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By: Diana Hurwitz,
on 12/24/2014
Blog:
Game On! Creating Character Conflict
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One of the most useful tools to utilize during the revision phase of your first draft is the Find and Replace tool. The instructions here are for Word for Windows, but a similar function should be available for other word processing programs.
Within Word, you turn it on by simply clicking on [Control] and [F] at the same time (the letter F not the function key).
When revising, it is a good idea to save the draft as a new version each time in case you make a major mistake and need to go back to the previous version. You do this by selecting [Save As] and entering the Your Title Rev 1 (2,3,4,5,6,7, etc). When you have completely finished all editing and revising, save it as Your Title Final File.
1. If you do a quick rough draft you may have lots of blanks with placeholders **fill in here** or other placeholders (XXX) (#) for names, places, dates, locations, etc. Searching for ** or your placeholder cues will quickly take you from one placeholder to the next.
2. Develop a list of repetitive words. It may change and/or grow with every book you write.
3. Develop a list of adjectives. We all have personal favorites. You can use the starter list in Story Building Blocks III and add to it as you go.
4. Develop a list of adverbs or search for *.ly. This might take a while.
5. Develop a list of body language words and emotion words. Fill in your placeholders or make certain that your characters aren't yawning, grimacing, frowning, or sighing on every other page.
6. Search for passive language by looking for the word was. I guarantee this will take a long time. Make certain to enter a space before the word was followed by another space: [ was ], otherwise every word containing the letters was together (wash, swash, twas) will be highlighted.
7. Use [Find] and [Replace] to change the name of a place or character. Use [Find Next] rather than [Replace All]. Why? Here's an example.
Let's say you want to replace the word format with method. The program searches for all the places the combination of letters appears. It may change words you never intended: information becomes inmethodion.
If your character's name is May and you decide to change her name to Sally, you end up with, “I sally not want to,” instead of “I may not want to.” The word maybe becomes sallybe. You see the problem.
8. Don't mass delete.
A quick way of deleting a word is to use [Find], but never [Delete All] or you could end up with gibberish. Let's say you want to remove all the "could have"s. Go to each one individually. You may have to reword the sentence so it still makes sense.
9. If you make a mistake, [Control] [Z] or [Undo] is your best friend. It can, however, take you back further than intended. Which leads us to ...
10. Save frequently with [Control] [S].
Saving after every change slows you down too much, so I don't advise it. You should save the file frequently enough, perhaps at the end of each page, to mitigate heartache if your computer goes haywire, turns off in the middle, or you unintentionally select [Undo] and an entire paragraph disappears. Weird things happen.
"NEIGHBORS" - a potential radio play...maybe.
Toying - actually more than toying - with the idea of entering the next BBC Radio International Playwriting Competition. A while back when I first started playwriting, wrote what was then a short play entitled, "Neighbors." Over the years, I've tinkered with it modifying the story line and defining the characters. It's always been a personal favorite and at one point actually expanded it with the idea of turning it into a full play. In any case, I got as far as writing it as a 60-minute play, which just may - note word may - suit my purpose. It requires sound effects, which will be a challenge.
In the way of a tease, here is a sample of the beginning. Feedback always welcomed - and appreciated. It's presently written for stage.
NEIGHBORS
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
TAYLOR, JEFFREY, 45
PORTMAN, ROBBIE, 47
JENKINS, 50, another neighbor
PATTY, 40-ish. attractive bartender working for PORTMAN
MARTINI, 60, land surveyor and personal friend of PORTMAN
THE TIME
The present, mid-summer
SETTING:
Back garden(s) of two neighbors. A picket fence seperates their properties
AT RISE:
Morning. Hot summer's day.
SOUND FX: LAWN MOWER
ROBBIE (ROB) PORTMAN lazes in a hammock reading a book while holding a glass of liquid in the other hand. Dressed in cut-off jeans and a grungy tee shirt, his hair is long and unkempt and he sports a heavy beard
JEFFREY TAYLOR, his next-door neighbor, is the antithesis of Portman, and a perfectionist.
