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Overview
My family, and yours, too, probably, expect a lot from eBook apps. So I was delighted to see the beautifully illustrated tale of The Legend of Momotaro come to life on my iPad this week.
Not only is the story entertaining, full of mystery and intrigue, it’s also told in a unique way, with scenes that change as the story progresses, tons of extras, and almost never-ending opportunities to teach your family more about the grand history and culture of Japan.
Quality
The time and painstaking effort that went into The Legend of Momotaro iPad application is extremely obvious. The story itself is told in plain yet fluid language. Each scene walks the reader through the page’s text, much to the delight of readers young and old. The pages are panoramic, and the tale is professional narrated.
Each panoramic scene has hidden interactive elements meant to make the culture and the tale come alive. Your family can even get closer to the tale by zooming in and out of the scene. You can tell the team that made this application has a deep affection for the art of storytelling.
Education
Thanks to The Legend of Momotaro’s reading options and rich extras, I feel this application has a wide range of practical and imaginative learning opportunities. Children can enjoy the story in both read-to-me and read-to-myself modes. The hidden app elements aren’t just beautiful and fun, they’re also educational.
I learned things I’d never known about Japan while enjoying this app with my family. By unlocking and tapping intricate origami flowers, children can learn about Japanese culture, like the language of flowers, and other interesting tidbits and historical facts.
There’s even an option to learn words by hearing them in Japanese and practicing tracing the kanji characters. Consider me thoroughly impressed.
Entertainment
And then, there is the story, which is the heart of The Legend of Momotaro iPad app. The story and characters are larger than life, as befits a legend come to life. I did find the story content a wee bit violent, especially toward the end as Momotaro faces the ogre camp, although there is no killing, just a bit of rough and tumble fighting.
Otherwise, I have no issues with the extremely entertaining way this tale unfolds, designed to enlighten and delight readers of all ages.
Value
The Legend of Momotaro is also quite a good value. eBook apps can get a bit expensive, so I was delighted to see a price of $2.99, which I consider extremely reasonable for such a well crafted and interesting storybook app with many lessons to teach.
Child Friendly
Once your child is into the story, it would be quite difficult for them to access any areas with links or other kid-friendly elements. The main page does have a “more apps” button. If children tap that, then choose one of the links, they will be redirected to iTunes. As long as you have download security settings on you should be good to go.
Thankfully this app does not have any social marketing links or anything else inappropriate. The only “share” option is via email, which I consider quite safe. Families, feel safe to proceed.
My family, and yours, too, probably, expect a lot from eBook apps. So I was delighted to see the beautifully illustrated tale of The Legend of Momotaro come to life on my iPad this week. Not only is the story entertaining, full of mystery and intrigue, it’s also told in a unique way, with scenes that change as the story progresses, tons of extras, and almost never-ending opportunities to teach your family more about the grand history and culture of Japan.