Stumpy’s Alphabet Dinner iPad App by Roo Roo

Preschool children will enjoy feeding the friendly monsters, Stumpy and Lexi, letters and shapes while listening to birds and insects chirping at the lake scene.

Summary:  Stumpy’s Alphabet Dinner iPad App is an educational tool young children will enjoy working with.  It is a free App, but like most Apps, it is also available in a paid version that will allow access to more educational games than what is offered with the free version.  The free version includes games where the user can match letters of the alphabet and shapes.  As the friendly monster creature, Stumpy, sits on the log next to the lake, a word appears above his head.  Children will enjoy taking the letters from the words and dragging them to Stumpy’s mouth as he gobbles up the letter.  At this level, the letters that appear on Stumpy’s stomach are not in order as the word is spelled.  They randomly appear out of order.  The user may tap the letters above Stumpy’s head and the narrator will identify the letter.  After each correct match, Stumpy will give positive feedback.  If the user tries to match up the wrong letter, Stumpy will chew it up and spit it out while making a nasty sound.  When all the letters have been matched correctly, helium balloons and confetti appear that spell out the word “GREAT”.  Users can pop each balloon by tapping on them.  If users want to match shapes, they just need to tap on another friendly looking monster, Lexi, and follow the same procedures.  The last thing users can do with this free App is to tap on the picnic basket.  This will take the user to a picnic table cloth with all the alphabet letters.  If the user taps on one of the letters, it will appear on a plate.  The user can tap on the letter to watch and hear the letter get gobbled up.

Qualitative Analysis:  The free iPad App, Stumpy’s Alphabet Dinner, is an App that encourages the user to purchase an upgraded App that will allow the user more access to other educational tools.  For $.99 the user can upgrade and meet Otto, the number eating monster.  Once the program is opened, it is difficult, if not impossible, to go back to the home screen.  Even after turning off the iPad, it returns back to the same screen.  There were no directions or information about the App on the homepage.  The graphics and sound effects will be appealing to the young user.  Although the characters are monsters, it is unlikely that a young child will become frightened.  The picnic scene with a beautiful lake in the background is relaxing to see, especially with birds and insects providing background sound effects.  The monsters are in constant motion, giving them human-like qualities.  There is no need for background, cultural, or prior knowledge for the user to enjoy and comprehend this item.

Genre and/or Subject Area:  iPad App

Age or Interest Level:  Ages 2-5

Personal thoughts:   This App was recommended to me by a friend with young children.  Unfortunately, I don’t know if they remained with the free version or upgraded it to the paid App.  I felt it was cute and educationally appealing, and that young children would enjoy playing with it.  I felt frustrated, though, with the lack of ability to return to the home page and that there were no directions included.

Bob Books iPad App by Learning Touch

The free iPad App Bob Books is a reading and spelling game that emergent readers will enjoy while interacting with words in easy to read books.

Summary:  Children will have the opportunity to interact with this iPad App through four different levels.  Level 1 allows the user to drag and drop letters to match the word.  Level 2 teaches users to learn left-to-right order.  Level 3 encourages users to spell without visual hints, and Level 4 allows users to pick letters to spell words.  All four levels include the same twelve books, but use different skills to spell the words.  The first three books are included in the free App, while the next eight are a part of the optional paid program.  When the user touches the words on the page, the announcer reads the word.  Each time the letter tile is touched, the narrator sounds out the letter.  When all the words are spelled correctly, the narrator reads the sentence on the page.  This App only gives the user an idea of what the purchased App is like.  Parents are also given the option to purchase different books focusing on specific skills such as sight words, rhyming words, long vowels, and more.