TAYLOR
Phew-ee! Must be a hundred degrees in the shade today. I’d be indoors right now if my tomatoes didn’t need pampering. That’s the real secret of growing big veggies, y’know. Give ‘em extra ‘TLC’… Hello? Hope I'm not disturbing you or anything
PORTMAN
Must be them damn chipmunks making a racket again. It’s gettin' so’s a person can't read in peace anymore. I’ll just take off my shoe here and aim it at that noise near the fence
TAYLOR
You’d do that, wouldn’t you? How long you been there?
PORTMAN
What time was sunrise, today?
TAYLOR
You are so pathetic… I see you’ve got another one of your liquid breakfasts
PORTMAN
For your information it’s pure orange juice.
&nbs
BBC RADIO COMPETITION IS BECKONING ME - AGAIN
"Two new pieces in your playwriting blog in one day! Must be something really important, Eleanor!"
Yes it is...could be...maybe...one hopes
Anybody who drops by this blog is familiar with my continuous effort and accompanying angst to write a radio play for the BBC International Playwriting Competition. This year my idea and hope was to turn my "Old Soldiers" story into a radio play and enter it in the competition. However - I abhor that word - my intent wasn't realized in producing dialogue and once again what I thought was the deadline for entries, passed. My problem was coming up with sound effects that would carry the story line. Perhaps, in retrospect, I just wasn't committed enough to make it work. It's always the could-have, would-have and should-have that get you in the end.
In any case, just did a routine check on my Facebook page and something exciting jumped up at me:
"Exciting news! The 2012 International Playwriting Competition will open on May 1st. Plays can be on any topic but must be 53 minutes long. Details of how to enter and more information will soon be available at www.bbcworldservice.com/radioplay It’s time to get writing!"
This is really thrilling news because this means that there is yet another opportunity to submit. Perhaps a good idea would be to write something new from scratch. As the blurb advises - "it's time to get writing!"
Yup it is. As in the past, will be providing progerss reports - hopefully.
"So do you think you"ll have the carry-through to enter this time, Eleanor?" my muse just asked me.
Hope springs eternal. Right?
Title: Be Confident in Who You Are
Author: Annie Fox
Illustrator: Matt Kindt
Publisher: Electric Eggplant
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $3.99
Synopsis: A group of middle school kids discuss issues that plague their age group.
Features:
- Musical Score
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: Usually on The Greasy Screen, we read ebooks geared toward the younger set, since my little Curly is my co-reviewer. But today, Curly took a break while I sat down with Be Confident in Who You Are, a Middle School Confidential graphic novel aimed toward tweens/teens.
Middle school… what a wonderful time, no? Suddenly your once peaceful world filled with playgrounds and playdates is transformed into stress over clothes and being cool. This ebook tackles many pressing issues for today’s tweens, including body image, self-esteem, and peer pressure, and presents them from a middle schooler’s point of view. It’d be hard to find a reader who has not dealt with at least one of the subjects at hand. I personally connected to the chapter dealing with an overweight girl, and another showing someone lose their temper at an annoying friend. Each chapter focuses on a different theme, with a group of friends suggesting ways to overcome their troubles.
The graphic novel format is very accessible, with readers having the ability to zoom in and out of every frame. There are nice, subtle sound effects that enhance the reading experience without overshadowing the content. While I don’t currently know any teenage children, I felt the content was helpful and appropriate without being dorky (as many educational mediums tend to be). Be Confident in Who You Are ends with a terrific message that I think readers of every age can take to heart – “There is only one way to be like them. There are a zillion ways to be like you.” I’ll have to hang on to this ebook for when Curly gets older.
Title: Green Splosh
Publisher: Emantras Inc
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: Free
Synopsis: A blob of paint escapes his paint bottle and explores the world.
Features:
- Animation
- Interactivity
- Read-Aloud
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: When a boy named Ken spills a bottle of paint, a green-tinted blob decides it’s his chance to hit the road and see the world around him, as so begins Green Splosh, a semi cohesive ebook. The concept of the story was cute, but reading through the screens left me a bit confused.
