Parents' Guide to 12 Huia Birds

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Common Sense Media Review

Mieke VanderBorght By Mieke VanderBorght , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 6+

Conservation-themed story details bird's path to extinction.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 6+?

Any Positive Content?

  • 12 Huia Birds App: Screenshot #1
  • 12 Huia Birds App: Screenshot #2
  • 12 Huia Birds App: Screenshot #3
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What's It About?

Tap play on the home screen to start the 12 HUIA BIRDS story. At the beginning, kids meet the 12 birds and learn a bit about them. One by one, various predators come along and 12 birds turn into 11, turn into 10, and so on until none are left. Each page has a small interactive element for kids to find before they advance to the next page. The Discover tab includes options to learn more about the Huia bird or play three different versions of the classic memory game. There are also 12 ways tab with ideas for how kids can help wild birds.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This story about a bird species going extinct is told in tidy rhymes with nice graphics -- and carries an important message about conservation. The mechanics of 12 Huia Birds are simple, even if it's sometimes not immediately obvious where to find the interactive element that's on each page. Although there's nothing graphic, sensitive kids might start to feel upset as one by one the birds fall prey to hungry invasive predator species and fashion-focused humans who want beautiful feathers for their hats. That said, the tension there makes the devastation more real. And with 12 ways kids can help wild birds, some kids may feel inspired to do something or change habits. The memory games are nothing special, but there are a few other extras to round out kids' learning. And including the version in te reo Māori is a nice touch of acknowledgement of native cultures. 12 Huia Birds is a nicely presented cautionary tale about how humans can inadvertently impact the environment in a negative way.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it feels like to see the huia birds slowly disappearing as kids read 12 Huia Birds. Does it feel right that they became extinct? Does it make you sad? Why or why not?

  • Discuss the theme of conservation. Read the suggested ways to help wild birds, and then come up with more ways to help keep the earth, and all its creatures, safe. Make it a family project to implement some conservation action steps.

  • What do you know about Maori culture and traditions? Help kids learn more about native cultures from New Zealand as well as other countries around the world.

App Details

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