Title: Meet the Fraggles
Author: Michaela Muntean
Illustrator: Barbara Lanza
Publisher: iStorytime
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: A guide on how to entertain Fraggles, should one ever come to your house.
Features:
- Auto Page Turn
- Read Aloud
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: “Have you ever wondered what you would do if a Doozer or a Fraggle or a Gorg came to visit?” If you haven’t, well, then you obviously are not a child of the 80s. I loved the Fraggles as a kid, but seeing as our house didn’t have cable, I only got to watch the show when HBO would have their special preview weekends. Still, I knew all about them, but this ebook (adapted from a print version) certainly would have added to my Fraggle expertise!
For example, where else can you learn all about the sleeping, eating, and bathing habits of this fun little friends? The ebook reads like an informative how-to book, and features informative segments such as “Interesting Radish Recipes” (radish shish kebab, sliced radishes on toast, etc). The deliciously retro illustrations are ridiculously cute, and Curly really liked seeing all the little critters.
Meet the Fraggles does not have a lot of fancy extras, but I certainly wasn’t missing them. If you’ve been looking for a way to introduce your little one to the characters you loved as a kid, this ebook is a fun place to start!
Title: Rapunzel
Author/Illustrator: Lana Le
Publisher: KwiqApps
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: A retelling of the classic Grimm fairy tale.
Features:
- Read Aloud
- Auto Page Turn
The Greasy Screen says: As I was reading Rapunzel, I realized I have been forever ruined by Disney’s recent remake, Tangled. To say I loved Tangled is an understatement. It’s not hard for me to fall in love with Disney movies, but I very much enjoyed this one. My little date, Curly, loved it to. In fact, when I told her we were going to read Rapunzel, she called out, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!”
Rapunzel is not Tangled. Disney tends to gloss over any unpleasant plot points, such as a woman dramatically declaring she will JUST DIE if she doesn’t get what she wants to eat, and I tend to like that. Classic fairy tales usually have some pretty random elements that are best left on the cutting room floor. That being said, this eBook does its best to showcase Grimm’s tale of a girl with long golden locks. The illustrations are beautiful, with delicate textures and charming appeal. Curly sat through the whole story, but I think she felt like I had pulled a fast one on her by not showing her Tangled.
The book does not have any extras or interactivity, which is a shame. The font size was weirdly small despite how much room was available on the screen, but there is narration so you don’t have to squint. I would recommend this eBook on the illustrations alone, as they are a nice break from the commonly used computer graphics seen in many eBooks.