At first I thought the story would focus on teaching colors, as early on a neat interactive feature allows readers to paint on the page along with Ken. But after the splosh escapes, we are then taken on a journey about counting, and what a crazy journey it is. The little green splosh really gets around: one minute he’s hopping lily pads, then playing with a clown, then creeping through a haunted house. There was no rhyme or reason as to where the paint would go next.
Green Splosh does have some creative interactivity, such as birds that sing on fence when tapped, but the overall usability of the app was a bit clumsy, and since I had trouble following the point of the story, I struggled to make it to the end. Curly didn’t even last that long. More attention to a linear storyline wold make this ebook more worthy of its imaginative premise.
Title: My Dad Drives a Roller Coaster Car
Author: Bill Doyle
Illustrator: Daniel Guidera
Publisher: Crab Hill Press
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: A young boy showcases his family’s crazy modes of transportation.
Features:
- Animation
- Interactivity
- Read-Aloud
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: When I saw the title My Dad Drives a Roller Coaster Car on the App Store, I immediately hit the purchase button. With a name like that, I expected extreme silliness and ridiculous hilarity– and I was not disappointed.
A young boy starts out the story by declaring his dad drives a roller coaster car. But his pop is not the only one with a penchant for quirky vehicles. His Aunt Frizzy spins around on a teacup, while his mom rides a galloping carousel horse. Everyday the boy asks if he can join in the fun, but his wacky family just can’t ever hand over their carnival cruisers.
I laughed – A LOT – while reading this ebook. When the boy is turned down again and again, the page turns to reveal a sad close-up of his face, while a small violin plays in the background. Hee. I also greatly appreciated Aunt Frizzy turning green after continuous loops in her teacup; I personally cannot ever get inside one of those things without puking. Curly loved loved loved the carousel horse, which cloppity clopped across the screen with realistic pony sounds. Everything in this ebook is so touchable, and the retro-cool illustrations fit in perfectly with the kooky text. Even the sound effects were chosen with great care, and never overshadowed the narrator.
There are many ebooks (and print books, for that matter) that we read time and time again because Curly likes them, even if they are not necessarily my favorite. My Dad Drives a Roller Coaster Car is a hysterical tale that accomplishes a rare goal– making both child and adult laugh!
Title: Wild Fables
Publisher: Razeware
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: free
Synopsis: An interactive retelling of Aesop’s fables.
Features:
- Animation
- Interactivity
- Musical Score
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: Wild Fables takes some of Aesop’s most popular tales (The Crow and the Pitcher, The Fox and the Grapes, and The Lion and the Mouse) and brings them to life with innovative interactivity. Many ebooks use animation and sounds to enhance their stories, but few use these features to actually help tell the stories themselves.
For example, in The Crow and the Pitcher, a thirsty crow has to figure out how to get water from the bottom of a pitcher without getting trapped. He cleverly figures out that he needs to throw in rocks to raise the water level, and it is the reader who helps make that possible. As you drag stones into the pitcher, the water gets higher and higher, much to the crow’s delight. I loved this– it really felt like you were helping make the story happen. Curly liked it too; the ebook uses the iPad’s accelerometer to make objects move as the iPad changes orientation, and we both laughed at watching the characters slosh around the screen.
With the free download you receive The Crow and the Pitcher; the other stories cost an additional $1.99 each, with a promise of more stories to come. Wild Fables has great attention to detail, and while you may have heard the stories before, you’ve never seen them like this!
By: crystal,
on 4/1/2011
Blog:
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Title: Big Red Barn
Author/Illustrator: Jon Higham
Publisher: Dipali Vaidya
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $0.99
Synopsis: A counting story set in a farmyard.
Features:
- Interactivity
- Read-Aloud
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: Jon Highman, author of the charming Elly the Reindeer series, really has a knack for knowing what little ones are drawn to. Big Red Barn combines children’s natural curiosity toward animals and desire to learn numbers into one adorable ebook.
Every page features fun, candy-colored illustrations that are so cute you just want to squeeze them, and sound effects of the farm animals. Curly and I both really enjoyed the last few pages, which allow you to hear multiple animal sounds at the same time. Once you start pressing all those buttons, it sounds like a real live farm! If farms were has happy looking and odor free as they are in this story, I would be more inclined to head out to the country more often.
