Only two months out of the gate and Metamorphabet, a new app developed by Patrick Smith and Vectorpark, has received accolades: recognition by the 2015 BolognaRagazzi Digital Award Committee, and the award for Excellence in Visual Arts at the Independent Games (as well as a finalist for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at the same festival). Read Mary Ann Scheuer's review of the app below and take a peek at the trailer, and you will see why.

The letter N from Metamorphabet (Vectorpark) Patrick Smith

Metamorphabet (Patrick Smith/Vectorpark, iOS, $3.99, Android, S3.99; PreS-Gr2) combines fluid animation with playful, imaginative word pairings, offering an alphabet app with both visual and poetic appeal. When users tap the featured letter, it transforms into a blocklike 3-D sculptural form. With a few more taps, the letter begins morphing into images representing words beginning with that same letter. A beard pops out of the bottom of the letter B, and then a beak appears at the top of the letter. When the beak opens, out flies a swarm of bugs that viewers can drag about the screen. Printed words help reinforce the letter concept, and users can touch the words to hear them voiced again.

The letter F from Metamorphabet (Vectorpark) Patrick Smith

Warm humor and delightful surprises create perfect pacing and tone for this app. A giant foot grows out of the bottom of the letter F, and bounces or wiggles its toes when viewers manipulate it. Soon it sprouts feathers and then a fan, bouncing along until users switch on the fan allowing it to fly away. The J jiggles like Jello, then juggles three beach balls that turn into jellyfish. A sock slides on to cover the bottom of the letter S, which becomes a snake. Many of the illustrations have a surrealistic feel, reminiscent of the work of René Magritte, featuring bold structural shapes and colors and unexpected combinations. Sound effects (cymbals, horns, birds chirping, etc.) enhance the presentations. The clear narration and intuitive navigation will allow young children to use the app independently. But, best of all, playing with this alphabet is thoroughly enjoyable.

The Garden screen from Metamorphabet (Vectorpark) Patrick Smith

The vocabulary choices (for example: knight, kaleidoscope, tongue) indicate that this app might not be the first choice for developing early reading skills. Others, such as Dr. Seuss’s ABC and Endless Alphabet (see Touch and Go's "A Bevy of Alphabet Apps" January 2014), focus more attention on letter and sound identification. Seek Metamorphabet for its bold artwork, fluid design, and playful treatment—there's an unexpected delight at every turn.—Mary Ann Scheuer, Emerson School, Berkeley, CA  For additional app reviews, visit our dedicated app webpage.