A large button on the main page takes kids to a screen where they can sign up for a publisher mailing list, share information online about the app, learn about the publisher's other apps, or purchase the printed version of the book.
Ease of Play
a lot
The app's interface allows more than one way to get to any given part of the reading or painting pages in the book, but it is very intuitive for kids to interact with each page.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Pat the Bunny is a clever re-telling of the well-known children's book by Dorothy Kunhardt. The color, style, and artwork are very similar to the book, and the gentle play that is encouraged also follows the original style. Kids can read the book, or have it read to them, and interact with several elements on each page. There is also an option to record your own voice reading the story. Additionally, kids can paint each page in the book. This process involves brushing a finger across the screen, and the color will appear automatically in the right places. There is more than one way to get to each reading or painting page, but once kids learn their way around, they will be able to access all of the content. For devices equipped with a camera, the page with a mirror will show your child's own face -- a very cool effect.
I haven't tried the app, but I wonder what is the point of turning a book that is all about exploring the tactile world into a virtual experience, in which the sense of touch is so marginally stimulated. While there may be some marginal "educational" aspects to this app, it certainly does not honor the original intention of the book. Maybe it should have been re-named "tap" the bunny. I guess the point of such an app is to have a place to put that "large button" on the main page (see "consumerism" info above) linking future consumers to the publisher.
PAT THE BUNNY is a clever twist on the original print book by the same name. With the same artwork style and characters (plus a few new ones), the book encourages kids to interact with the story images in new ways, while practicing their reading at the same time. Though it still has the soft illustrations done with a two-dimensional quality of the original book, much of the content is different. However, it still retains the same charming bunny who will capture the interest and imagination of
people much older than the intended audience. In addition, the simple painting activity can be very satisfying for the very young who may be frustrated by other painting apps, since they only need to swipe their finger to bring color to the canvas.
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Jenny Bristol
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
