Ice is Nice

$5.99, iPad

Teaches: reading, science, ecology

CTR Rating: 90%

CTR Review

Here's another solid addition to the Oceanhouse Media's "The Cat in the Hat�s Learning Library." Ice is Nice is designed to introduce basic science concepts, and reading. In the story, you climb aboard the SS Ice Chopper for an expedition to the North and South Poles to explore Seussian depictions of geography and native animals. Children can touch interactive diagrams to explore topics including how the Earth moves around the sun and affects the seasons, or how specially designed hairs keep the polar bear warm. There are two ways to read this omBook: Read to Me lets you listen to the narrated story with words highlighted as they are read; and Read it Myself lets you read the book in its traditional form. Other features include animated objects and instant glossary words; individual word highlighting (as the story is read) and words that zoom up when pictures are touched. Weaknesses include an inability to easily move around such a long book (e.g., to get to a specific page in the middle, you have to flip through every page). See the CTR review here: http://youtu.be/qMWyB6JmcfY