
Naughty Pony is a fun interactive storybook app about a little girl and her not-so-nice pony. It is produced by a UK based company that has been making educational software for children since 1999. They work closely "with the Bristol Dyslexia Centre to ensure that all the Nessy titles are especially helpful for dyslexics." This book has a very funny storyline with just the right emphasis on potty-humor (poop, gas, etc.) and bad behavior to make little ones giggle.
Every page in this book has light animations and sound effects that are triggered with the tap of a finger as well as a nice variety of things to do. You can help feed the pony, clean his mane, pick rocks out of this feet, brush him and even try to lure him back with carrots. The narration starts by tapping on the text and is presented by a young sounding female narrator with a crisp British accent.
The book is solidly made and has easy page turning in a smooth-swipe style that is a little different than a lot of other books in the app store ... just make a smooth movement across the page (instead of the usual quick swipe) and the page turn follows your finger. There is also a nice extra at the end of the book with a picture of the pony and the option to groom, water, feed or color the animal on different backgrounds, along with the option to email the picture to someone.
Overall, this is a delightful little title, although a bit too interactive for bedtime reading. It has very funny illustrations and a dry humor to the storyline that might be over the youngest listener's heads but will surely amuse older readers.
All reviews are of the app, not the platform/device. Based originally on iPad versions. Minor technical details may vary.
Author/Illustrator:
Net Educational Systems Ltd
Developer:
Nessy
Length (time):
12 - 20 Minutes
Based on non-digital book: No
Allows Own Narration:
No
Uses Motion: Yes
Age: 3 - 8
Languages:
English •
Length (pages):
22 Pages
A little girl has a pony that she cares for by getting up early to muck out the stable, feed him and care for his feet. She even grooms his mane with a brush and uses a 'curry comb' and 'dandy brush' to get the dirt out of his hide. But the pony isn't perfect, sleeping in piles of poo and even stepping on her food clumsily. He even kicks her when she's standing behind him to get the tangles out of his tale and gets bad gas right as she brushes his bottom.
When she tries to put his bit on, he makes it more difficult by looking up and then holding in too much air when she tries to tighten his saddle. Finally she gets him out for a ride! But the naughty pony coughs, shakes and throws her off before returning to a mud bath and running off to the other side of the field. She lures him back with carrots but this snack doesn't deter him from eating out of the flower bed later on her ride. Ultimately she loves him though, since he is a champion, getting a 1st place ribbon despite his difficult behavior.
Orientation: Landscape
Format: Universal
Options:
Page Guide, Narration On/Off, Web, FB, Twitter & AppStore Links
App Release Date:
2011-01-27
Size: 188.3 MB
Version: 1.1
Lite Version Available: No