The world's largest reviewer of books, multimedia, and technology for children and teens
Along with the Common Core, many state standards ask that educators incorporate multimodal resources into their lesson plans. As time goes on, more and more quality apps are available to meet that requirement. Here are a few digital resources to consider for your nonfiction science collection.
Poetry and nature feature strongly in our selections this month, perhaps because we’ve been spending more time outdoors of late?
For those of you who have been sitting under a shady tree or on a beach these past two months—and we hope that’s most of you—we’re offering a summary of the app reviews published over the summer. The list includes picture books, poetry, music, a reference guide or two, and some beloved characters and timeless stories. These are titles you want to load onto your school devices ASAP.
Michael Morpurgo’s poignant ‘War Horse,’ first published as a novel for children, has seen many incarnations. It’s now an interactive, enhanced book for IOS devices. Watercolor illustrations, archival photos, and videos make this a production for both fiction lovers and history buffs.
Featuring beloved Mo Willems characters, this impressive production offers several entertaining game options as well as cameo appearances by the author.
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has just launched an updated version of its free Teen Book Finder app—which debuted in June, 2012—to include all of the books the association honored in 2013. The first of its kind, Teen Book Finder gives teens, librarians, parents, and young adult literature aficionados access to YALSA’s recommended reading and award-winning titles from the past three years.
What child can resist a book or app about animals? Incorporating vocabulary-rich texts and gentle environmental lessons, these apps will also find favor with teachers and parents.
Our favorite apps this month include a tribute to Ludwig Van Beethoven’s ‘Ninth Symphony,’ and a rhyme based on a classic children’s song. If summer’s lovely weather hasn’t got you humming, these productions will.
Looking for quality apps for young children can be hit and miss. We’ve taken the work out of it for you and the parents who visit your library.
A screencast tour of four free applications to help kids learn how to code: Daisy the Dinosaur, Hopscotch, Scratch, and Tynker.
The perfect companion on a summer hike? National Geographic’s digital guide to North American birds allows nature lovers to identify winged creatures, learn about their habits, and record sightings, all before they can say Ladder-backed Woodpecker.
Two delightful new apps that introduce the joys of poetry will have listeners of all ages reciting odes to the seasons and some well-known verses.
For the college bound, “Fiske Guides” have always been go-to resources. Two years ago they launched an interactive app with information on more than 300 colleges with options to add notes, email admissions offices, and more. The latest addition to their list is an ebook sampler to some of the “best buys” in higher education.
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) revealed its inaugural Best Apps for Teaching and Learning list on Jun 30 at the American Library Association annual conference. Head of children’s services at Darien Library, CT, Kiera Parrott highlights some of her favorites from the 25 winning apps that cover a broad range of subjects, inspire curriculum connections, and can be used for classroom instruction and public library programming.
A stellar new production by the ever-inventive team at Nosy Crow, a Earth-bound intergalactic duo, and an interactive trip back in time to 79 CE, share this month’s list of favorite apps.
Touch Press has followed their rich ‘Orchestra’ app with a superb tribute to Ludwig Van ‘Beethoven’s 9th Symphony,’ considered by many to be one of the composer’s greatest works.
June 24 marked the debut of Graphite, a free, online guide to digital learning products compiled by and for educators. Created by Common Sense Media, a national nonprofit, the new resource reviews and rates digital products, including apps, games, websites and digital curricula for K-12.
Two new apps feature terrific artwork and engaging characters, but will viewers be inclined to return for repeat visits? Our reviewers weigh in.
Little Red Riding Hood receives a thoroughly charming update in Nosy Crow’s latest production.
From the “fierce and fascinating beauty of our natural world” to a huge, Alaska-size, floating garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean,” this month’s featured apps draw attention to both the wondrous and fragile state of our planet.