Qualitative Analysis:  The homepage of Bob Books features a jolly character named Mat, who is featured in the first book.  How To Play instructions for detailed descriptions for each level is an option the user can choose on the homepage as well as About Bob Books which gives adults the option to sign up for the Bob Books Club.  Parents can purchase additional Apps and e-books.  Users can also choose Options that individualizes the App for the user.  These options include: selecting levels, background music, sound effects, offering of hints, and choosing the narrator to name the letters or give the phonetic sound of the letters.  After the user selects the Play arrow, the screen asks which level the user would like to start at.  Each page includes a background screen on a bright green hill with line drawn yellow flowers and characters.  When the user chooses the book they want to spell out, the screen goes to a white background with a black line drawing.  When the letter tiles appear, they appear with a blue background.  When the user correctly spells the word, the picture gets filled in with bright colors, followed by the narrator reading the sentence on the page.  The homepage icon is always available in the upper left corner, allowing the user to return to the homepage.  Beginning readers will enjoy this colourful interactive App.  The language is familiar to the user.  There is no need for background, cultural, or prior knowledge for this App to be enjoyed and comprehended.

Genre and/or Subject Area:  iPad App

Age or Interest Level:  Ages 4-7

Personal thoughts:   Although this App is a free commercial to purchase the rest of the App and additional e-books and print materials, children will enjoy interacting with the sounds of each letter as they spell out words.

Rocket Speller iPad App by Little Big Thinkers

The Rocket Speller iPad App is a wonderful educational App that builds the child’s spelling skills and vocabulary while having the feeling of playing an arcade game.

Summary:  Children will enjoy improving their spelling skills with the free interactive iPad App, Rocket Speller.  With five levels to choose from in lower or upper case letters, children can progress at their own pace.  Level 1 includes 3-6 letter words that they may place in any order.  The picture of the item appears on the screen as the word is being read.  The word is spelled out correctly in light grey letter tiles with navy blue letter tiles scrambled below the word.  The user can put the letters in their proper place in any order by dragging the letter up to the designated letter.  Level 5 includes 7-10 letter words that must be placed in the correct order.  At the 5^th level, users must spell out the word without any letter clues provided.  On all levels, after three words are spelled correctly, the user may choose one of three colorful parts they will choose to build a rocket they will use during the arcade-like game where the rocket blasts through stars to earn points.

Qualitative Analysis:    The Rocket Speller iPad App is filled with colorful graphics and interesting sounds that will appeal to the student.  The homepage is a picture of a white cloud coming out of a colorful rocket with a green alien sitting on a blue arrow.  In the bottom right corner there is a tab where the user may choose if they want upper or lower case letters shown, as well as an area where they can choose the level in which they want to play.  A description of each of the five levels is included.  The upper right hand corner includes an adult’s tab where the description of the version being used is included.  An area where adults can sign up for new releases and promotions to be sent to if that is what they want is also available.  Because the theme of the app is space, the background is dark blue with stars.  The little green alien found on the homepage is the user’s guide throughout.  He is the one who moves his mouth as he pronounces the words, the letters, and spells the word out after it is spelled correctly.  When the twelve words are spelled correctly and the pieces of the rocket are chosen, the rocket appears at a launch pad where the alien climbs up and jumps in to the rocket.  After the user presses the red button, a count-down begins starting with 5.  After the blast-off sounds, the user can move the rocket from side to side as the rocket climbs up into space while at the same time the rocket tries to blast through each yellow star in the sky.  Because of the different levels offered with this game, there is no need for background, cultural, or prior knowledge to enjoy and comprehend this app.

Genre and/or Subject Area:  iPad App

Age or Interest Level:  Grades K-3

Personal thoughts:   I really liked this arcade-like game that helps students improve their spelling skills.  I thought the graphics, sounds, levels of difficulty, and the level of engagement will appeal to students.

Baby Einstein: World Music (2009)

Rating:  NR

Length:  33 minutes

Studio:  Chris D’Angelo Productions

Disney’s Baby Einstein World Music introduces children to instrumental music, instruments, dances, and scenery from all seven continents.

