Sunday, January 6, 2013
Melodie's Musings: Is There A Difference Between Relentless Self-Prom...
Melodie's Musings: Is There A Difference Between Relentless Self-Prom...: Tonight, I sat in on a #chitlit chat on Twitter. Being as my arm, as well as my ankle and knee, is sprained from my graceful decent off a fi...
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Featured App - Grendel's Great Escape, reviewed Smart App for kids
I'm Thrilled to share a feature post about this Story Book App by Smart Apps for kids. If you haven't already downloaded it to the iPad for the kids, Please do so! It's non stop entertainment for the price of a latte.
 |
| Grendel's Great Escape - Art Class |
Download Grendel's Great Escape
Grendel's Great Escape Video demo
Today's Featured App will strike a chord with any parent who has had to deal (patiently) with a child who likes to procrastinate.
Does the phrase 'Oh, I'll do it later' sound familiar to anyone? Meet Martin and his very cute pet ferret, Grendel.
Grendel's Great Escape tells the story of Martin, a little boy who is a tad laid-back about time, tidying and tracking his pet ferret Grendel. Martin has decided to bring Grendel into school for Show and Tell but because he hasn't secured his pet's leash properly, Grendel escapes and runs around the school.
Martin and his friends begin a covert search to find the furry ferret who ducks and dives at every turn, even hiding up a janitor's trouser leg. There's lots of things to tap and interact with in this story app and there's the option to read it yourself or have the spoken narration.
Grendel's Great Escape is sweetly illustrated with cute surprises throughout. It's a hide and seek mystery where upon each page you look around for the Houdini-esque ferret. All's well that ends well and a snoozing Grendel is found and happily displayed for the Show and Tell.
And there are good lessons in this story, (albeit ones I seem to be endlessly repeating). Leave yourself enough time to do things properly, keep your room tidy, organize your schoolbag...I live in hope that one day my kids will actually listen to me.
Perhaps I should get them a pet ferret?
Smart Apps for kids review link: http://www.smartappsforkids.com/2012/12/featured-app-grendels-great-escape.html
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thumbs up Review for Grendel’s Great Escape book App
The First Review is in from I Heart this App and it’s a Thumbs up for Grendel’s Great Escape book App
“Grendel’s Great Escape is another solid interactive storybook app that you can let your children read and experience. From the nice illustrations, original music and sound effects, and numerous interactive elements to discover, your child will surely be immersed in this funny adventure story.”
Details
Grendel’s Great Escape is an interactive storybook for children ages 4-8 that is available on the iPad. It tells the story of how Martin tried to find his escaped pet ferret Grendel in school.
Martin had a pet ferret named Grendel who he decided to bring to school for Show and Tell. As the class was painting, Grendel escaped from Martin’s leash and bag. Martin and his friends now had to find Grendel before the principal Mr. B found the escaped animal. This is the story of how they searched the whole school to find Grendel.
This app is a typical storybook app in that it had full-page colored illustrations with animation to suit the story. Story text is also there on the page for children to read along with. A narrator reads the story while phrases are highlighted in order to help children read along better. The pages also contain interactive elements that children can explore and discover. Your children will have fun reading and playing along with this exciting adventure story.
The developers have announced that this app is compatible only with the iPad 2 and higher models. This is a paid app with no in-app purchases or pop up ads inside.
What iHeartThisApp Liked
The layout and controls of the app is very much like other storybook apps. Turning the page is easily understood and the app is very intuitive to use overall. The inclusion of a table of contents for children to go to their favorite pages or go back where they left off is a good feature.
The artwork is good and enticing for children and the animation in some scenes suits the style and feel of the story. There are several interactive elements within each page that reveals hidden animation or sound effects that children can take time to discover. These elements will serve to enhance a child’s experience of the story.
The narration is clear and the voice acting is good. The option to also turn the voice over off is great for parents who want to read to their children or children who want to practice their reading skills.
Suggested Enhancement
It would benefit the app greatly if for future versions, they developed additional mini games or activities such as coloring or puzzles. These added elements will only serve to increase the app’s replay value.
Overall
Grendel’s Great Escape is another solid interactive storybook app that you can let your children read and experience. From the nice illustrations, original music and sound effects, and numerous interactive elements to discover, your child will surely be immersed in this funny adventure story.
Blue Sandpiper Imprints: www.bluesandpiper.com
Grendel’s Great Escape: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/grendels-great-escape/id585972636?ls=1&mt=8
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Christmas Picture Book of the Month
Merry Christmas from Blue Sandpiper Imprints, home of Grendel’s Great Escape Children’s App. I added a 2nd book this month, it is Christmas after all & there are so many good Christmas books out there, I just couldn’t resist. Plus it will give the kids something to read, Consider it my gift to you.
How Santa lost his Job by Stephen Krensky illustrated by S.D. Schindler
This follow up to ‘How Santa got his job’ is just as entertaining and interesting. In this economy with it’s ups & down this is a very relevant story, about how Santa was slow to change with the times so the Elves found a way to modernise & maximize production. They build a fantastic machine ‘The deliverator’ that meets all their delivery needs but soon discovers that it lacks the personal touch and know how that only Santa can supply. It’s told in a fun and upbeat way that kids will love. With so many children in families facing layoffs and the lifestyle changes it brings, this is a great read for not only Christmas but for anytime of the year.
