February 16, 2013

Behind the Scenes with Spielberg’s Lincoln | Touch and Go

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‘Lincoln: Discover the Story’ is a free app that explores the passage of the 13th amendment and takes viewers behind the scenes of the Steven Spielberg movie.

Serving Truth, Justice, and Tighty Whities | The Captain Goes Digital

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Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants bursts onto the digital scene with full-color illustrations, nifty animation, and activities galore.

Best of Apps & Enhanced Books | February 2013

Tomb from - Pyramids 3D, Touch Press ©2012 Sandro Vannini.

BiblioBoard and Pyramids 3D, check out these App reviews.

On Stage with London’s Philharmonia Orchestra | Touch and Go

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Touch Press’s extraordinary new app, ‘The Orchestra” brings readers and listeners on stage with London’s Philharmonia Orchestra.

BiblioBoard’s Curated Collections for the iPad

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With the free BiblioBoard iPad app readers can dip into curated collections of “licensed, open source and public domain materials” on topics ranging from Punk Rock to The Brothers Grimm.

A Virtual Tour of the Giza Plateau | Touch and Go

Screen shot from 'Pyramids 3D' (Touch Press) Photo by Sandro Vannini

A new app takes viewers on a virtual tour deep inside the tombs and pyramids of Egypt’s Giza Plateau.

A (LONG) List of Recommended Apps

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Selecting our 10 top apps of the year is always an impossible task. Read our expanded list of favorites from 2011 and 2012.

Best of Apps & Enhanced Books | January 2013

Franklin Frog (Nosy Crow Ltd.) © by Barry Tranter.

Reviews in this column first appeared in SLJ’s column Touch and Go. Please note that later versions of some of these titles may now be available. Visit Touch and Go at slj.com under “Blogs & Columns” for additional reviews, commentary, and interviews with people in the field.

An Arctic Tale for Digital Devices

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With snow blanketing the country there’s not much else to do but pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa, grab your iPad, and get ready for a wintery adventure featuring two boys, a whale, and a polar bear or two.

Global Issues, Digital Perspectives

Image from 'Atlas by Collins'

Population growth, extreme weather, global warming—are all topics of interest to students and digital producers. Here’s a round-up of some recent apps that address these issues.

A Tale of Two Apps: Classic Picture Books into Digital

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Adapting any children’s classic to a new format is tricky. Purists will scream it’s not the original, others will be delighted to discover a new way to enjoy an old favorite. The good news is, we aren’t being asked to choose between formats.

Touch and Go | Animal Fact and Fiction

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It’s no secret children love learning about animals, and picture books about them are some of the most popular titles in libraries. Three apps combining story and facts about animal life have recently been made available. “Touch and Go’s” reviewers took at look at them.

Best of Apps & Enhanced Books: November 1, 2012

Othello App

Reviews in this column first appeared in SLJ’s column Touch and Go. After each review, you’ll find the date it appeared online. Online, there are links to related resources, a trailer (if one exists), and a link to purchase information.

Ghouls, Ghosts, and ‘Frankenweenie:’ A Collection of Holiday Apps

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From witches and monsters to haunted houses and headless horsemen, there’s something for everyone this Halloween season.

Fiske Interactive College Guide 2012: A Review

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Students hitting the college-tour circuit may want to take along “The Fiske Interactive College Guide 2012.” Features allow students to browse college websites, to email admissions offices directly, to create and save lists of schools, to add notes, and more.

Shakespeare on the iPad

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It’s a boon year for students of Shakespeare and thespians: from Sourcebooks, Inc. and Touch Press come interactive resources that will change the way readers experience the Bard’s works. Sourcebooks has just released three titles in its “Shakesperience” series that promise to “transport readers from the page to the stage”: “Othello,” “‘Romeo and Juliet,” and “Hamlet.” Each iBook provides the text of the play along with insight from actors on their roles, audio and visuals of celebrated performances, and much more. Extensive commentary and notes, and video recordings of famed actors performing each of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets, are among the highlights of the stunning “Sonnets by William Shakespeare” from Touch Press.

Best of Apps & Enhanced Books: October 2012

Ryan Woodward/©2012 Ryan Woodward Art and Amimation.

Ryan Woodward/©2012 Ryan Woodward Art and Amimation.

Reviews in this column first appeared in SLJ’s column Touch and Go. After each review, you’ll find the date it appeared online. Online, there are links to related resources, a trailer (if one exists), and a link to purchase information. Please note that later versions of some of these titles may now be available. Visit Touch and Go for additional reviews, commentary, and interviews with people in the field.

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Touch and Go: Countdown to an Election

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Given that this is the first U.S. presidential election since apps have made their way onto most electronic devices, you might think there would be dozens of worthwhile products available on the topic designed for students. Think again.

Sure, there are plenty of apps devoted to November’s election, there just aren’t that many that explain the process to those too young to cast a ballot. Those listed here should get the conversation rolling about how we elect a President and the men who have held that the office.

Touch and Go: Play Ball!

Bottom of the Ninth (Ryan Woodard Art & Animation)

Baseball season may be coming to an end, but a true fan’s enthusiasm for the sport never wanes. Reason enough to consider two new digital products for your iPad: Ryan Woodward’s Bottom of the Ninth and The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The first is an animated graphic novel, the second, a reference guide. Here’s what our reviewers had to say about these releases.

Touch and Go Lives!

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After a brief hiatus during the transition to our new website, our app reviews are back—with a few changes. First, you’ll notice they have moved from School Library Journal’s blog roll into a column, pushing out in our Extra Helping enewsletter. Archived reviews can be found on the SLJ website under “Blogs and Columns.” However, to ensure you receive all of our postings, be sure to add “Touch and Go” to your RSS feed.