Older kids will not find much for them here, as the text revolves mainly on counting, but Big Red Barn is perfect for the toddler set.
Title: Humpty Dumpty
Author: Dennis Hysom and Christine Walker
Publisher: PicPocket Books
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: A musical telling of the popular children’s rhyme.
Features:
- Interactivity
- Musical Score
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: Who knew that Humpty, a fragile little egg, could be such a source of strength and inspiration? In this eBook, Humpty’s story of falling off a wall is set to a music, but instead of being left on the ground, unable to be put back together again, the lyrics here encourage the clumsy egg to get back up and move on. “Pull yourself together, Humpty!” sings the song, and by the end, he’s skateboarding away. How can you not want to get up and cheer? Curly couldn’t resist the urge to bounce happily as we read; no fear of falling here!
This telling of Humpty Dumpty is taken from a previously released children’s album entitled Wooleycat’s Musical Theater, and it transitions nicely into an eBook. I really liked the audio clue of a “ding” when it was time to turn the page; it served as a helpful hint for Curly, who likes following the highlighted text featured in many eBooks, but does not always realize when it is time to move on. I didn’t expect to enjoy Humpty Dumpty, since most Mother Goose rhymes have been done to death, but this telling had a fresh spin that we both liked.
Turn your sunny side up and scramble to your feet if you’re looking for a pick me up that’s a little offbeat.
Title: Roy the Little Rabbit
Publisher: LaLafish
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $3.99
Synopsis: A little rabbit explores and meets new friends.
Features:
The Greasy Screen says: Roy the Little Rabbit is geared for the toddler set, with uncomplicated words and basic plot line. Roy hops around, meeting new friends, and gets caught in a rain storm. It is a simple story, so little ones looking for more oomph (like my Curly) will quickly lose interest.
Roy’s graphics were a bit too stark for my taste, and some of the sound effects were a bit over the top: when Roy’s new friend Lyn the bluebird needs to fly away, a random chorus of children’s voices chimes in with a loud “BOO!” I did like the repeat text button on each screen, available for little ones looking to hear the words again, but in our case, Curly was itching to get through the story and was not looking for a repeat performance.
If Roy continues to have more eBook adventures, I hope he gets more to do the next time around!
By: crystal,
on 3/3/2011
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Title: Growing Up Together
Publisher: Sungsil Graphics
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $0.99
Synopsis: A caterpillar and a sunflower become best friends as they grow up together.
Features:
- Animation
- English/Korean
- Interactivity
- Musical Score
- Painting
- Sound Effects
- Voice Recording
The Greasy Screen says: Growing Up Together is the sweet story of a sunflower seed and butterfly egg who meet each other on the ground, and spend their lives growing up and changing together. As they both continue to evolve, the other comments on their progress, remarking on the beauty of the other’s wings or petals. The story is educational, in that we see the stages of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, and how the sun and the rain helps the sunflower grow, but it also shows how two different things can work together.
Curly LOVED this eBook. The pages are full of bright, child-like illustrations that just explode with happiness. She laughed and laughed watching a ladybug crawl up the sunflower’s stem, and delighted in having the power to make a raincloud burst with droplets. I liked the story too, as the friendship between bug and flower was so peaceful, and seeing the big reveal of each organism in its final state was beautiful.
Gentle music and cute sound effects enhance the entire experience, and the animations are as brilliant as a rainbow. On one page, a vibrant sun streaks across the sky as the sunflower continues its ascent– lovely! I wish more eBooks were this saturated and gorgeous. There are plenty of extras, including the option to record your voice for the narration, but even without, we truly loved Growing Up Together and will be going back for more!
Title: Huggybird and the Dream Box
Publisher: PicPocket Books
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: While digging in the garden, Huggybird finds a magical treasure box that takes him on an adventure.
Features:
- Animation
- Read Aloud
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: A mysterious box sprouts up in Huggybird’s garden, and though it doesn’t contain sweets or treasures liked he’d hoped, it does hold enchanted pirate, detective, and knight costumes that transport the wearer to far-off adventures. Right now, I wish I could find a box like that containing some cruise wear, so I could get out of this endless Chicago winter!
