The Princess and the Frog Read-Along for iPad

The Princess and the Frog Read-Along

July 28, 2011

Disney brings the story of The Princess and The Frog to life in this ebook, pairing animated clips from the feature film alongside a nicely abridged version of the movie's plot. For lovers of princess stories, this app is a real treat that includes much more than a book, providing lots of entertainment for young readers.

Animated scenes from the movie are interspersed throughout this interactive title, making this storybook stand out from many of the other movie-themed book apps. The tappable sound effects & additional dialogue from the characters are also nicely tailored to expand on the story's plot. Learner readers will appreciate that the text highlights as read and parents will appreciate that autoplay disables the interactive features. You can also record your own narration or put the book in 'read myself' mode.

Several pages within the book have icons for the painting page, puzzle or mini-game feature, taking the child into another activity bundled within the story (and also accessible from the main menu at the bottom of every page). The two mini games consist of "Facilier's Fortune" (choose 3 cards & get an uplifting fotune) and "Firefly Chase" (a speed-tapping game where you try to tap all of the hopping fireflies before the time runs out).

There are also five puzzles with three difficulty levels, plus five 'painting' pages based on scenes in the storybook. In addition to the movie clips bundled within the book's pages, there are two full songs included, "Almost There" and "Dig a Little Deeper". This musical feature showcases each song alongside a small inset screen with animated clip to go along with the lyrics, which also highlight as they are sung.

As a digital title, the book is solidly made with lots of simple settings like a page-guide, auto-play and ways to 'keep in touch' with Disney. Page turn is by arrows and the text is in an easy-to-read font for young readers on their own. Overall this is a movie-themed title that is packed with extras and sure to please the fussiest princess on your list.

[A youtube clip of this book was unavailable so the clip below is a trailer for the movie.]

All reviews are of the app, not the platform/device. Based originally on iPad versions. Minor technical details may vary.

Author/Illustrator:
Disney Digital Books

Developer:
Disney Publishing Worldwide Applications

Length (time):
15 - 30 Minutes

Based on non-digital book: No

Allows Own Narration:
Yes

Uses Motion: No

Age: 3 - 8

Languages:
English •

Length (pages):
26 Pages

Story Synopsis - The Princess and the Frog Read-Along

This digital book tells the tale from the movie, The Princess & The Frog in an abridged form. Plot synopsis courtesy of Wikipedia:

Tiana is a young inhabitant of 1926 New Orleans. She has held a passion for the culinary arts since childhood, and works two jobs in order to save money and eventually open her own restaurant. Charlotte La Bouff, a débutante and childhood friend of Tiana, hires her to provide refreshments for the Mardi Gras masquerade ball being thrown by her rich daddy, Eli La Bouff. Eli, the perennial King of the Mardi Gras, seeks to welcome Prince Naveen of Maldonia, who has recently arrived, as an eligible suitor to his pampered daughter. Tiana is thrilled to finally have enough to purchase and renovate an old sugar mill into her restaurant.

The disinherited Prince Naveen, penniless and unskilled, is nevertheless intent on marrying a wealthy woman, rather than learning a trade. He and his valet Lawrence encounter Dr. Facilier, a voodoo witch doctor who convinces the pair that he can improve both their lives. Instead, Facilier transforms Naveen into a frog and gives Lawrence a voodoo charm, filled with Naveen's blood, which when worn transforms his appearance to that of Naveen's. Facilier intends for Lawrence, under the guise of Naveen, to marry Charlotte in order to gain access to her father’s fortune.

At the ball, Charlotte flirts with Lawrence as Tiana discovers she may lose the mill to a higher bidder. Tiana then meets Naveen, who, believing her to be a princess because of her costume, asks her to kiss him and break Facilier's curse. Tiana agrees, in exchange for the money needed to outbid the other buyer. However, instead of Naveen turning into a human, Tiana is turned into a frog herself. Naveen and Tiana escape to a bayou.

Lawrence later proposes to Charlotte, who happily agrees, but soon the magic in Facilier's charm wears off and Lawrence reverts to his original form. Facilier tells Lawrence they need another sample of the prince's blood in order to prolong the spell, but discovers that Lawrence had foolishly released him. Facilier turns to the voodoo gods for help, with the promise that once Lawrence marries Charlotte, he will have total control over New Orleans and will be able to offer the citizens' souls as payment. The voodoo gods give Facilier shadow demons, who are then dispatched to locate Naveen.

At the bayou, Tiana and Naveen meet Louis, a trumpet-playing alligator, and Ray, a Cajun firefly. Louis and Ray offer to lead them to the good voodoo priestess Mama Odie, who they believe can undo the curse. Mama Odie tells the frogs that Naveen must kiss a true princess for them to become human. They determine that since Eli La Bouff is King of Mardi Gras, it follows that Charlotte is a princess. The quartet return to New Orleans in order to find Charlotte before Mardi Gras ends, at the stroke of midnight. Tiana and Naveen realize that they love each other but before they can admit their feelings, Naveen is captured and brought to Facilier.

Before Lawrence (disguised as Naveen) and Charlotte can marry, Ray helps Naveen escape and steals the charm. Ray gives the charm to Tiana in order to hold back Facilier's minions, but is killed by Facilier. Facilier then confronts Tiana and offers to make her restaurant dream come true in exchange for the charm, but she refuses and destroys it. The angered voodoo spirits claim Facilier himself as payment for his debts and drag him into hell.

Tiana and Naveen reveal their love to each other and explain the situation to Charlotte, who agrees to kiss Naveen. Unfortunately, the clock strikes midnight before she can kiss him, but the two decide they are content to live together as frogs. After a funeral is held for Ray, Tiana and Naveen are wed by Mama Odie. Because of Tiana's new status as princess, they are restored back to human form after their kiss. The couple return to New Orleans to celebrate and, with Louis's help, finally buy and open the new restaurant.

$3.99

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