
This sweet book from author/illustrator Brooks Jones is about a little girl who just doesn't like pink. It features original music and delightful narration by the author herself. The illustrations are crisp and colorful, featuring a little girl and her friend using speech bubbles for all of the dialogue.
When Gabi's grandmother sends her a pink t-shirt as a present, she feels really mad. Her friend (a little boy) actually likes pink, so Gabi decides to give the shirt to her friend. He gives her his blue shirt, since blue is actually a color Gabi really likes a lot (it makes her want to fly she says, while pink just makes her mad). This cute exchange is followed up by several nice discussion questions about favorite colors and how to thank someone for a gift that isn't quite what you wanted.
The book is lightly animated and interactive ... just the right amount for the story. The animations include things like paper flying when Gabi opens the gift and glowing red around the word 'MAD'. The interactivity is simple but effective, with the sound of paper rustling, upbeat music and even a 'sizzling' sound when Gabi explains how angry pink makes her feel. My little boy was particularly fond of the 'airplane' sound that occurs when tapping on the page where Gabi tells her friend that blue makes her want to fly.
I really enjoyed this book and could totally relate to little Gabi, since I was a little girl who hated pink and especially hated the assumption that 'all girls love pink'. My little boy thought it was funny and since he likes pink a lot, he also found it interesting that his mom didn't like pink as a little girl. We happened to be visiting my mom when I downloaded the book, so all three of us had a nice discussion about getting gifts we don't like and how to tell someone about this in a nice way.
The only improvement to this solidly made storybook app would be a way to navigate within the book, like a home button or page guide. Overall this is a short but sweet little book with a well crafted story and nice educational content that is both relevant and engaging for youngsters.
[For iPhone version, click HERE]
All reviews are of the app, not the platform/device. Based originally on iPad versions. Minor technical details may vary.
Author/Illustrator:
Brooks Jones
Developer:
PicPocket Books
Length (time):
3 - 6 Minutes
Based on non-digital book: No
Allows Own Narration:
No
Uses Motion: No
Age: 3 - 8 +
Languages:
English •
Length (pages):
35 Pages
Gabi is a little girl that doesn't like pink. She receives a present from her grandmother, but is disappointed to find that it is a pink t-shirt. When her friend arrives, he asks about the gift and Gabi tells him angrily that it's pink. "But I thought ALL girls liked pink," says her friend.
Gabi goes on to explain that she prefers blue, because it makes her want to fly. Pink, on the other hand, just makes her mad, she says. Her friend has an idea, then, telling her that he likes pink and asks to try on the shirt. He loves the pink t-shirt and gives her his blue shirt in exchange.
Gabi realizes that pink is not so bad ... on her friend. She then writes her grandma a thank you letter telling her that the t-shirt will be worn a lot and that she will smile every time she sees it. Discussion questions follow about favorite colors and how to thank someone for a gift you don't like.
Orientation: Landscape
Format: iPad
Options:
Audio On/Off
App Release Date:
2011-04-29
Size: 16.2 MB
Version: 2.4.1
Lite Version Available: No