Gary & Claire
By Ana Beltran,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Inconsistent AR sours sweet story about friendship.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this app.
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Gary & Claire
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What’s It About?
GARY & CLAIRE is an interactive story that allows kids to watch and listen as a little bird tries to make friends with a sleepy sloth and goes above and beyond to keep him safe. As soon as the app is launched, it begins to track the room in order to establish the augmented reality setting. The only directions are to tap the screen and hold while the visual display comes to life in the player’s room. As the story unfolds, there are opportunities for kids to interact with the story by tapping on the screen to prompt the next scene.
Is It Any Good?
This interactive story about friendship, helping others, and overcoming obstacles will engage and entertain little kids, but falls short due to inconsistent augmented reality and graphics. Kids will be thrilled to see Gary & Claire come to life in their own living room and will be engaged by the captivating graphics. The no-fuss directions are great for little ones who want to enjoy the game on their own; however, when the augmented reality fails to appear on the screen or they get stuck, the app doesn't offer any help, forcing kids to seek guidance from a grown up. The idea is that the story can be enjoyed over and over again, but even when played in the same room, the augmented reality isn't consistently displayed. In this case, the only option is to relaunch the app and try to track the room again. When it works properly, it's a captivating little story, but the bugs bring it down.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about friendship when playing Gary & Claire. How can we make friends? How do friends treat each other?
Talk about safe ways to help friends when they are in trouble. Pose different scenarios and discuss how to lend a helping hand.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone , iPad
- Subjects: Social Studies : citizenship
- Skills: Creativity : imagination, Emotional Development : empathy, moving beyond obstacles, persevering, perspective taking, Communication : friendship building, listening, Responsibility & Ethics : making wise decisions, respect for others
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: November 29, 2018
- Category: Entertainment
- Topics: Adventures , Friendship , Wild Animals
- Publisher: Sehsucht Berlin GmbH & Co KG
- Version: 1.0
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 11.0 or later
- Last updated: October 16, 2019
Did we miss something on diversity?
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 suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Download
Our Editors Recommend
Best Book Apps for Kids and Teens
Augmented Reality Apps
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.
See how we rate