Summary:   Baby Einstein: World Music is a music video that combines several artistic mediums to expose children to different international cultures.  The opening scene is with a monkey puppet and a wooden airplane in front of a large globe.  Instrumental music is playing while photographs of scenery from all over the world are shown.  There are seven segments (one for each continent) that follow a similar pattern.  As a piece of a wooden puzzle is placed in place for a specific continent, the announcer says, “Welcome to (North America).”  The same monkey mentioned earlier is now wearing a cultural accessory and begins to play a Little Tikes drum.  Another animal (representing the continent) puppet is also wearing a cultural accessory and begins to play an instrument that is associated with that continent.  Following the introduction to the continent, photographs of scenery, animals, landmarks, people, and more that represents the continent is shown.  All the while instrumental music is being played in the background.  Children are introduced to the following instruments: wooden flute, djembe, pipa, clackers, maracas, rainstick, and the harp.  After all the continents have been highlighted, a group of multicultural children dressed in jeans and a different bright solid shirt dance and sit together while singing a song.  The music video then closes with the same opening scene, this time, the airplane is moving off screne.

Qualitative Analysis:  This music video that introduces children to the seven continents and the many different cultural elements is filled with several types of mediums.  Puppets, photographs, music, video, instruments, dance, toys, and more all are used to convey the culture of each continent.  Because of the similar pattern used during each continent segment, children will feel comfortable and come to anticipate how each segment is presented.  The music is a soothing instrumental that children will also enjoy.  The language and vocabulary used is minimal, but is familiar to the viewer, even at an early age.  The main menu offers a few extra options.  One is the “Select a Segment” where the viewer can watch a 5 minute show, a 10 minute show, a Puppet Show of the animal puppets playing instruments, and World Music Songs where songs are sung in foreign languages while showing pictures of children from around the world.  Another option is called “Grow With Me.”  This offers two options; Mode 1 and Mode 2 (wood flute).  It was unclear as to what this was because when this reviewer watched it, there was no difference in the two from the main video.  The last option included is Discovery Cards.  Here, picture cards of the instruments used in the music video (as well as additional ones) and descriptions are given.  If the viewer wants to know where all the items used in the making of the video can be purchased, a description of each item and company is also given.  Although the company recommends it is for children ages 3+ months, this reviewer would not recommend it to children until they were two or more years old.

Genre and/or Subject Area:  Music Video, Music, Social Studies

Age or Interest Level:  3+ months-6 years

Awards:  2008 American Baby Best of the Year Awards

Personal thoughts:   Although the product label says it is for 3+ month old children, I would not recommend it until at least 2 years old.  The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend any screen time until at least that age.  The instrumental music was soothing and the cultural information and photographs were wonderful.

Bibliographic Information:  D’Angelo, C. & Pendleton, R. (2009). Baby Einstein: World Music. USA: Chris D’Angelo Productions.

Kidsongs: I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (1986)

Rating:  G

Length:  30 minutes

Studio:  Together Again Productions

Take a trip around the world with this classroom as they explore different countries and their music!

Summary:  Miss Miller’s class has been celebrating International Week at school.  Today her multicultural students came to school dressed in cultural costumes in this Kidsongs: I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing music video.  She has taught them the Grammy winning title song which was first released in 1971.  As the students sing, the classroom globe begins to spin and suddenly Mr. Globe appears with the students, only they are not in their classroom anymore; they are in Italy!  They all begin to sing Funiculi, Funicula as they cook the pasta.  From there they travel to Scotland where they meet some Scottish dancers singing Did You Ever See a Lassie?  In England they play and sing London Bridges.  They meet sleeping John in France and sing Frere Jacques to him.  In Africa they sing Kumbaya and in Australia they sing Waltzing Matilda.  One of the students tells Mr. World she had to leave her best friend behind in Japan when she moved to the States, so they travel to Japan to watch a traditional Japanese dance while singing Sakura, Sakura.  One of the girls has a mother that came from Mexico, so they travel there and sing Los Pollitos.  Last but not least, they travel to Jamaica and sing Day-O (the Banana Boat Song).  Suddenly, they are back in their classroom singing the title song.  The teacher reminds the students that despite the outside differences, children all over the world are the same.