Huggybird and the Dream Box is a cute story that had some humorous moments. I especially liked when Huggybird turned into a pirate and suddenly had a peg leg (er, claw), and I also laughed when as a brave knight, he spotted a sign outside a castle that indicated a princess was at the top of the stairs. It reminded me of a line from Gilmore Girls, when Lorelai said, “I left behind a glass slipper and a business card, in case the prince is really dumb.” Ha.
The story uses some great, sophisticated vocabulary, such as “chivalrous” and “enthusiastically.” I love when kids’ books sprinkle in some tougher words. Who says you can’t be challenged while being entertained? I do wish the story featured more illustrations; many of the scenes are repeated as the words change underneath. Huggybird is a cutie, and deserves more variation, just like in his closet of costumes.
Title: Human Body Detectives: The Lucky Escape
Author: Dr. Heather Manley, N.D.
Publisher: PicPocket Books
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: Two sisters learn about the digestive system through an imaginative adventure.
Features:
- Read Aloud
- Musical Score
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: In The Lucky Escape, two sisters take an imaginative trip through their baby brother Robbie’s digestive track and learn about tummy troubles from the inside out. After Robbie swallows a penny, his stomach churns in pain, and the sisters get an up close and personal look at everything from stomach acid to gas bubbles.
There were a lot of things I really liked about this eBook. The narration voices are provided by actual kids, which gave an authentic touch to the whole experience. It was cute to hear young voices pronounce big words like “peristalsis.” The music and sounds effects also really added to the suspense and feel of the story as well, especially when the girls were sliding through the small intestines. One major drawback for me was the lack of illustrations throughout. Though there were some great drawings, they were only occasionally sprinkled in, and never with the text on the same page. The lack of visuals made it tough for Curly to stay connected to the story, though truthfully the content was probably a bit over her head anyway.
Any story that puts a creative spin on challenging topics is a winner for me. Though it lacked in illustrations, The Lucky Escape told a tale that was equally amusing and educational, which is quite a feat in itself.
Title: Spaghetti Day
Author/Illustrator: Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Publisher: PicPocket Books
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $2.99
Synopsis: While their owners are away, a group of cats cook up an Italian feast.
Features:
The Greasy Screen says: Spaghetti Day answers a question most pet owners ponder at some point: what does my pet do all day while I’m gone? In this case, a cat named Catrina gathers up all her buddies to make spaghetti and hang out.
Admittedly, I’m a dog person, who has a slight fear of cats. When I was younger, a family member’s cat went crazy on me, and ever since then, I’ve been hesitant toward all felines. What I envision cats doing when their owners aren’t around is plotting the demise of human kind, but of course, that’s just me. My daughter, on the other hand, LOVES cats, and laughs hysterically every time she sees one. Curly was once even swatted by a cat, and yet she still adores them. She also adored this story, and giggled as the cats played together while making their meal. When touched, the cats purred and meowed realistically, to Curly’s delight.
This eBook is a digital makeover of the best selling print book, Wednesday is Spaghetti Day. It’s easy to see why that book, and this eBook version, are such hits: the story is funny, imaginative, and engaging. It’s not the most high-tech eBook, but the story is great, and that’s what’s most important.
By: crystal,
on 1/27/2011
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Title: One Rainy Day
Author: Tammi Salzano
Illustrator: Hannah Wood
Publisher: mytales digital
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $3.99
Synopsis: A little duck discovers colors as he walks through the rain.
Features:
- Animation
- Interactivity
- Read Aloud
- Painting
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: I enjoy rainy days, but not as much as the cuddly yellow duck who stars in One Rainy Day. This duck likes to really splash it up, playing in puddles and wiggling in mud. As he romps outside in his watery wonderland, he learns about all the colors of the rainbow. When different colors are touched, their names are read aloud, and the duck himself provides extra commentary when pressed. There are not a lot of animations; the interactivity is mainly expressed through additional sound effects. Still, Curly was engaged throughout the rainy journey, and really enjoyed the painting pages provided through the menu.
One Rainy Day is perfect for toddlers who are just becoming familiar with digital mediums. The story is short and sweet, and there is enough interactivity to keep them engaged without being overwhelmed.
