
This is an interesting book. It has an engaging and funny story despite an odd technical layout for an iPad book. If you have read many books on the iPad, this book initially has an unconventional interface that takes a little getting used to. It can be read by paging through the book without narration or it can also be essentially 'played' as a video that is inset on the screen in a window that is slightly smaller than the full screen view.
The book also includes some complicated settings that I didn't find necessary to enjoy the book - something called 'White Mask' and 'Transparency', plus settings to make the picture even smaller than the inset view. I found the book a bit touchy to set up at first, but after getting past this novel interface, you will discover a delightful story about a very cute mouse who takes his sweetheart Molly out for a great Birthday dinner.
Max arrives to pick up Molly on a little scooter and with flair and confidence spirits her away on the date of a lifetime. He takes her to eat in another part of the house they live in, dodging a hungry cat and climbing to great heights where they dine on a fruit plate. The book itself is enjoyable either read in 'Page' mode and on auto-play with narration - called 'Animation' although it is just still images panned over on a video. It makes a great bedtime story and stands out with amusing illustrations and nicely narrated dialogue.
[An iPhone version is also available separately from itunes, click HERE.]
All reviews are of the app, not the platform/device. Based originally on iPad versions. Minor technical details may vary.
Author/Illustrator:
Henri Goldsman
Developer:
Ave!Comics Production
Length (time):
6 - 8 Minutes
Based on non-digital book: No
Allows Own Narration:
No
Uses Motion: No
Age: 4 - 8
Languages:
English •
Length (pages):
56 Pages
Max is a mouse with almost perfect manners. Unlike other mice, who don't like to share, aren't clean, talk with their mouths full, etc., Max has a sense of style. He lives in a home in the town of Nibblingham. One day after brushing his teeth and taking a bath in a teacup of warm water, he goes out on his little scooter for a special night out with his friend Molly. Since it is Molly the mouse's birthday he brings her a rose from a vase in the kitchen. He tells her they are going to a 'fancy restaurant'. But first they have to get past Freddycat ... which Max does by standing in front of his headlights and creating a shadow that looks like a much larger mouse.When Freddy leaps after the shadow, he gets trapped in the cat door because he is so fat. The mice then drive off to the 'Tropicana' restaurant, which turns out to be a fruit bowl displayed on the counter. The devour the fruit together happily. Max then burps and is very upset by his less than perfect manners, but Molly forgives him and tells him she loves him, even if he isn't perfect. Then she reminds him of the one thing he forgot ... to say, "Excuse me." The end.
Orientation: Landscape
Format: iPad
Options:
Animation (autoplay video of book), Page (read myself), Instructions, Page List
App Release Date:
2010-12-18
Size: 7.7 MB
Version: 1.2
Lite Version Available: No