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MY FATHER'S CLOTHES by LaLaFish

MY FATHER'S CLOTHES

developed by LaLaFish

Pub Date: Nov. 2nd, 2011
Publisher: LaLaFish

Three fish contemplate what it means to wear their father’s clothes.

It’s a shame that this app is held hostage by one key component, because it has a whole lot going for it. Clean design? Check. Striking visuals? Check. Decent technological interface, user-friendly navigation and strong audio? Yes, yes and yes. Sensible story? Not even close. Though at first glance, it may appear that this story is about playing dress-up, it’s really about a heavenly father, and his clothes aren’t made of fabric and thread. They’re metaphors for spiritual fortification. Even if readers are religiously in sync with the story, they’re probably not going to emerge from the reading experience with anything but frustration and confusion. The concept was likely inspired by Isaiah 61:10, a Bible verse that references being clothed with garments of salvation and robes of righteousness. But without a working knowledge of Christian theology it would be difficult—if not impossible—to interpret that message. At one point the text reads: “Your father’s clothes, we want them too! / How many pearls would they do?” Clearly, making a rhyme is more important than making sense. 

There’s no point in listing the positives; the story itself is so appallingly illogical and poorly told this app should skip the rack and go directly to the thrift store.

(iPad storybook app. 2-4)