Common Sense Media Review
By Mieke VanderBorght
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Interactive story says dance to the beat of your own drum.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
Look, I'm Making It Up!
What's It About?
Tap "Read the story" to get started with LOOK, I'M MAKING IT UP! Camilo is a little boy who likes to do things his own way. For example, he makes up songs on the piano, puts different ingredients together to make cookies, and paints the sky red and the sun green. At the end of the story, Camilo meets a jazz musician who helps him put a name to his creativity: improvisation. Kids can tap objects on every page to see them move and make noise. Three games -- play the piano, decorate cookies, and dress up -- are embedded in the story or accessible from the home screen.
Is It Any Good?
This storybook sweetly explores the magic and fun of being creative even as the interactive elements are sometimes a distraction. Camilo is a likable, spirited young protagonist. He goes about his day with positive energy, loving support, and an unbounded desire to experiment with doing things a tad bit differently. Kids will find it easy to relate to him. It would be nice, though, to see the interactive pieces separated from the narrative. This is particularly an issue because it's not always clear where kids can tap, and the animations and sounds have nothing to do with the story. It can get a bit hectic as the narrator reads and kids are frantically tapping around the screen to pop balloons or set a toy train in motion. The three interactive games are fun though not very innovative. Also, there's no read-to-me option, which is usually pretty standard among digital storybooks. Yet overall, Look, I'm Making It Up! is a fun exploration of being yourself and not being afraid to try doing things your own way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the characters and plot points in Look, I'm Making It Up! Do you ever feel like Camilo? Why was Camilo's sister annoyed with him? Do you think Camilo's special cookies turned out to be yummy?
Explore the concept of doing things your own way and any related rewards (or consequences) of doing so. When is it OK to improvise and when is it better to follow the rules?
Give your kids room to express themselves and experiment in safe spaces, by providing ample time for unstructured, screen-free play.
App Details
- Devices : iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad
- Subjects : Language & Reading : storytelling , Arts : music
- Skills : Creativity : innovation
- Pricing structure : Paid ($2.99)
- Release date : September 27, 2019
- Genre : Education
- Publisher : The Melody Book
- Version : 1.0
- Minimum software requirements : iOS 9.0 or later
- Last updated : November 6, 2019
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