There are an increasing number of apps with interactive stories based on children’s’ books available. These provide another way for you to share books with your children and lead to lots of opportunity to talk about the stories and activities together.
For more discussion and ideas about reading on screen see here.
Several of the apps listed here link with books included on the lovemybooks site.
Me Books
Age 0-7
Me Books is a library of stories with an increasing number from new picture books as well as older books and traditional stories. The range includes books suitable for children from 0-7.
Listen to the stories read aloud, tap a character to hear what they say or create hotspots with your child and record their own voices helping to tell the stories. Look out for some lovemybooks stories including Aaaarrgghh Spider by Lydia Monks, The Gigantic Turnip and Not Now Bernard or discover new favourites for example Banana! by Ed Vere for 0-3s or Hugless Douglas by David Melling for 3-5s.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/me-books-books-comics-bedtime/id534499518?mt=8
Hat Monkey [Fox and Sheep GmbH] created by Chris Haughton
Age 0-5
This is a stand-alone app which encourages children to interact with hat monkey in a series of scenes, an appealing character, sending him texts, feeding him bananas or dancing with him. Children will enjoy this interactive book much more if they know the story Oh No, George! where the monkey is seen reading in one scene. See our ideas for sharing Oh No George! in the animals section. This will also lead you and your children to discover more Chris Haughton books including A Bit Lost, Shh! we have a plan.
Don’t let the pigeon run this app! [Disney] designed by Mo Willems
Age 3-7
Children will love this app much more if they have met Mo Willems character Pigeon in the hilarious story ‘Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus!’
In this interactive app using shake and play technology children can learn to draw a pigeon like Mo’s and create and record their own stories about the pigeon.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/dont-let-pigeon-run-this-app!/id459749670?mt=8
The Heart and the Bottle for ipad [Harper Collins] designed by Oliver Jeffers
Age 5-7
An interactive app version of Oliver Jeffers poignant story about a little girl whose life changes after her grandfather dies and how she gradually learns to cope with this. Children can listen to the story read aloud and follow the hints to bring the beautiful illustrations to life; creating a snow flurry or turning day into night.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/heart-bottle-for-ipad/id407795360?mt=8
Nursery Rhymes with StoryTime [ustwo Ltd and Atomic Antelope]
Age 0-5
A beautifully designed interactive app with a number of well-known rhymes. Listen to the rhymes read aloud or tell them your selves as you enjoy the images and touch the screen to make the three blind mice squeak or the Grand old duke of York’s men tumble down the hill.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/nursery-rhymes-storytime/id423322533?mt=8
The Three Little Pigs a 3D fairy tale [Nosy Crow]
Age 3-7
An award winning animated version of the well-known story narrated by children. Lots of surprises and touch points in every scene. Children can join in with the wolf blowing down the 3 little pigs’ houses and read or tell the story themselves.
http://nosycrow.com/apps/the-three-little-pigs
Goldilocks and Little Bear
Age 3-7
This prize winnning story app includes two versions of the familiar classic story Goldilocks and the Three Bears. While Goldilocks is in the bears’ cottage, eating porridge, sitting in their chairs, and sleeping in their beds, Little Bear is in Goldilocks’s house eating their pancakes,trying on their clothes and reading their books.
Children can learn to navigate, select scenes, scroll, tap, and swipe and shake to animate the characters. They will enjoy helping Goldilocks taste porridge, collect berries and jump on the beds and break baby bear’s chair.
A highly enjoyable well designed and interactive story app.
Gruffalo Games [Magic light Pictures Ltd based on The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler]
Age 3-7
Gruffalo Games is for children who know and love the story of the Gruffalo. See lovemybooks ideas on sharing The Gruffalo. The app contains 6 games interactive games based on characters and scenes in the story.
http://www.magiclightpictures.com/family_brands/
the_gruffalo/apps/gruffalo_games/
The Very Hungry Caterpillar and friends [Story Toys Entertainment Ltd with Eric Carle’s original artwork]
Age 3-5
This app will be more fun for children who are very familiar with The Very Hungry Caterpillar story. See lovemybooks ideas for sharing The Very Hungry Caterpillar with your child.
Using Eric Carle’s original artwork this app includes animation and a number of games and activities linked to his stories and characters.
http://storytoys.com/apps/the-very-hungry-caterpillar/
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site [Oceanhouse Media book by Sherry Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld]
Age 3-5
Listen to the beautifully illustrated animation of Rinker and Lichtenheld’s rhyming picture book about construction vehicles at night time read aloud. Children can then record themselves telling the story.
https://itunes.apple.com/app/goodnight-goodnight-construction/id926597014?mt=8
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