Kid’s Book and Kid’s iPhone App reviews continue. For my “reasons” behind “Why Apps?!” look here. Type “Kids” or “children” or “educational” into the Apple iStore and you get bombarded with Apps. Which to get?! Look no further… As well as our usual Monday Morning Book Club review!
Book Review – The Tickle Book
The Tickle Book, by Ian Whybrow and Axel Scheffler.
Reading age: 5yrs – 8yrs. Read together age: 18mths – 4yrs.
Another favourite of Red Ted’s. He adores the tickle book – especially on the first page where he loves to “knock on the door” to find the tickle monster… I think that the anticipation of the tickle is the fun thing. He even learnt to pull some of the pully things from around 18mths onwards (if you helped him). Note: do NOT let your little ones play with this one on their own, it will get destroyed, as The Englishman found out one morning. “Me” was not happy… a new went on order. Tut tut. We do let Red Ted “play” with his books, but I do take care with the ones that have high damage risk – simple flaps he’s ok with, but the tickle book was just too exciting and interesting… how does it all work?! It was just asking to be pulled apart.
The drawings are classic “Scheffler” drawings, so if you like his illustrations, get this book!
All previously reviewed books can be found on my Amazon store:
Red Ted Arts Book Recommendations on Amazon
Kids iPhone App Review – Faces iMake
Faces iMake
Age: 3.5yrs – 99 yrs.
Ok, so this is one, that is really for me. When I first downloaded it I got soooo excited.
But let’s start at the beginning. This App is an Arty App. I am always on the look out for crafty and arty ones (as well as decent music Apps, please do let me know if you have any top tips). Faces iMake is one of those lovely Apps that is ABSOLUTELY free. Yes Free (or at least it was when I downloaded it last week). And free things are not always bad. Download it. Give it a go and if you don’t like it delete it.
Self Portrait
So, why do I love it so much. Firstly, it comes with the most fabulously little catchy tune (ok, some of you may find it irritating, but in Kiddie Land, I like it!). It is a happy, light hearted App. You are encouraged to draw faces using all sorts of manners of things. Like a 3D collage on the iphone. Doodling with objects. You have a choice of veg, kitchen equipment, toys, tools etc etc and you, well make a face! This App is even better emulated at home, with real things, as children let their imagination run wild and get to feel lots of tactile objects.
What I also like about the App, is that it has some “tutorials” – to me – they are lovingly produced – I love the guy talking, he has a passion for art and a passion for creating fun faces with things. He encourages you to have a go and think about what things represent. If you were doing daddy, who likes cooking, which items would you use etc?
A lovely App. Probably for the slighly older children (and yourself), though Red Ted (2.5yrs) does play with it. He just doesn’t quite get it yet.
Previous iPhone Apps:
The Wheels on the Bus – Duck Duck Moose
Redtedart's Blog 
Posted by se7en on August 2, 2010 at 7:23 am
Oh I love that you review apps… there are so many it is just a little bit overwhelming!!! We haven’t got much beyond Dr Seuss books…. but I know there is so much more out there!!!
Posted by Red Ted Art on August 2, 2010 at 11:30 am
Great, I do hope the reviews are useful!
Posted by Nifty Nappy on August 3, 2010 at 12:33 am
Thanks for the heads up of the app! I can’t wait to try it as soon as it downloads! hehehe!
Posted by Red Ted Art on August 3, 2010 at 6:15 am
oooh, hope you like it!!! 🙂
Posted by Debbie Gordon on August 3, 2010 at 9:06 am
No doubt this is finest iphone app review i have seen today,very nice and useful.
iPhone App Reviews
Posted by Eyal Dessou Tzafrir on August 3, 2010 at 9:10 am
Hi Maggy,
My name is Eyal and I’m the founder of iMagine machine – we have the pleasure of being the developers of Faces iMake-Creative Craziness!!! – Thank you for this great review.
Faces iMake is more then just an artsy app – it is a part of a growing community of people who uses their iPhone as a creative tool for artistic pleasure and for education.
I have been amazed by the different places and uses the Faces iMake has been used – autistic kids that hum the song and make whatever they want – the response is overwhelming.
The guy you are talking about is the artist Hanoch Piven(pivenworld.com) and this app is based on his work and done in conjunction with him.
We have just released an update today that makes it even better (try to save and then edit a face and see what happens).
There is a paid version coming soon with a lot of new features – resizing, camera, more head shapes, more items and much much more.
Hope to see your masterpieces in our growing gallery – facesimake.com
Again, thank you for discovering us
Eyal
iMagine machine
Posted by Red Ted Art on August 3, 2010 at 9:24 am
Hi Eyal,
Thanks for stopping by! Hope I did your App just… I can see that it has so many more applications!! Also hop that lots of people will download it now 🙂
Happy Developing. Look forward to more of your products!
Maggy
Posted by Amy @ Hope Is the Word on August 5, 2010 at 7:01 pm
That book looks really cute! I tend to be a little apprehensive about pop-up books, but sometimes they’re worth it!
Posted by sunnyvale422 on August 9, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Both the book and the app sound really great. I am off downloading it now – thanks for the recommendation!
Posted by Red Ted Art on August 9, 2010 at 7:23 pm
I hope you enjoy them!!
Posted by Anne@LittleSproutBooks on August 10, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Another great link up for FMBF! The Tickle Book looks very fun – I too am careful about which books are “play” books, but sometimes the fragile ones are worth the fun. Thanks for sharing!