Gro Book knows no bounds
Educate children about the three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle with Gro Book, a US$3.99 universal book app about making responsible choices. Imaginative stories are told, in 24 different ways, by Sophie the Sweater, in this wonderfully illustrated and voiced app.
Readers are treated to a choose-your-own-adventure style of story telling when the story reaches a part where they are asked to make a choice that will ultimately decide the fate of Sophie the Sweater as well as her adventures. How many different uses are there for an ordinary sweater? You'll have to tap and read along to find out!
Settings include the ability to toggle text and narration on or off. Read it out loud or listen to a pleasantly narrated voice with a broad range of characters to keep it interesting. Gro Book is rated for children ages four and up. Just like Sophie the Sweater, this app can be "altered" to make it more versatile. Turn narration and text off for younger readers to make it a wordless picture book where they can tell the story. Turn text on, but leave narration off to help build literacy skills for older readers.
Younger children may have the tendency to choose the same character over and over and then get bored with the story, so a little guidance may help in the beginning. There are many interesting characters from which to choose in the course of exploring this book. Kids become more engaged in the learning process when they are given choices, so play it up. If the choice is made to put Sophie the Sweater into the garbage, the reader can go back and make a different, more responsible choice.
Gro Book's specs even keep up with the theme of reduce, reuse, recycle because as a universal app, it is compatible with iOS 4.3 or later meaning it will run on older, re-purposed devices while still being optimized for iPhone 5. Instead of leaving that old iPod touch to die in a forgotten drawer somewhere, install this book on it for a young reader to enjoy.
Gro Book will grow on you and make you think twice about throwing things away. What can you re-purpose around your home? Be sure to check out Gro Play's range of eco-educational apps including Gro Garden.
