The Gift for iPad (available separately for iPhone) is UK publisher Persian Cat Press‘ first foray into book apps.
The Gift is an original tale with a timeless feel written by Jos Carlyle with illustrations by Dan Mynard. A boy finds a baby at the water’s edge and then brings it to a group of wild and wise creatures wondering just what the child needs.
Readers have the choice of reading-to-self or read-to-me modes, though even children who can read The Gift without help will enjoy Nick Hughes rich narration.
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Navigating the UI is intuitive enough for most children. There is a bubble in the upper-left corner that offers the reader a clue to the app’s interactive elements when needed. The story’s text appears in callouts that the user can dismiss by tapping an arrow. The story’s page turn prompts do not appear until the reader has done a minimum of interaction on each page.
For example, the reader must tap on the boy to change the screen into a close up of the baby’s face. At another point the user must tap away at a green hill to reveal the creatures, which we learn are called Oomorels. Users get to lasso stars, and examine the enigmatic baby with a magnifying glass during the course of the story.
Download The Gift for iPad from the App Store for $6.99.
What I liked: I loved finding items in the Oomorels fur. The attention to detail throughout The Gift is remarkable. For example, when the Oomorels are found sleeping, a tiny bug walks out and continues to wander about until the reader taps the creatures to wake them up. It was a nice touch to include statements from the author and illustrator whose tone and content will appeal to young readers.
What I didn’t like: For $6.99 it would have been nice if The Gift were universal rather than requiring separate purchases for iPad and iPhone. The app would have been just as strong an offering without the Swish ‘n’ Sounds game, which wasn’t as engaging as most of the interactive elements within the main story.
To buy or not to buy: The Gift balances carefully chosen interactivity with a classic tale that will appeal to children and their parents. Rather than being driven by a plot that demands the reader’s attention, The Gift quietly offers readers of all ages an unfolding story with rewards on every page.