The Penelope Rose App Review and Giveaway

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Today, children are growing up as digital natives. From motion sensitive video gaming systems to interactive whiteboards, they can easily become engaged more fully. Their exposure to touch technology gives them the unique opportunity to explore on a totally different level. With innovations such as the iPad, children can now throw themselves into an incredible world where stories come to life right before their very eyes. And now, thanks to MoBad Games, they can also experience the wonder of an interactive storybook in 3D without the need for glasses. MoBad Games has recently introduced their premiere Peek 'n Play interactive interactive storybook, The Penelope Rose.

The Penelope Rose is an original fairytale about how roses were saved and how fairies became artists. On every page, children are immersed in stunning scenery accompanied by a lovely narration and soft music. They can choose to have the story read to them while each word is highlighted, helping them to improve their reading skills, or read it at their own pace. A neat feature is the ability to touch a word and have it read out loud if your child comes across a challenging word. Each page can be advanced by touching the upper right corner or by swiping your finger across the page. I found the swiping feature didn't always work properly on my iPad but since I downloaded the latest version, it seems they have fixed that minor glitch. It also runs a bit faster now, too, which is nice because I found the transition between pages was a little slow. When you think of how interactive this storybook is, it's understandable knowing that there is much to load. Not only is each page artistically crafted to provide a remarkable 3D experience sans glasses, your child will also delight in interacting with the fairies, pixies, gnomes, bunnies and more. The pixies are probably my favourite. Every time you click on their pointy hats, they pop up, laugh and giggle in their sweet baby voices. On the main screen, you can click on Contents to view each page and find out how many pixies are hidden on each page, if there is a puzzle, the ability to 'paint' or a fun animation. You can also adjust the settings here by turning the "I can read" function on or off, auto-hide the text box, and turn off the music or hints.

"Every click within this colorful tale unlocks magic and wonders, as its pop-out three-dimensional visuals will mesmerize kids and parents alike." - Apple

The Penelope Rose is certainly a wonder to behold. The breathtaking imagery is what truly makes the story stand out. All of the interactive features are simply the icing on the cake. The only recommendation I would make is to have the Contents page easily accessible from each page. The only way I have been able to access it is by scrolling to the end or the beginning of the story. You can find The Penelope Rose in the App Store and is available for the iPad in HD, iPhone, iPod Touch or Mac version. Below you can watch a video but it is really best experienced in person.

This contest is now closed.

(Scroll down to the bottom of this post to find out who won.)

Three readers will win a free download of The Penelope Rose App for the device of their choice.

For you first entry, which is mandatory, tell me why you would like to try out The Penelope Rose for yourself.

For additional entries, you may choose to do any or all of the following:

Add my regular blog button to your website or blog for one entry. Copy code is located on my sidebar.
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Subscribe to this blog by email or in a reader.
Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Tweet daily for additional entries. Feel free to use the following tweet:

Win "The Penelope Rose" interactive storybook app! (3 winners!) @TeacherMomOfTwo http://t.co/WmJPBsk

Contest ends May 2 at 10pm EST. Winners will be selected using Random.org and must reply to the notification email within 3 days or a new winner will be drawn.

The winners are:

5. Nugglemama

14. Jessica

8. Carrie

Congratulations, ladies! Please check your inbox.

Disclosure: I received a free download of The Penelope Rose for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any other way. The thoughts and views expressed in this review are strictly my own honest opinions.