I've discovered so many educational and entertaining free storybook iPad apps over the past few weeks that I really wish these devices were around when Angeline was little! I had such a hard time getting her to read, and I just know that if we had an iPad with access to all of these storybook apps, she would have enjoyed it much more!
Now that she's in high school and taking honors English, she is going to have to read, whether she likes it or not. She's asked for a Kindle so that she can take her "books" to school with her. I am considering just surprising her with an iPad for her birthday - it has a Kindle app in it!
Joy Tales is a beautifully illustrated free storybook iPad app with a collection of 12 original stories created to see children - aged 2 to 6 - through the small challenges of their early years with the right attitude and sense of humor!
You can try the first tale, Tab the white bat, absolutely for free. It's a great way to get a taste of what Joy Tales has to offer your little ones.
Tab the white bat chronicles a little white bat who is very different from the other bats in the castle. You can see where this is going, right? Tab is a lovely story for children that teaches them that being different is sometimes a good thing. In the story, Tab the white bat discovers that being different is a good thing, and the other bats in the castle agree!
Desdoo, the makers of Joy Tales, consider learning and having fun to be their keywords. You might be surprised to know that they actually use not only professionals in the field of apps design (illustrators, animation designers, etc...), but also a child neuropsychiatric doctor, a pediatrician and a journalist when creating their apps. Why? Because they want their storybooks to be balanced and complete; they want children to enjoy reading them but to also give a little more than just a story.
One of the things I really like about Joy Tales is their illustration. I love to see pretty artwork in a children's book, and that is not something you always see in an iPad app. You can tell that Desdoo put a lot of effort into making sure that Joy Tales was illustrated well, in the style of a classic children's storybook! The colors are so soft and pretty, and the characters are adorable!
Each one of the stories in Joy Tales includes interactive elements on every page of the virtual "book" and a there is a narrated option. Children can take part in the story right from the very first panel! There is also a unique self recording feature, which allows parents to record the narration with their own voice and then the children can play it back whenever they want to be read a story by their parents but their parents aren't around.
I think this is a great feature for parents who travel frequently, as you can still read your child a story when you aren't home! This is also great for when you leave your children with a babysitter while you go out for a date night - your children can still be read a story by you at bedtime! How cute is that!
The Joy Tales iPad app is currently only available for the iPad in Italian and English, but will soon be available in German, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Japanese, too! Best of all? It is currently FREE!
Go check it out!
While this is a partnered post, all opinions are my own.
Liz
You're right! The illustrations on this are very special, and I love that parents or grandparents or whomever can record their own voices reading it!
Kathleen
This looks like an adorable app. I bet my youngest would enjoy it!
Mellisa
This would be perfect for Aubrey who's 4! She's constantly playing with my iPad and it would be great to have an app like this were should could play and "learn" at the same time. Thanks for sharing I'm definitely gonna check it out.
Nichol
The illustrations are adorable and I love how they use professionals to create their apps. I don't have an iPad but we enjoy many storybooks on my Android:)
Brett
oh how sweet that you can record your own voice when you are away!
Jen
K would love the ability to hear a recorded reading - that's so neat. (PS - not sure if your iPad surprise will be much of a surprise since you posted about it. LOL)
Tammy
It looks like a fun app.
Beeb Ashcroft
Aww, those are some cute illustrations! I love the little bat. 🙂
Stefanie
Looks very cute 🙂
Shell Fruscione
I wish this was available on iPhone, I'd totally download it!
Hanan
Cool!
Becca - Our Crazy Boys
It's adorable!! I'll download it for my students! Thank you!
Tesa
This is such a great idea! I love that parents can record the story in their own voice and then the kids can listen to it whenever they want. Very neat!
Joscelyn
Such a fun and interactive idea. I like that it encourages reading with and to children.
Notorious Spinks
It's so cute. I'm sure the girlie would love it.
Theresa
My youngest girls would love this app. Great review!
Connie Seattle Mom Blogger
That's an adorable app! Thanks for letting me know about it.
Ashley - Embracing Beauty
You always review the cutest apps! Thank you!
Melissa
Aw, my son would love this! I need to download!
Emily
Cute! The bat looks like the bat from the animated Anastasia movie!!
JulieK
I love the illustrations - so unique!
Marcie W.
This would be great for my son to have some fun with while we wait for his school time to begin or his sisters' to get out of school themselves!
Anne - Mommy Has to Work
I have no iPad or Iphone - darn!
MomStart (Ashley)
Nice... I think I'm going to have to check this app out!
Kelly
I need to download this for my daughter. I was just looking in the app store for things to keep her busy on our upcoming trip.
Cassie
This looks so cute. I think my 4 year old (wow I am going to have to get use to saying that) will love it.
Vanessa
Thanks for this! Looks adorable. 🙂