PopOut! The Tale of Peter Rabbit (iPhone/iPad app - ages 3 - 7)

Beatrix Potter's mischievous little creatures, especially Peter Rabbit, continue to enchant children today. Now Peter Rabbit has entered the digital age with the wonderful iPhone / iPad app: PopOut! The Tale of Peter Rabbit. It balances fun interactive elements with a lovely narration and Potter's classic artwork to stay true to the original story while giving children a new experience.

PopOut! The Tale of Peter Rabbit
developed by Loud Crow Interactive
eBook app for the iPhone and iPad
$3.99
ages 3 -7

Peter Rabbit's adventures and troubles in Mr. McGregor's garden are told in this eBook app using touch technology to make the classic illustrations respond to the child's prompts. Children listen to a British narrator read the story in a soothing voice that fits the story nicely. The narrator uses an understated voice, but she captures the emotions of the story nicely. As they listen, children can tap the screen to make characters boing and slightly bounce, or pull tabs to move the characters as a classic movable book would have.

"The inspiration was watching my daughter and her friends playing with old pop-up books with movable tabs. They were absorbed in this book,” explains Loud Crow founder and CEO Calvin Wang. "We’re in an age with multi-touch screens and if we can emulate that experience, it will create compelling content.” (from "Making Children's Books 'Pop' Out with iPads").

As children touch falling leaves or blackberries, they pop out and become larger, filling the screen. There are interactive elements on each page, but they are restrained and do not dominate the story. In the end, this experience will draw children in because they love Peter's mischievous tale.

For other reviews, check out Kirkus's starred review and video demonstration. I also really enjoyed the review at KidLitApps. As Mary writes, "The contrast of the familiar vintage story and art with the modern medium of the app are perfect here."

Enjoy exploring this new way to experience books with your children!

Our copy of PopOut! The Tale of Peter Rabbit was provided by the developers, Loud Crow Interactive. If you like this app, check out their newest release: Sandra Boynton's Going to Bed Book. This was our favorite book to read when our children were very young. Hooray!

Review ©2011 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books.