December Picture Book of the Month
“A Scary Christmas to all”
For those who haven’t had enough of Halloween & have a fascination with monsters, here’s a book for you! Santa Claws is a weird twist on the old Saint Nick but this story takes place in Monster Town. ‘Santa Claws’ is wonderfully told in rhyme and is great for the 4-8 lot.
“It’s Christmas Eve in Monster town and Mack & Zack, two monster boys want gross & grizzly Christmas toys” Like all good little monsters they anxiously look forward for a visit from Santa Claws who rides thru the air on a Dragon, but you have to read it to see what happens next. The Author also takes us on a trip thru monster town with it’ ‘dead pine trees’ and ‘spooky shacks’. It’s quirky illustrated by Gris Grimley in his usual offbeat and sketchy style. This book is an offbeat Christmas treat which is a keeper to be read for many Christmases to come.
- All picture books reviewed on this blog may be purchased thru the link on the Blue Sandpiper website – http://www.bluesandpiper.com home of Grendel's Great Escape Children's Book App available on iTunes
Monday, December 17, 2012
When Life Gives You Lemons.....Get Creative
Not so long ago I suddenly found myself with a chunk of unrequested free time. Having always been a busy working Mom, I was incapable of sitting still or being unproductive. In between Job searches, volunteering & updating my job skills, I got started on my book App. Up to that point, I’d taken the scenic route to writing because life there was never enough time in any given day. Well the time had come & I seized the opportunity to get started.
So how does an unemployed mother of two get published? By getting a lot of help along the way & using all the resources around her.
- Spousal encouragement & support
- My kids as a constant source of material
- Free resources at the Small Business Institute
- Author’s guide to book Apps.
- A community of Authors & mentors at CBI clubhouse.
- My son’s 2nd grade teacher reviewed my first manuscripts.
- Get expert tips from a cousin who’s the social media diva for entertainers.
- Volunteer in the children’s library (great source of Inspiration)
Eight months later, Grendel’s Great Adventure is a reality. It’s Inspired by a child with ADHD, for whom every day is an adventure. This interactive story depicts the Show & Tell day’s adventure of Martin and his pet Ferret Grendel. As with many kids, Martin was always putting things of for later, such as cleaning his room, tackling the laundry monster and leashing his Ferret. In this App, kids will join Martin in his race against time to find Grendel while avoiding the grizzly School Principal.
 |
| Grendel's Great Escape Book App |
 |
| Recruiting Help |
 |
| Where's Grendel? |
Download Grendel’s Great Adventure
Coming soon to Kindle, Nook & Android Tablets
Find out more at www.bluesandpiper.com
Resources:
Author’s guide to book Apps www.digitalkidsauthor.com
CBI clubhouse www.cbiclubhouse.com
Social Media for Entertainers www.socialmediaforentertainers.com
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Making a difference - Teachers Rock
I recently read an article about hero’s. It was written by an Author about the teacher who changed his life.
Teacher’s are indeed the unsung hero’s of all time. Without them where would we be?
If we think back there’s always been at least one teacher and mentor attempting to inspire and pour a wealth of knowledge into receptive minds.
Unfortunately sometimes we are either too young, immature or distracted to appreciate just how much they have to impart and what we have to gain by just sitting still and listening.
Oh how I wish I’d stayed awake during Art history class and paid closer attention during Geometry. Good Teachers will always continue to teach to distracted ears hoping that a nugget or two will get thru, but the great ones will find a way to get thru and make a difference.
I had such a teacher, Mrs Kelly got thru to me in ways I didn’t appreciate until much later in life. She was not only my teacher but also my neighbor, it was in my best interest to make an effort in her English literature class, I couldn’t afford for anything to be said during her chats with Mom. I remember her kindness and charity to those in need and going the extra step to stay after class and help a student.
What I didn’t appreciate was her methods of forcing me to think, she had an infuriating was of answering my questions with another question. If I asked her how to spell a word she answered “how do you think it’s spelled”. Infuriating because I wouldn’t have asked If I had known in the first place. There were many more answers like that, such as “how do you think it’s made” or “Why do you think that happened” She was supposed to teach! not make me figure it out for myself.
Mrs Kelly forced me to think! There was no way around it, I had to use my brain around her. She didn’t stop in the classroom either, did I mention that she lived next door? The mental workout continued on the ride home as well.
Mrs Kelly was a kind soul who loved to teach. She was never off the job, on week-ends she taught me to use a sewing machine at the risk of her sanity and her machine. If patience was a virtue then she will be nominated for sainthood. I showed up often on her doorstep for her amazing grilled cheese sandwiches but there was always a price to pay and I’d unknowingly leave a little bit wiser since there was always a lesson to be learned.
Mrs Kelly or Aunt Pam as she’s lovingly called has long since retired but still find ways to tutor both Adults and Children, she’ll never stop sharing her time and knowledge with those around her.
Like her, great teachers are all around just waiting to share their knowledge and make an impact. Now if only I can persuade my sons to pay attention in class, embrace all that their teachers have to offer and that recess isn’t the best part of their day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)