Qualitative Analysis:    Kidsongs music videos have been around for a while.  Children love singing along to the songs!  Although this video features a goofy tour guide, Mr. World, the cultural costumes, songs, dances, and games are very insightful to cultural awareness around the world.  Because it was produced in 1986, the hair styles and outfits of some of the characters might seem dated.  Nonetheless, the content is timeless.  Not knowing if any of the scenes were filmed in the country highlighted, the settings and scenes seemed convincing.  The one thing this writer felt could have been done differently is when they went to Africa.  They visited countries, not continents (except for Australia which is both a country and a continent).  Choosing to use the term Africa and not a country in Africa encourages the misconception that Africa is a country or that all African countries are all the same.  It would have been more culturally accurate if they would have chosen a specific African country.  The story flows well and the viewer has the option to skip to specific songs that are listed in order on the menu of the video disc.  The language used is familiar to the viewer.  There is no need for background, cultural, or prior knowledge to enjoy and comprehend this music video.

Genre and/or Subject Area:  Music Video, Social Studies

Age or Interest Level: Grades K-3

Awards:  Winner of 8 Parents Choice Awards, 3 National Parenting Publications Association Awards and the ViRA Award for Best Live Action Children’s Video

Personal thoughts:   Although this music video dates back to 1986, the cultural exchanges and songs that take place in this video are timeless.  It would be a wonderful addition to a class unit on multiculturalism in the social studies curriculum.

Bibliographic Information:  Gowers, B. (1986). Kidsongs: I’d like to teach the world to sing.  USA: Together Again Productions.

Sesame Street: Singing With The Stars (2012)

Rating: NR

Length:  47 min.

Studio:  Warner Brothers Home Video

Kids and parents will love this music video with the Sesame Street characters and famous music artists as they sing about educational concepts such as letter, numbers, and shapes.

Summary:  Sesame Street: Singing With The Stars is an entertaining music video that young children will enjoy, especially if they love Sesame Street!  It’s a forty-seven minute compilation of guest artists that have appeared on the show.  The words to the songs made famous by the artists have been changed to teach a concept or highlight one of the characters of the show, such as Elmo.  For instance, Cheryl Crow sits on a beach with several of the characters and sings about the letter “I” to the tune of her song, “Soak Up the Sun.”  James Blunt sings about the shape of the triangle in a song called “My Triangle” to the tune of “You’re Beautiful.”  When the subject of crossing the street comes up, Hootie and the Blowfish sing a song about holding hands to the tune of “Hold My Hand.”  Some of the concepts covered include letters of the alphabet, numbers, addition, shapes, going outside, and crossing the street safely.

Qualitative Analysis:  Sesame Street is known for the quality programming they produce and this is no disappointment.  Young children who know and love the Sesame Street characters will enjoy this music video.  There is not a story line.  It is a montage of celebrity music artists that have made appearances on the television show that airs on PBS.  There is no introduction or transition between the video clips.  They run from one to the next.  The educational concepts are not organized in any way.  Although there is no formal organization to it, the music video flows smoothly.  The main menu includes a Chapters feature where the viewer can jump right to a specific artist and song.  The Options menu item offers subtitles in English or Spanish.  The Bonus features include a Sing-a-long section where the viewer can watch the video with the words to sing along with.  As each word is sung, the word is highlighted.  The Bonus features also includes Parent Tips and a downloadable PDF workbook with illustrated songs and stories.  There is no need for background, cultural, or prior knowledge for the viewer to enjoy and comprehend the concept being taught in the music video.

Genre and/or Subject Area:  Music Video

Age or Interest Level:  Ages 2-5

Personal thoughts:   Sesame Street is an educational institution that has been around for generations.  Parents will enjoy watching the artists they love and the songs they made famous turned into songs their children will love while learning educational concepts.  Parents will recognize the tunes and can hum along while their kids sing the new lyrics.

Bibliographic Information:  Clash, K. (2012). Sesame Street: Singing with the stars.  USA: Warner Brothers Home Video.

Starfall

Starfall  www.starfall.com

This website is filled with many free educational games that children of all ages will enjoy playing.

