Common Sense Media Review
By Amanda Bindel
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kids take active role in impressive interactive adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Jack and the Beanstalk by Nosy Crow
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
It's the classic story of Jack and the Beanstalk, but in this interactive adventure, readers play the role of Jack. Kids can read the story on their own or have the words read to them, but they have to interact on every page. Rather than all the words appearing on the page, kids interact, tapping the characters to hear the dialogue and guide Jack through the castle, collecting different treasures. Once home, Jack and his mom live happily ever after -- with different luxuries depending on the treasures collected.
Is It Any Good?
Interactive books are really fun for readers, but JACK AND THE BEANSTALK BY NOSY CROW goes beyond interactive book into interactive adventure with some really impressive uses of technology. The scene with the broken mirror is pretty amazing -- kids will see their own faces reflected in the broken pieces, through the device's camera, and they'll see their full reflection when they've put the mirror back together. The interactive activities are fun, challenging, and educational, and the story is exciting enough to make for a really fun experience for older kids reading on their own as well as younger kids. Several of the activities may even be a bit too challenging for little ones, but that's fine because they don't have to solve every part of the story or even collect the treasure. The ending changes based on how much of the treasure kids collect, which is really cool and will keep kids going back to the story to replay and create different endings.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Even after kids have played through the entire story, encourage them to try again and see how collecting the giant's treasures impacts the ending.
Read other versions of the classic story together and talk about what is similar and what is different.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Subjects : Language & Reading : following directions , reading , reading comprehension , Math : counting , patterns
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : logic , thinking critically , Emotional Development : persevering , Tech Skills : using and applying technology
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Release date : February 20, 2014
- Genre : Books
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales ) , Adventures , Book Characters
- Publisher : Nosy Crow
- Version : 1.0.1
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 4.3 or later
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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