Bottom Line: iReadWith is a reading program designed by Tribal Nova, the same folks who brought you the popular iLearnWith series of learning games. The iReadWith program encourages both parents and children to participate in the interactive reading process. Currently available are two books from the always popular Caillou, but we look forward to the addition of more titles.
If you would like to download Caillou: What’s That Funny Noise or Caillou: Show and Tell, please use the handy links provided so they’ll know who sent you.
Caillou: What’s That Funny Noise ($2.99, iPad)
Caillou: Show and Tell ($2.99, iPad)
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No ads, no in-app purchases, external links to developer’s site in parent protected area.
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iReadWith is a shared reading program from the folks at Tribal Nova, the creators of the iLearnWith program of learning games. The goal of iReadWith is to involve both parent and child in the process of learning to read.
Users can choose the traditional “read to me” option for reading/listening. As they read, they can experience many interactive elements that help enhance the story. Your kiddo can touch directly on things in the photo or animate things by touching the highlighted words. This option is much like any traditional eBook.
Another option is the much more interactive “read and talk” method. This method prompts parents to ask children questions about the story as they are reading along, creating new conversations each time they read the book. They can personalize the experience by choosing individual avatars and by recording the dialogue in their own voices.
There is also a Story Theater which allows parents and children to create their own animated stories together. Users can create individualized stories to help foster dialogue to help kids deal with situations in their lives, or they can create plays just for fun.
We tested the program with the two eBooks that are currently available:
Caillou: What’s That Funny Noise?
It’s bedtime for Caillou, so his mommy tucks him in for the night. But once Caillou’s mom shuts the door, he begins to hear a funny scritchy-scratchy sound and sees a funny shadow on his blanket. Caillou calls to his mom, and she comes to take a look. Mommy tells him that the shadows are from his window, and then she checks the closet for monsters. There are no monsters in the closet, so Mommy goes back to bed.
The scritchy-scratchy noise starts again, so Caillou calls for his dad. Maybe his dad could find the monster making the noise. But Daddy can’t find anything, so he starts Caillou’s music box and goes back to bed.
But once the music stops, the scritchy-scratchy noise starts again. Mommy! Daddy! Caillou’s mom and dad come back to his room, but can’t find what is making the noise, until . . . well, I won't give away the ending.
Caillou: Show and Tell
Caillou’s class is having show and tell. His teacher asks them to bring something from home that they think is special.
Caillou wants to bring a surprise for show and tell. But what would be a surprise? One of his toys? His dinosaur? His kite? His fire truck? None of these seem like a special enough surprise. Then Caillou has an idea.
What I liked about this program:
I am a huge fan of anything that can get kids reading more. I love the way this program makes it simple for parents to participate and interact with children as they learn. The many options for interacting and adapting the story/play take what could be just an eBook and turn it into an entertaining lesson that can change each time you read it.
What I would change:
At $2.99 per eBook, it could start to get a little bit pricey for families to build extensive libraries. I’d like to see this marketed as even more of a “program” with books available at discounted rates the more you purchase. I also wish that they had launched with more eBooks, giving readers more variety to choose from.
Overall I found the format of the program to be a step above your regular eBook and I look forward to more titles becoming available.
*****
Kelli once took a live frog to show and tell ... or at least that's how things started out. SmartAppsForKids.com was paid a priority review fee to complete this review in an expedited manner.
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