The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Friends - First Words
Eric Carle faves teach vocab in English and other languages.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Friends - First Words
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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 Very Hungry Caterpillar & Friends - First Words is a mash-up of Eric Carle illustrations in a digital pop-up book that teaches words. Language options include English, Spanish, French, simplified Chinese, and German, so the book app can be used with toddlers learning a first language or with any age learning new languages. Though the interface is easy enough that preschoolers could use it on their own, the parent section explains that it's designed to be explored by kids and parents together.
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What’s It About?
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR & FRIENDS - FIRST WORDS presents a wide variety of animals, insects, food, and people in the familiar Eric Carle style. Words are in groups thematically on a page and include insects, farm animals, family members, clothing, and so on. Kids tap the picture to see the word in print and hear it pronounced, though the read-aloud can be turned off. Up to two languages can be selected at once, with the first tap saying the word in one language and the second in the other. Once the book has been read all the way, kids can quiz themselves on their new knowledge, following instructions and tapping the designated picture.
Is It Any Good?
Carle's bright colors and vivid illustrations translate beautifully to the touch screen, so kids will be engaged and excited to encounter the familiar animals and characters from the books. Parents will appreciate the variety of language choices that can teach common words in several languages. The conversational quiz gives kids a chance to practice the words they've learned. There's no narrative structure to the activities, though, so there's no context for the words kids are learning. Also, swiping from one page to the next is clunkier than tapping the arrow, which is less intuitive for kids. Overall, this is a simple, solid tool for learning words.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what they see and what they're doing to encourage verbal skills in preschoolers and toddlers (or language learners).
Read to kids to develop their vocabulary. Choose a wide variety of books that excite and interest them.
Use The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Friends - First Words with older kids to help them learn words in other languages.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Subjects: Language & Reading: naming, speaking
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: memorization, Communication: conveying messages effectively
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Release date: March 19, 2015
- Category: Education
- Publisher: StoryToys Entertainment Limited
- Version: 1.0
- Minimum software requirements: iOS 6.0 or later
- Last updated: July 8, 2020
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