Spatter and Spark
Ignore in-app purchases to enjoy fun, charming critter tale.
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Spatter and Spark
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that the free version of Spatter and Spark includes an interactive original story about an animal inventor, Spark, and her artist friend, Spatter, but the activities that go along with the story require an in-app purchase. The story encourages kids to help each other and keep trying as they see Spark help Spatter -- and then Spatter help Spark -- solve problems. Parents can set up profiles for multiple kids.
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What’s It About?
Kids can choose to have the story read aloud to them or to read it themselves. In either method, they can interact with some things on the screen, such as spinning pinwheels and ringing a doorbell using Spark's invention. Kids also are encouraged to make an in-app purchase, with a parent's help, of the activities that go with the stories. The activities can be purchased separately or bundled and include painting with Spatter, a counting activity, and a search-and-find jungle-animals safari. Kids are rewarded with stickers as they complete each of three levels of play.
Is It Any Good?
SPATTER AND SPARK starts with relatable characters, a positive story, and beautiful illustrations and adds in fun interactions -- including some Rube Goldberg-like inventions -- for kids to play with. That's enough to make a great experience for kids. Don't feel pressure to download any further; the in-app-purchased activities are pricey and unfortunately don't compare in quality to the digital book. Kids may prefer the read-aloud experience since the animation, including moving mouths, continues even when they're reading alone, which means readers can't advance the page if they finish reading silently before the characters finish mouthing the words.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about reading books on various devices. What's the difference between seeing a book on an iPad versus a traditional paper version? Which positive qualities does each one have?
Families can talk about working together on projects or problems. Do you have a friend with whom you like to do school projects?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Subjects: Language & Reading: reading, vocabulary, Math: counting, Arts: drawing
- Release date: February 26, 2013
- Category: Books
- Topics: Arts and Dance, Science and Nature
- Publisher: Polk Street Press LLC
- Version: 1.1
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 5.1 or later
- Last updated: October 20, 2019
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The Three Little Pigs - A Nosy Crow Animated Interactive Storybook
Great interactive iPad story has visually exciting 3-D feel.
For kids who love interactive story time
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