Learn about musical instruments in this jazzy story!

Young music lovers (and their parents) are in for a treat with A Jazzy Day: Swinging with the BIG BAND ... an animated, interactive and enriching musical tale about one hip cat 'dad' taking his cool-cat kittens to see the big band play. All of the musicians are animated animal characters, beautifully illustrated and instructive as they demonstrate each of their instruments. Learn about the different sections of the band, from rhythm to horns and even the role of the conductor.

This tale is simple but well-crafted, describing the sounds and images that make up complex jazz melodies. When they meet the raccoon playing the bass, it says, "Close your eyes, do you hear the bass walking?" The sound quality in this app is stellar, making it possible to listen and learn. The game included is a quiz where readers are asked to find different instruments by listening and looking - a well designed and thoughtful addition to this lovely storybook. There is also a 'Learn' section, where children can tap on any of the dozen instruments to hear more about them.

As a digital title, this app is solidly made and has ample settings to navigate via a home button, page guide and easy menu settings. Links that leave the app are nicely tucked away in the 'info' area and you can read this title in either English or Spanish by changing the language in the settings menu of your device. Light animation and interactive elements do a nice job enhancing the storyline, although may be a bit overstimulating for bedtime reading. The font is easy-to-read and nicely narrated, although it does not highlight.

Overall, this is an exceptional app that is a 'must download' for early elementary music education. Children (and even many adults), will learn a lot about the intricate sounds that make up big band jazz, cultivating a love of music. Easy to use by even the youngest music aficionado, this app is the ultimate musical journey for little ears. Highly recommended!

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