I’m only now beginning to grok the vast entertainment possibilities afforded by the family iPad. Mostly the kids and I use it to game or maybe do a bit of light reading, but Ruckus Media’s new My Little Pony storybook app has helped bridge the gap between the two. This is a particularly appealing arrangement for my three-year-old daughter who is both a bit too young for many of our family gaming activities and a genuine connoisseur of everything Friendship Is Magic-related.
Twilight Sparkle: Teacher for a Day presents a nice opportunity for together reading, and it also boasts a pair of additional options. “Read to Me” narrates the tale (with character-appropriate voices) for kids looking to go it alone, and the “Read and Record” option allows beginning readers to record their own narration for each story page. These pages are beautifully illustrated and easy to navigate, and most feature hidden, touch-sensitive bonus sound effects and animation that truly add to the experience.
The story is regularly punctuated by activities such as mazes and “spot the difference” puzzles, which go a long way in breaking up the reading with some true interactivity. Still, the real crowd-pleaser, at least for my little one, is the app’s unique ending. After helping Twilight and her friends discover the history of Canterlot, players are asked to retell the story in the pony’s diary.
This is done by dragging words and images unlocked during mini-games into fill-in-the-blank sentences. Additional words can be unlocked upon multiple play-throughs. Or you can just do what my kid does and drag a random pony into each blank, resulting in some rather hilarious impromptu Mad Libs.
At $3.99 it’s a little on the higher end of app pricing, but for an engaging, well-produced licensed product it is certainly not too much to ask. And the fact that it’s a universal app means you can keep a copy tucked away on your iPhone for emergencies (e.g. long waits in restaurants and doctors’ offices).
Ruckus Media Group was kind enough to offer 10 free download codes to be awarded to the GeekDad readers. Simply fill in the form below with your name, email address and the reason that you and/or your kids enjoy the new series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic before midnight tonight for a chance to win. I’ll draw the winners at random, and each will be contacted via email. Much thanks goes out to the fine folks at Ruckus Media for their generosity, and those interested in this or their other applications are encouraged to connect with the team via Twitter or Facebook.
Review materials provided by: Ruckus Media Group