Summary:  The Starfall website is filled with many free educational games reinforcing reading, math, and other literacy skills.  The player has many options to choose from.  There are four stages of reading to choose from: ABCs, Learn to Read, It’s Fun to Read, and I’m Reading.  Each of these levels builds on one another to encourage the player to become an independent reader.  There are also other concepts that engage the user such as calendar, 100^th day of school, and earth day that help build literacy skills.  The math skills games include counting, measuring, adding & subtracting, and more.  For instance, if the user were to choose “It’s Fun to Read”, they would have a menu to choose from of topics of interest.  If they chose “Art Gallery”, the names of six artists would be on the next page to choose from.  If the user chose the mini book of George Seurat, his name would be highlighted and pronounced with his painting of A Sunday on La Grande Jatte.  The user can turn the pages to find out more about this painter as well as seeing examples of his work.  Throughout the book, a certain sounding word would be used repeatedly, such as words with the “ight” sounds.  At the end of the book, the user is asked to engage in adding beginning letters to this sound to make new words.  Although this educational game website is filled with many free games, there is an option for additional games and activities for an additional cost.

Qualitative Analysis:   The home page of this educational game site is well organized and easy for the user to navigate.  The yellow background is divided in half with the four levels of reading and other concepts listed below on the left side of the page.  The right side of the page has a green box encouraging the user to explore more reading, math, and other concepts.  Each of these concepts offers some, but not all of the games.  It gives the user a sampling that will entice them to pay for the full package at an additional cost.  The graphics and colors are appealing to the user.  The narration is smooth, clear, and easy to understand.  Because there are such a wide variety of activities for users of all ages, there is no need for background, cultural, or prior knowledge to enjoy and comprehend these games.

Genre and/or Subject Area:  Computer Game

Age or Interest Level:  Ages 2-8

Personal thoughts:   This is another educational game site that a teacher recommended to me.  It is filled with many games that children will enjoy exploring.  They will enjoy learning while having fun.  I particularly like the fact that is has such a wide variety and that it appeals to a large age range of children.

Alphabet Goop

Alphabet Goop  http://www.tvokids.com/games/alphabetgoop

This educational computer game by TVOKids helps reinforce the beginning sound of words.

Summary:  Alphabet Goop is an educational game featured on the TVO Kids website.  It is a game reinforcing the beginning sounds in a word.  The player needs to watch the “How to Play” video to learn how to play the game.  When the game begins, two alphabet letters appear on a sticky note attached to a clipboard.  The player needs to click on the spoon lying in front of the bowl so that it stirs the goop.  When that happens, an object comes out of the goop.  The player needs to click and drag that item to the correct board matching the beginning sound of the item.  A cute rhyme introduces the game by the narrator.  As the letters appear in the sticky note, the narrator identifies the letter and the sound.  When the item appears out of the goop, the narrator identifies the item.  After the player clicks and drags the item to the correct board, the narrator says with excitement, “You did it!”  The word of the object appears under it and the narrator then says the beginning sound three times before the name of the object again, followed by a reminder of what the object is and what letter it begins with.  If a player guesses wrong, the narrator says, “Oops, try again” followed by the beginning sound of the item and the name of the item.  If the player forgets what the sound of the letter makes, the sound will be said as the player hovers over the letter on the sticky note.  The game continues on as long as the player wants to play.

Qualitative Analysis:  The Alphabet Goop educational game reinforces the beginning sounds of words.  The home page features the name of the game in a green block font with some substance dripping off the letters making it look like goop.  The background color is done with both blue and pink.  There are two boxes allowing the player to choose either “How to Play” or “Start Playing.”  The “How to Play” option explains the directions clearly.  When it is finished, it brings the player back to the home page, allowing the player to “Start Playing.”  The narrator is easy to hear and understand.  The sound effects of the spoon stirring the goop and the clicking and dropping of the items are not too loud and placed appropriately.  American players will be familiar with the language used except how the letter “z” is identified.  Because the company is based in Canada, the letter “z” is identified as “zed.”  Other than that, there is no background or cultural knowledge needed to enjoy and comprehend this game.  Some prior knowledge to what alphabet letters are would be helpful.

Genre and/or Subject Area:  Computer Game

Age or Interest Level:  Ages 3-6

Personal thoughts:   This game was a recommendation of a K4 teacher.   She indicated that her students enjoy playing this educational game during their computer time.  I feel it is a great game to help reinforce the beginning letter sound of words at the re-reader stage.  It’s not long and complicated, fun to look at, and educational.

