Flight of the Pamplemousse for iPad - Digital Storytime's Review

Our Overall rating: 3.75

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Flight of the Pamplemousse

September 28, 2011

Flight of the Pamplemousse is an original iPad tale told in rhyming verse about a boy who dreams about a mythical creature called the "Pamplemousse". He overhears a story half in French that includes a reference to grapefruit or 'pamplemousse' while he is falling asleep, causing him to imagine a fanatastic adventure with a giant Moose-like creature with wings.

This night-time dreaming adventure features beautiful, although almost hypnotic, narration in a crisp British accent. The story may be over many of the youngest readers heads, although my Kindergartner understood it best when I read it to him aloud with different pacing and emphasis, asking questions along the way. The app also features gorgeous and dreamy illustrations by Archie Valdez.

The app is solidly made with intuitive settings that include easy arrow page turning, a clear but small font and home button. A page guide and highlighting as the book is narrated would be nice features to see added in a future update. The app is also not interactive or animated in any way, making it much more like a simple iBook offering.

Overall this is a deligtful tale about inter-generational storytelling, the dreaming imagination and the whimsy of taking a foreign word out of context. It does take a bit of concentration to follow the storyline, making it ideal for older readers. I look forward to sharing it someday soon with my son's French grandmother, as it is a story that would be particularly charming to speakers of both English & French.

Note: You can find a FREE teachers guide for using this app in the classroom or homeschool setting here: http://www.whynocerosapps.com/teachers-guide-flight-of-the/

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

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Flight of the Pamplemousse

September 28, 2011

By: Carisa Kluver

Our Overall rating:

Rating: 3.75

Our editorial rating – an impression of the whole book overall. We also consider how the app compares to other apps currently available. Note: It is not a sum of the other ratings.
User Rating:

Rating: 4 (from 1 votes)

The average rating from users signed into the Digital-Storytime.com site (who checked the 'own it' box).
Animation:

None

Rating: N/A

We consider both technical & visual appeal of the animated elements. We focus on quality rather than quantity, although very little animation will rate slightly lower on this scale (to allow proper sorting).
Audio Quality:

Rating: 4.5

Overall quality of audio elements. We consider whether the music & sound effects are easy to listen to and well-matched to the story. Narration, when present, should be clear & well-articulated.
Interactivity:

None

Rating: N/A

We consider all the interactive elements of a book app. We look for interactivity that is well-matched to the story & engaging but mark down for interactivity that interfere with reading comprehension.
Re-readability:

Rating: 3.5

Overall value the app can offer, either as a book app that can occupy the reader for hours or a story that will be returned to for many re-reads. We do not take price into consideration, since it often changes.
Bedtime:

Rating: 3.75

We consider length (under 10 minutes is ideal), enhancements & extras (ideally not too overstimulating), as well as story content that is appropriate for children at night-time.
Educational:

Rating: 3.5

Overall educational value. We consider enhancements, added content (like reading comprehension questions or other suggested activities) and any unique educational value that makes the app stand out.
Originality:

Rating: 4.5

We consider the story, art, concept, design & execution of the app. Apps based on folktales & previously published titles will score lower unless they have a unique presentation.
Games/Puzzles/Extras:

None

Rating: N/A

We consider anything in the app that goes beyond the story, like games, puzzles, coloring pages, etc. High ratings in this category mean the extras are well made, engaging and have high replay value.

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Author/Illustrator:
Gabriel Nadel/Archie Valdez

Developer:
Whynoceros LLC

Length (time):
10 - 15 Minutes

Based on non-digital book: No

Allows Own Narration:
No

Uses Motion: No

Age: 6 - 10

Languages:
English •

Length (pages):
26 Pages

Story Synopsis - Flight of the Pamplemousse

A young boy falls asleep while listening to tall tales that include references in French to a tree full of pamplemousse or grapefruit. As a result the boy begins to dream about a giant anthropomorphized Moose with wings called the "Pamplemousse". After taking a night flight with his new friend, the boy meets a group of dancing Pamplemousse in the forest that speak a language that sounds 'half-French' ...

As the boy and his new friends sit down to a meal, he is startled from his dream to hear "They're just so delicious those ripe Pamplemousse. And those we don't finish, we'll squeeze into juice." He finds himself in bed, realizing that he was dreaming. When Madam Froupon offers the boy a fresh glass of grapefruit juice in the kitchen, saying, "There's really just nothing like fresh pamplemousee." The story ends with the boy asking for a glass of orange juice instead, just to be on the safe side.

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Orientation: Landscape

Format: iPad

Options:

Read to Me, Read Myself, Instructions, Home, Audio Play/Pause

App Release Date:
2011-08-09

Size: 15.7 MB

Version: 1.0

Lite Version Available: No