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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