By: crystal,
on 1/24/2011
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Title: Cozmo’s Day Off
Publisher: Ayers Animation
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $3.99
Synopsis: Cozmo the alien treks through the stars during his commute to work.
Features:
- Animation
- Games
- Interactivity
- Read Aloud
- Musical Score
- Sound Effects
- Voice Recording
The Greasy Screen says: Just by looking at the screen shots of Cozmo’s Day Off, there is no doubt that it is an exquisitely produced eBook. The story of a little alien frantically trying to get to work on time is jam-packaged with lots of glitz and glamour. The illustrations are incredibly polished, and the interactivity is (sorry for the pun) out of this world. Every page was bursting with hidden animations; I particularly liked a popcorn popper spewing out kernels, and Curly liked anytime music would start playing. Much thought was put into where little fingers were apt to poke, and there wasn’t one disappointing screen.
There was, though, a bit of disappoint from this reader. Within the pages of Cozmo, mini games would randomly pop up, disrupting the flow of the story. I am not against games being packaged with eBooks, but it’s hard to focus on plot when you’re trying to figure out the mechanics of a game that just appeared on the screen. Even with the story being relatively short (10 pages), I found myself forgetting what Cozmo was trying to do in the first place. Curly seemed a bit confused too; usually when we read a story, she asks questions or repeats points of the plot. After reading Cozmo, she looked a bit blank.
Not to say that we weren’t entertained, because Cozmo’s Day Off offers a lot of fun extras. One super cool feature was the ability to record your voice, and then manipulate it to sound really high-pitched or slow as molasses. If only the games were kept as an option at the end, and if the story’s text didn’t disappear after being read aloud (to allow for more exploration, I assume), I am sure this eBook would be one of my top picks. As a playful app, it’s great, but as a book, I’m not so sure.
By: crystal,
on 1/14/2011
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Title: A Present for Milo
Author: Mike Austin
Publisher: Ruckus Media Group
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $2.99
Synopsis: Milo and his mousey friend engage in a topsy-turvy chase around the house, ending with a sweet surprise.
Features:
- Animation
- Interactivity
- Read Aloud
- Musical Score
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: A Present for Milo wraps up all the wonderful bits you’d want in a picture book in one irresistible package. This story was immensely entertaining, not only for Curly, but for me! Milo the cat and his tiny mouse companion chase each other through all the obstacles of their house; they bounce up stairs, slide on rugs, and skid through groceries. The interactivity is top notch; every page contains tons of hidden animations, many of which made me giggle (my favorite being a little alien-colored mouse who floats inside a toy space ship). Curly danced around when a piece of poked sheet music burst into song, and she laughed at the mice hopping on a trampoline.
The story is perfect for the toddler set. Just when you think Milo is trying to catch his quick little co-star for an afternoon snack, we find out that the two are actually the best of friends, who just love running through their maze of a house! The illustrations are simply adorable, and finding all the animations was equally as fun as listening to the story.
Give yourself a gift and download A Present for Milo!
By: crystal,
on 12/13/2010
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Title: Bob Books #1 – Reading Magic
Publisher: Learning Touch
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $2.99
Synopsis: Based off the popular Bob Books learn-to-read series, Reading Magic is an interactive game to engage beginning readers.
Features:
- Animation
- Sound Effects
- Interactivity
- Read-Aloud
The Greasy Screen says: Some of the best iPad apps for kids are ones that just beg for tiny fingers to touch, and Bob Books Reading Magic taps into that effect nicely. Each screen presents the reader with a new scene and short phrase. The black-and-white illustrations bounce on the screen until they are touched, and then the letters that spell the word appear as little blocks around the screen. Readers are encouraged to drag the letters to the bottom of the screen to spell out the word. Each letter is sounded out, as is the word when the letters are correctly assembled. When all the letters are in the right place, the illustration becomes full of color and animation.
When we sat down to play with this app, Curly was a bit confused, mostly because I think she was expecting a story rather than a game. But after a few minutes, she was into it. She laughed when the illustrations shook, and really enjoyed moving the letters around the screen. We’ve been working on learning the alphabet lately, and Curly was able to recognize many of the letters as she played.
