This week in apps features Only the Pearls, the behind-the-scenes app for Stephan Pastis's Pearls Before Swine comic strip, as well as Chasing Salander, a new story from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo world. Dr. Seuss's If I Ran the Zoo takes players on a globe-trotting search for the world's strangest animals. Also this week is The Pirate Koostoe, which follows Young Koostoe's quest to become a pirate. And So You Were Born tells players how much love there is for them in the world and teaches them to return that love. And finally, Goodnight Safari is an interactive tale that also works as a bedtime story.
Title: Only the Pearls
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Release date: January 11, 2012
Price: $3.99
Background: The behind-the-scenes app from Stephan Pastis, the creator of the comic strip Pearls Before Swine, featuring 250 of the best Pearsl strips in full color, 12 animated strips, 125 audio commentaries, and 22 videos of Pastis sharing insights.
Features: A window in Pastis's creative process and inspiration, an interactive tour of Pastis's studio and writing room, functionality to tag favorites and share through social media.
Title: Chasing Salander - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Publisher: Norstedts Forlagsgrupp
Release date: December 16, 2011
Price: $0.99
Background: A new story from the world of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, told from a hitman's perspective as he hunts for Lisbeth Salander.
Features: Bundled with over 100 facts about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Stieg Larsson.
Title: If I Ran the Zoo
Publisher: Oceanhouse Media
Release date: January 11, 2012
Price: $2.99
Background: The story from the world of Dr. Seuss follows young Gerald, not impressed by the animals at the zoo, conjures up plans for "New Zoo, McGrew Zoo." Players join him on a globe-trotting safari in search of the world's most unusual creatures, such as the Fizza-ma-Wizza-ma-Dill.
Features: Professional narration, background audio and enlarged artwork for each scene, read to me, read it myself and auto play modes.
Title: The Pirate Koostoe
Publisher: National Network of Digital Schools Corp.
Release date: December 20, 2011
Price: $2.99
Background: Young Koostoe is a little Midlandian with a big dream: he wants to be a pirate. While things don't work out as planned, Koostoe learns that he doesn't have to be a pirate to find treasure all around him.
Features: Custom music, audio, and special effects. Each word is highlighted as it is read. Read to me, read to myself, and auto play modes.
Title: And So You Were Born
Publisher: Twin Peacocks
Release date: January 5, 2012
Price: $3.99
Background: Designed to tell players how much love there is in the world for them and to teach them the purpose of spreading that love in return; lessons with intercultural images and a relevant short quote from major faith traditions are included.
Features: Parents can record a video of themselves for the child to play later, provide players' details including name and birthday and names of loved ones for insertion in the text, accelerometer offers the reader opportunity to cause stars to fall and move with tilting the device, memory matching games, puzzles, and coloring.
Title: Goodnight Safari
Publisher: Polk Street Press
Release date: January 11, 2012
Price: $1.99
Background: Children help the giraffe eat her dinner, the monkey climb to bed, and the elephant kiss goodnight.
Features: Simple vocabulary and interactivity to engage children while also preparing them to go to sleep. Pick a page menu, read along or read alone settings, original artwork by Luciana Navarro Powell.
