
This unique book takes the reader on a journey with a little boy dressed up in a dinosaur suit. "Dino Boy", as he is called, finds a mysterious slide that takes him on an imaginative escapade. Each page has interactive elements that react to a light tap, eliciting nice sound effects and slight animations.
When triggered, the interactive elements also allow the reader to move to the next page, including several points in the story where the reader gets to make choices that change the story slightly, like a digital 'choose-your-own-adventure.' The book is illustrated with a whimsical combination of photographs and hand-drawn cut-outs. The pages also scroll briefly over images in-between the main pages of the storybook. I would have liked to stop on these images or have them scroll much slower, but my little boy loved this effect.
A unique feature of this app is that the reader needs to engage with the book to keep the story moving. You must tap on something or complete some sort of interactive task on every page in order to reveal the next page turn arrow to continue the story. The interactive elements are very engaging, however they are not necessarily tied into the storyline. The font is also a bit hard to read at times in blue outlined in white. The narration is superb, although there is no highlighting as it is read.
The overall experience of this book is delightful, though, with a captivating storyline and unique digital presentaion. Great art and narration, along with a tale that can be a little different with every re-reading, make this a book children will come back to over and over.
All reviews are of the app, not the platform/device. Based originally on iPad versions. Minor technical details may vary.
Author/Illustrator:
Alex Thomas/Arnie Jorgensen
Developer:
Three Thumbs Up
Length (time):
8 - 12 Minutes
Based on non-digital book: No
Allows Own Narration:
No
Uses Motion: Yes
Age: 3 - 9
Languages:
English •
Length (pages):
20 Pages
Dino Boy is a little boy in a dinosaur suit who has just moved into a new house. While getting ready for bed he sees an amazing looking slide outside his window. He sneaks out of the house and goes down the mysterious slide only to find himself lost in a strange place. He meets lots of friends on his adventure (which varies depending on which choices the reader makes along the way).
Dino Boy can explore a toy store, playground or museum and choose to be helped by one of three animals in the pet store (parrot, cat or dog). Eventually his new friends help him find his way back, with a fun trip riding a friendly dinosaur across town. He ends up taking another slide and landing right back in his bedroom, just in time for breakfast the next morning.
Orientation: Landscape
Format: Universal
Options:
Read to Me, Read Myself, Links to: Web, Facebook
App Release Date:
2011-08-11
Size: 48.1 MB
Version: 002
Lite Version Available: No