
Crepes by Suzette is a simple story of a day in the life of a crepe vendor (aptly named Suzette) who wanders through Paris. After purchasing ingredients in a market, Suzette pushes her cart through some Paris’ most quintessential settings: Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Luxembourg Gardens, Notre-Dame Cathedral, to name a few. The book is a travelogue, a celebration of Paris, and an innovative multimedia experience.
Created by author and illustrator, Monica Wellington, Crepes by Suzette juxtaposes photos of Parisian scenes with mementos such as coins, stamps and maps. Monica’s own vibrant illustrations are layered onto the foreground. The collage-like effect lends lends depth and energy to the experience. As Suzette stops to pick up ingredients or serve her hungry customers, readers can track her progress on a map. Readers can also view photographs or a video of every place Suzanne sells her wares.
French phrases are featured in each scene: “School is out. The schoolchildren all want crepes filled with melted chocolate. Mmmm. C’est bon!” Tap the various characters on the page to hear the word being pronounced in many different voices. Readers can access a “Vocabulary” tab to hear a translation of the French word in the 6 different languages.
Wellington cleverly uses Suzette’s hungry customers to pay homage to French art. The elegant shopper who buys Suzette’s crepes at the Place Vendome is based on a painting of a shopper by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The dancer who buys a zesty lemon crepe at the Palais-Garnier is inspired by The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer by Degas. Readers can get information about the French masterpiece behind each scene by clicking on an “Art” tab.
I happen to find the story behind the making of this app as interesting as the app itself. Monica Wellington has over 40 books to her credit, but this is her first app. “Unlike my books that have all the support behind them of my publishing house, my little app just has me trying to send it out into the big world,” says Wellington. The app is a thoughtful compilation of illustrations and media clips. Wellington collected the sound bytes by wandering around Paris – to markets, playgrounds, carousels and streets.
If Crepes by Suzette triggers a craving for crepes (it did, for me), just click on the “DIY Crepes” tab on the entry page to watch a demo, a cooking lesson, or a simple receipe. Bon appetit!
Recommended!
This review originally appeared on June 16, 2015. The Caped Learner is an app review blog featuring great educational apps for young children. It is dedicated to helping parents make good app choices in an era where we struggle to make informed technology decisions. The Caped Learner is written by Rahat Mahmood, mother of three young children and a technology professional. Rahat lives in Toronto and uses her children as an excuse to indulge herself in her secret passion for children’s fiction, apps and baking. Her blog is named after a certain four-year-old who believes all things are best experienced with a cape on.
All reviews are of the app, not the platform/device. Based originally on iPad versions. Minor technical details may vary.
Author/Illustrator:
Monica Wellington
Developer:
Monica WELLINGTON
Length (time):
6 - 15 Minutes
Based on non-digital book: No
Allows Own Narration:
No
Uses Motion: No
Age: 3 - 8 +
Languages:
English • French • Spanish •German •Italian •Japanese •
Length (pages):
14 Pages
Take a trip to Paris with Suzette, the crêpe maker, and her artistic customers in this fun, educational, interactive children's storybook! Bon voyage!
As Suzette sells her delicacies over the course of a day, readers are treated to the sights and sounds of one of the most beautiful cities in the world, from Nôtre-Dame to the Eiffel Tower. The customers she meets along the way are inspired by works of art, such as da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Degas's Little Dancer. As you take your journey, you will learn to speak key French words and phrases—with a perfect accent, bien sûr! You’ll be able to trace your route on a map of the city and call up photos of each locale. You can also listen to the narration in five additional languages: French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Japanese. And at the end of the day, a crêpe recipe and DIY cooking lesson await you! As delicious as Suzette's crêpes, this book app will captivate children—and parents— who will want to make the trip to Paris themselves.
Immerse yourselves in French culture, with language, food, and art:
- Interactive Paris map, with fun extras
- Videos of Paris and pictures of its landmarks
- Great introduction to famous paintings and sculptures
- Crêpe recipe and video cooking demos
- Professional audio narration and vocabulary words in six languages
- Interactive hotspots for practicing French
- Words highlighted as you listen
- Options for sound effects and music
Highly praised and popular children's book now available as an app for: Ages 2–7, Preschool–Grade 2
Universal app[Source: iTunes]
Orientation: Landscape
Format: Universal
Options:
Pageguide, Read to Me, Read Myself, Highlighting, Map, Demo, Lesson, Recipe, Vocabulary, Art, Photos, Links: None
App Release Date:
2015-05-08
Size: 142.75 MB
Version: 1.01
Lite Version Available: No