Happy Valentine’s Day, Little Critter!
February 6, 2015
By: Carisa Kluver
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User Rating:
Rating: Not Yet Rated!
Happy Valentine’s Day, Little Critter!
February 6, 2015
By: Carisa Kluver
The Digital Media Diet
Little Critter gives his mom as special Valentine!
Happy Valentine's Day, Little Critter! by Mercer Mayer is one of the "New Adventure" books with Little Critter, published in print in 2005. In this title, Little Critter tells readers about his class making cards, decorating and having a Valentine's Day party. The digital version of this book also adds a new twist, keeping track as the young reader tries to find 13 of the little mice and spiders, hidden on nearly every page.
Many readers have asked, "What kind of animal is Little Critter?" According to Wikipedia, Mercer Mayer did not specify which type of animal the Little Critter is, but, "he resembles a hedgehog, hamster or guinea pig." So, basically he's a rodent ... although a rather lovable one! Over 200 books have been released in this popular series, not to mention a whole line of toys, dvds and other products.
Like other apps by Oceanhouse Media, this book is interactive in a way that enhances early reading skills. Most images (of mom, Little Critter and the people & things around them), will name themselves aloud while the word briefly appears over the illustration. For example, touch the teacher and the words "Miss Kitty" will appear on the screen simultaneously with audio narration. Additionally, the text on the page will highlight if the word is in the story. This provides nice audio-visual reinforcement for early literacy. The app also has great settings, including the ability to record your own narration, turn off sound effects or even to disable the interactive elements. Simple navigation is intuitive with a thumbnail page guide.
The delightful child narrator is easy to understand and a perfect fit, since the story is told in the first-person by Little Critter. Featuring all the activities typical in a school-age child's day on Valentine's (they decorate the class, make mailboxes and Valentine's cards to distribute, eat heart shaped treats), this title will enchant young and old alike.
Recommended!
This app has been thoroughly evaluated by our staff. Please click on the 'star ratings' tab above, to see how it fared in all nine of our rating categories. See synopsis tab for more details about the storyline.
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Author/Illustrator:
Mercer Mayer
Developer:
Oceanhouse Media, Inc.
Length (time):
4 - 6 Minutes
Based on non-digital book: Yes
Allows Own Narration:
Yes
Uses Motion: No
Age: 2 - 6 +
Languages:
English •
Length (pages):
13 Pages
Story Synopsis - Happy Valentine’s Day, Little Critter!
Join Little Critter in this interactive book app as he celebrates Valentine's Day at school! Explore pictures, learn new vocabulary, and personalize the story with your own narration. They're decorating the classroom with hearts, eating cupcakes, and making Valentine's Day mailboxes. Little Critter is making an extra special card for an extra special valentine. Who will it be?
Designed for children ages 2-5
[Source: iTunes]
Orientation: Landscape & Portrait
Format: Universal
Options:
Read to Me, Read Myself, AutoPlay, Record, Page Guide, News On/Off, Sound Effects/Interactions On/Off, Home, Links to: AppStore, FB, Twitter, Email, Web, Privacy Policy
App Release Date:
2015-01-30
Size: 35.31 MB
Version: 2.7.1
Lite Version Available: No
Happy Valentine’s Day, Little Critter!
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