Rounds: Franklin Frog
By Ellen Dendy,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Engaging story teaches kids about frogs' life cycle.
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Rounds: Franklin Frog
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What’s It About?
Rounds: Franklin Frog is an engaging, interactive story for preschoolers about frogs -- what they eat, where they live, how they get around, and much more. Franklin's mate lays eggs, and when the tadpoles hatch, we follow Fraser tadpole as he transforms into a frog. The story is circular and shows the life cycle of frogs -- if you continue on (or select Resume instead of Restart), Franklin's son Fraser becomes the main character. Fraser finds a mate, has a tadpole named Fletcher, and so on.
Is It Any Good?
ROUNDS: FRANKLIN FROG is a top-notch educational app that teaches kids about frogs in a fun, engaging way. It's narrated by kids, making it all the more inviting. The animation and background music are sweet and simple, and frog facts are easy to digest: for example, "I can jump the length of TEN frogs!" and "Only about five of my 2,000 eggs will become grown-up frogs." Word highlighting can be turned off, and narration can be turned off completely when kids are ready to read on their own.
Parents will appreciate how polite Franklin is -- he often says "please," "thank you," and "you're doing a great job" when he asks kids to help him by swiping the screen. And the "Rounds" concept, where characters' stories start again when they end, is a clever one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Let kids observe real-life frogs by visiting a local pond, aquarium, or pet store.
Ask kids to compare and contrast frog behavior with that of other animals they know about.
Help kids navigate the app if it's tricky at first (how to tap the arrows and blue dots, how to swipe to jump, etc.).
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Nook HD
- Subjects: Science: animals, biology, ecosystems and the environment, life cycle, Language & Reading: following directions, naming, vocabulary
- Release date: August 8, 2012
- Category: Books
- Topics: Science and Nature
- Publisher: Nosy Crow
- Version: 1.0.1
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 3.1.3 or later
- Last updated: August 19, 2016
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