Paw Park Kangaroo Confusion

Paw Park Kangaroo Confusion http://www.earobics.com/gamegoo/games/pawpark/pawpark.html

One-two sentence high interest annotation (that might be use on a reader’s advisory bibliography)

Summary:  Paw Park is a beginner game on the Earobics website, which features educational games.  The site feature three levels of difficulty and the beginner level has five games, one of them being Paw Park Kangaroo Confusion.  The scenario is that the kangaroos had a great time at the kangaroo park, but some of the kangaroos can’t find their mommies or daddies.  The player needs to match the uppercase letter of the alphabet on the kangaroo father with the lower case letter on the kangaroo child as they are standing in line for the Ferris wheel.  After five father kangaroos are matched with the child kangaroo, the game continues with a new set of kangaroos.  This time the kangaroo children need to be matched up with their kangaroo mother wearing the uppercase letter as the child kangaroo disembarks from a ride.  After the two rounds, the game gives the user the option to play again with a whole new set of letters to match up.

Qualitative Analysis:  This game is educational game is simple to understand and play for young pre-readers.  It helps develop the skill of letter recognition through a theme park setting.  The first scene includes a roller coaster in the background with cars riding the track, a ride similar to a merry-go-round where cups ride up and down the pole, and a Ferris wheel that moves after each kangaroo is matched.  Bright primary and secondary colors are used.  Carnival music is played in the introduction and as the Ferris wheel moves.  The computer generated voice of the narrator is easy to hear and understand.  The font of the letters is large and black on the kangaroo’s shirt, making it easy for the player to see.  The vocabulary is familiar to the user.  Prior knowledge of what the alphabet letters look like would be helpful, but is not necessary to enjoy and comprehend this game.

Genre and/or Subject Area:  Computer Game

Age or Interest Level:  Ages 2-6

Personal thoughts:   This game was a recommendation of a K4 teacher.   She indicated that her students enjoy playing this educational game during their computer time.  I felt it is a great game to help reinforce the skill of letter recognition at the re-reader stage.  It’s not long and complicated, fun to look at, and educational.

Kids Search by EBSCOhost

Kids Search by EBSCOhost  www.ebscohost.com 

The trusted family of EBSCOhost products offers a Kids Search version that is user friendly for those young students just developing their research skills.

Summary:  EBSCOhost Kids Search is a wonderful way to introduce a research database to school age children filled with credible journal articles.  The tool bar at the top of the home page allows students to search the dictionary, encyclopedia, and images.  They can search their topic by typing it in the search bar or they can do a detailed search using Boolean terms and other limiters.  They may search magazines, newspapers, books & encyclopedias, biographies, or primary source documents.  They can also limit their search by full text, publication date, peer reviewed, number of pages, cover story, publication type, Lexile reading level, PDF full text, and images and title within the Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia.  Once the results are tabulated, the student can then print out the article, e-mail it, save it, or add it to a folder.  The user also has the ability to search by topic if they click on the picture box that refers to the topic on the home page.  An area for users to search by top searches and a spotlight topic is also available on the home page.  This database is a great way to encourage higher levels of thinking when it comes to research and developing information literacy.

Qualitative Analysis:  EBSCOhost’s Kids Search is a database with several text tools that make it easy for the student just learning how to conduct credible research.  Because it is a subscription the institution must pay for, the patron must have a library membership that gives them access or a user name and password.  The home page has a bright green and orange color scheme which is well organized and not cluttered.  The headings leading the student to the different ways of searching are clearly defined with larger text within the text box for the type of search.  The graphics include realistic cartoon-type drawings that would appeal to even the older elementary student.  The articles include realistic photographs.  This writer found the “Search by Topic” frustrating to use, however.  Every time a query was conducted, it said “No results were found.”  The detailed search option is filled with different types of limiters mentioned in the above summary.  This format is something young researchers need to become familiar with as they develop their research skills.

Genre and/or Subject Area:  Paid Subscription Database

Age or Interest Level:  Grades K-8

Personal thoughts:   I am familiar with the EBSCOhost databases I have used for my own research needs over the years.  I think it is great that there is a research database specifically designed for elementary students that is colorful and easy to use.