Dada Trains

PreS-Gr 3—Know any train enthusiasts? If so, introduce them to this multilevel exploration app currently offering five activities. The youngest children will most likely simply drive the trains through various terrains and weather conditions in "Simulator," with options to stop and go, control the speed, or change the look of the control panel. A "Look Inside" mode allows for a peek into the workings of a steam train, where users can interact by adding coal to the boiler and watch as the engine picks up speed. In "Playground" the train travels in and out of tunnels, over bridges, and past roads where viewers tap/swipe to open gates and discover hidden characters. Aspiring artists will enjoy the "Magic Canvas," which includes background options of screen shots. More engaging for future engineers is the "Train Factory," where kids design a train using a menu of colors, then travel through challenges such as broken tracks until reaching their destination. Luckily, there's a reset button for those who cannot solve a problem and would like to begin again.Cheery graphics in a number of styles and entertaining sound effects heighten the experience. A recording option is available. The range and variety of activities and promise of future updates with more content will have children visiting this production time and again. The app is available in a number of languages.—Deb Whitbeck, formerly of West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI