, it takes flight because of the ambitious design work, the kind of thing that can only be pulled off as an app like this. (iPad storybook app. 3-7)"
A moody, beautifully rendered dreamscape, this app about conquering a fear of the dark takes full advantage of the iPad's capabilities.
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ADULT
Released: Aug. 6, 2012
"The making of the film was infamously messy, but Modine's presentation of his story is clean and smart."
The lead of Stanley Kubrick's classic film about the Vietnam War blends sound, image and text to recall an often-exasperating experience.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 8, 2012
"A winner. (iPad informational app. 2-5)"
ADULT
Released: Aug. 9, 2012
"An intriguing attempt to integrate digital technology with time-honored storytelling chops."
A guy, a girl and a suitcase full of underworld money form the reliable backdrop of an innovative iPad app that tries to integrate the world of social media with the solitary act of reading.The plot of this serviceable crime caper stretches across the city of Berlin to a remote island off Germany's North Sea coast called Sylt.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 10, 2012
"Keep an eye on this kid; one can only hope he'll sneak his way into another story or two. (iPad storybook app. 2-5)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 6, 2012
"Step right up to this truly spectacular offering; it will undoubtedly delight ladies, gentlemen and children of all ages. (iPad storybook app. 2-8)"
Every element of this app shines in a story about circus performers who learn to appreciate the talents of others.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 12, 2012
"It's likely young readers who pick up this well-made app will be learning about both Bollywood and red pandas for the first time--and they will be glad they did. (iPad storybook app. 3-8)"
The adventure of a lost, rare red panda cub trying to find his way home is expertly packed with Indian culture, energetic artwork and engaging characters.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 27, 2012
"In a sea of interactive homogeny, this is a rare gem. (for iPad 2 and above) (iPad storybook app. 1-5)"