What I like most about Bob Books Reading Magic as a reading tool is how it lets the reader go at her own pace. Curly was able to explore without pressure to move on, and every time she touched the screen she was engaged in the experience of reading, whether she was identifying letters or hearing their sounds pronounced. Also, there are no super annoying sounds that repeat indefinitely, as many other electronic kids’ games seem to feature. Learning + sanity = hooray!
This app keeps the needs of its audience in mind. Without a doubt, we will be spending more time with Reading Magic.
Title: AlphaBELCH
Author: Stephen White
Illustrator: Tony Neal
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Pages: 28
Current Price: $0.99
Synopsis: An A-to-Z book about burping animals.
Features:
The Greasy Screen says: Burping. We all do it! So let’s laugh about it! AlphaBELCH showcases all the hilarious ways the animal kingdom releases gas.
The good news is, the burping sound effects do not play automatically, so one can just read through the cute A-to-Z rhyming story. But why would you? The creators of AlphaBELCH went to a lot of trouble to record 26 unique animal burping sounds, and you can try to deny it all you want, but they are pretty funny. My favorite burps were:
U is for Unicorn – burps that are smell free (burp with a sparkly “ting!” afterward)
M is for Moose – letting loose in a blizzard (yodeling burp)
K is for Kangaroo – burps from a pouch (boing burp boing burp)
And if you think I’ve gone to the dark side by advocating an eBook about burping, the story concludes with a great message about manners. I really enjoyed AlphaBELCH, and if Curly’s giggles are any indication, your young reader will like it too!
By: crystal,
on 11/15/2010
Blog:
The Greasy Screen
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Title: Marina and the Little Green Boy
Author: Antonio Vicente and Miguel Ordonez
Publisher: Genera Interactive
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Pages: 22
Current Price: $2.49
Synopsis: One night, Marina hears a strange sound coming from her attic. When she gathers enough courage to seek out the sound, she discovers a new and mysterious friend.
Features:
- Interactivity
- Sound Effects
- Animation
- Musical Score
- English/Spanish
The Greasy Screen says: There is so much to say about the cute and clever Marina and the Little Green Boy! The animation and interactivity is the best I’ve seen so far. The illustrations are so full of personality they almost don’t need animation, and yet, seeing them move about the page makes them even more endearing. Every page features lots of little critters to touch and bring to life, many of which advance the story. I especially loved the page where Marina imagines all the creatures that could be lurking in her attic, and Curly cracked up every time she touched the Green Boy– his roboty “bee boop bee” voice made her laugh and laugh!
But even without the animation, the story holds its own. When Marina meets her martian friend, she instantly wants to teach him all about her life. She introduces many foreign concepts to the Little Green Boy, such as eating what’s inside the refrigerator rather than eating the refrigerator itself, and that the toilet is not for swimming. Her parents, of course, are more hesitant to have their home invaded by an alien, but eventually, they all fall in love with a series of snuggly hugs. Aww.
I love all the customizable options of this eBook. Marina and the Little Green Boy is written in both English and Spanish, and readers can change the language between the two by simply tapping on the text. There are also some quirky sound effects and a bouncy musical score, which compliments the experience nicely, but can easily be turned off separately from the sound effects if the reader wants to concentrate solely on the words. Nice touch.
If you’ve been weary toward trying eBooks, Marina and the Little Green Boy is a great place to start!
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By:
Shutta Crum,
on 8/18/2009
Blog:
Shutta's Place
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Several friends have sent links to this wonderful video of the song AFRICA. It starts with creating the sound effects of a rain storm. Click here or on the sidebar. I can just see doing this with a whole group of kids! Music teachers?
The rock band Toto scored their biggest hit with this song in 1982.
But it has been reinvented. Perpetuum Jazzile is an a cappella jazz choir from Slovenia. Group members simulate an African thunderstorm with their hands.
Turn up the volume to high …. and close your eyes! Be patient as it starts softly before the vol really picks up. Enjoy!
Ciao!
Shutta
Click here for some great thunder sound effects!
(*Clip art by: http://www.designedtoat.com)
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