This app won't win any awards for outstanding use of tablet technology; worse, it doesn’t make reading even remotely...
A collection of animal stories for beginning readers.
This app from Cavallo Media offers eight adaptations of previously published educational stories, all designed to stimulate language skills and boost literacy. Much like the old Dick and Jane readers, these short animal tales are written in simple and repetitive or patterned language, offering budding readers a reliable shot at mastery. Each story is six pages in length (good for short attention spans) and is accompanied by crude, clip-art–like drawings and rudimentary animation. Interactivity is minimal, as story selection, page turns and taps to repeat animation provide the only opportunities to utilize touch-screen technology. The read-to-me option includes highlighted text and sound effects, neither of which is available in read-it-myself mode. Tapping the top of any page reveals a menu icon, which allows readers to easily navigate between stories. In print, this series has been marketed directly to schools. The iPad adaptations don’t add much to the mix in terms of technological value. Other than a small amount of movement and some sound effects they don’t offer much more than the books do, which is darn little, considering the many excellent books for emerging readers currently available.
This app won't win any awards for outstanding use of tablet technology; worse, it doesn’t make reading even remotely pleasurable for children starting out on their own. (iPad storybook app. 2-6)Pub Date: Aug. 10, 2011
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Cavallo Media
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2011
A wandering effort, happy but pointless.
The perfect book for kids who love dragons and mild tacos.
Rubin’s story starts with an incantatory edge: “Hey, kid! Did you know that dragons love tacos? They love beef tacos and chicken tacos. They love really big gigantic tacos and tiny little baby tacos as well.” The playing field is set: dragons, tacos. As a pairing, they are fairly silly, and when the kicker comes in—that dragons hate spicy salsa, which ignites their inner fireworks—the silliness is sillier still. Second nature, after all, is for dragons to blow flames out their noses. So when the kid throws a taco party for the dragons, it seems a weak device that the clearly labeled “totally mild” salsa comes with spicy jalapenos in the fine print, prompting the dragons to burn down the house, resulting in a barn-raising at which more tacos are served. Harmless, but if there is a parable hidden in the dragon-taco tale, it is hidden in the unlit deep, and as a measure of lunacy, bridled or unbridled, it doesn’t make the leap into the outer reaches of imagination. Salmieri’s artwork is fitting, with a crabbed, ethereal line work reminiscent of Peter Sís, but the story does not offer it enough range.
A wandering effort, happy but pointless. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: June 14, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3680-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: March 27, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2012
A disappointing follow-up.
Inventor Izzy Gizmo is back in this sequel to her eponymous debut (2017).
While busily inventing one day, Izzy receives an invitation from the Genius Guild to their annual convention. Though Izzy’s “inventions…don’t always work,” Grandpa (apparently her sole caregiver) encourages her to go. The next day they undertake a long journey “over fields, hills, and waves” and “mile after mile” to isolated Technoff Isle. There, Izzy finds she must compete against four other kids to create the most impressive machine. The colorful, detail-rich illustrations chronicle how poor Izzy is thwarted at every turn by Abi von Lavish, a Veruca Salt–esque character who takes all the supplies for herself. But when Abi abandons her project, Izzy salvages the pieces and decides to take Grandpa’s advice to create a machine that “can really be put to good use.” A frustrated Izzy’s impatience with a friend almost foils her chance at the prize, but all’s well that ends well. There’s much to like: Brown-skinned inventor girl Izzy is an appealing character, it’s great to see a nurturing brown-skinned male caregiver, the idea of an “Invention Convention” is fun, and a sustainable-energy invention is laudable. However, these elements don’t make up for rhymes that often feel forced and a lackluster story.
A disappointing follow-up. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: March 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68263-164-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Peachtree
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2020
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