Best holiday apps for kids
- Charlie Brown Christmas comes to iOS devices, Android, and Kindle
- 'Make a Scene' lets kids explore their creative side with stickers
- 'Toca Hair Salon' lets kids cut and style Santa's hair
Downloading these holiday apps can help to put your kids into a festive mood. From stories to games to activities, these apps will add a little sparkle to your holiday glow.
BEST HOLIDAY BOOK APPS
Crab Hill Press LLC, best for ages 3-8, $2.99 for iPad.
Rating: 4 stars (out of 4)
Bill Doyle's tale about learning to wait to open presents is a hilarious addition to any family's holiday reading. In this book app, presents need time to percolate; so when 8-year-old Seymour sneaks a peek at his presents before Christmas, he finds wacky, unfinished versions of prized gifts. For example, the skates' wheels aren't done growing; so they appear as pizza cutters, slicing through the carpet and the Christmas tree. Kids help Seymour to wrangle the gifts back into their boxes by playing music. With pull-tabs on each page to create surprising and funny animations, this book is a silly and delightful holiday romp.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Loud Crow Interactive Inc., best for ages 4-up, $4.99 for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Nook, Kindle Fire
Rating: 4 stars
Based on the classic TV special, this story about Charlie Brown is presented as a pop-up book. The app entices children to explore each page by rewarding their touches with delightful interactivity, including turning white dots of snow into beautiful snowflakes. A gifted narrator tells this story about learning the true meaning of Christmas. The iconic voice of Charlie Brown, delivered by Peter Robbins, the actor who voiced him in the TV version, adds to this app's artistry. This is a wonderful story to share as a family.
The Nutcracker Musical Storybook
Mouse King Media, best for ages 5-up, $2.99 for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
Rating: 3 stars
For children who have seen The Nutcracker Ballet, this is an enchanting rendition, presented as app. More movie than interactive book, this app allows children to watch the story told with original artwork done by Yoko Tanaka. Her hand-painted illustrations are breathtaking, presenting a beautifully detailed and somewhat ethereal art style. As the story of the ballet unfolds in animations, children listen to Tchaikovsky's musical score. While words appear on the pages to explain the story, there is no narration; and the app has limited interactivity. Even so, this is a magical experience for those who enjoy listening to the music while watching a unique version of the story being shown. Don't miss the Waltz of the Flowers, where gorgeous flowers slowly open to reveal the fairies.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! - Dr. Seuss
Oceanhouse Media, best for ages 3-8, $4.99 for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
Rating: 3.5 stars
Dr. Seuss' beloved holiday story about the Grinch transfers well into an app. With a fabulous narrator and some light animation, this classic story delivers a rambunctious holiday tale about the Grinch trying to keep Christmas from coming. With three ways to explore the story — Read to Me, Read it Myself and Auto Play (where it plays like a movie) — this is an app young kids can enjoy alone or with others. New to the iOS version is the ability to make your own recording and then share it with others.
GAMES AND HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
Make a Scene: Christmas
Innivo Ltd., best for ages 3-6, Free for iPad, $.99 for iPhone, iPod Touch
Rating: 3.5 stars
A virtual sticker book, this app lets kids explore their creative side. Using drag-and-drop interactions, kids can create holiday scenes filled with Santa, his reindeer, Christmas trees (which you can decorate, one ornament at a time) and shimmering lights. The app cleverly allows for multi-touch, so that siblings can have fun together. And each scene can be saved to the iPad's photos for sharing and/or printing. What makes these stickers so much fun is that many animate and make sounds when touched. Plus, for young kids, a voice-over identifies each sticker; so the app can teach vocabulary.
Toca Hair Salon - Christmas Gift
Toca Boca AB, best for ages 3-7, Free for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Rating: 3.5 stars
With this fun, free app, kids can cut, style and color Santa's beard and hair. Want him to have a beard of red and green stripes? — no problem. How about making his hair stand up in spikes? You can easily do that, too. In addition to the Santa silliness, the app also lets kids style the "hair" of an animated Christmas tree, by painting its branches different colors and then hanging ornaments and presents on them. If your kids enjoy this free app, you might want to check out "Toca Hair Salon 2," which has more characters and things to do.
Christmas' Matching for kids
Alexandre Minard, best for age 3-8, $1.99, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (plus a separate HD version)
Rating 3.5 stars
Kids play with Santa, reindeer, gingerbread cookies, ornaments, candy canes and more in this beautiful memory matching game. Presented in three levels of difficulty, kids turn over tiles found in a grid to find matching items. Each item makes a sound, which adds to the holiday fun.
Jinny Gudmundsen is the author of the upcoming book:iPad Apps for Kids, part of the For Dummies series. Contact her at techcomments@usatoday.com.