HIDING HANNAH

A child's frustrating habit of hiding things (including herself) around the house is offset by the cuteness of the hider and the light, playful tone of this app.

Honey-haired Hannah, a pint-sized toddler in hairclips and a bunny T-shirt, enjoys hiding items like her mother's hairbrush. She also enjoys hiding herself, especially at nap time ("I not tired!" she chirps) or bath time ("I not dirty!"). The cozy rooms in Hannah's house are full of potential hiding places, like cabinet drawers, closets and big couch cushions. Readers can touch these items to shake out whatever's missing, from Dad's remote control to Hannah herself. At the end of the story, Hannah's parents hide, causing a moment of genuine panic for the girl, but it all ends well with a group hug and laughs. Illustrations throughout are effective, with lots of colorful, distinct objects and parents who are drawn as alternately wary, exhausted and cuddly. There are clever details, such as an easy-to-miss photo of Hannah as a wailing baby in the background and a very amusing sock puppet–themed TV show. The story is narrated by Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, which seems like overkill for such a short, basic affair, but it speaks highly of the publisher’s commitment to production values.

Though it lacks anything in the way of extras or games, Hannah's little story is one worth seeking out. She's a charmer.