16/6/2016 0 Comments New Star Soccer G-StoryThis interactive app story has been produced to compliment the very popular New Star Soccer game app and works in a similar way to adventure game books. The app is targeted at reluctant boy (and girl!) readers and although it does have interactive elements of game playing, it is very definitely a story first and foremost. My virtual soccer skills proved to be about as good as they are in real life but the skills sections are good fun and are well placed within the story without taking you away to a separate games section. You can choose to play for your favourite team and the story is short and pacy enough to keep kids engaged. It's been written by fantastic children's authors The 2 Steves and it would be a great addition to school or home iPads.
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An oldie but definitely a goodie today; you have probably heard of (and maybe even know off by heart....no? just me then!) Rod Campbell's book for younger children Dear Zoo, well Dear Santa is the festive reworking of it. Santa is trying to choose a presend to bring but rejects many for different reasons - the finger paints are too messy, the ball is too bouncy, the tiger mask is too scary etc Eventually after discarding all the unsuitable gifts he finally brings a pet - a lovely ginger cat. There's a piece of fake fur incorporated into the picture too so you can actually stroke the kitty. Little ones already familiar with Dear Zoo will find Dear Santa a delight and if they aren't familiar with Dear Zoo......why the heck not?!
6/6/2016 0 Comments Word Dance
I had fun afternoon yesterday playing with the new Word Dance app that had only just been released. Word Dance allows you to create word clouds in a good choice of shapes, or to fit a photo of your own, that you can then string together into an animation with added music. The finished video saves to your camera roll for use elsewhere. Your text can be typed in or you can use tweets from a particular Twitter user name or hashtag.You have the facility to change fonts, colours, set transition duration etc and the music is added from the music you have purchased from the iTunes store that is downloaded to the device in the Music app. The app is easy to navigate your way around and gives impressive results without too much work. At £2.29 the app is reasonably priced , I foresee I will be using it often!
15/4/2016 0 Comments Julian Fellowes's BelgraviaI have never been a fan of what is arguably Julian Fellowes greatest creation so far, Downton Abbey, but I have friends who find that incomprehensible. When I read that Mr Fellowes had a new app coming out therefore I wouldn't have been that interested until I realised that the app will be in the form of a story with chapters released bit by bit, one a week over 11 weeks with the first chapter being free to download. This concept is more intriguing so I have downloaded Belgravia on to my iPad. I have to say at first sight the app looks a little plain but I proceeded to read the first chapter anyway. I was pleased to see that the writing appears on an easy on the eye beige background and that you have the option to enlarge the font. Extra content on historical details, character sketches and maps are available throughout the text with slightly darker text indicating when these can be accessed, these subtle text colour changes can be a little difficult to pick out but if you miss them you can read them via the main menu. The story starts at the historic Duchess of Richmond's ball, the night before the battle of Waterloo and I found the added explanations about the actual events of 1815 very helpful to a non history lover like myself. You can either choose to read the text yourself or have it read to you, the audio is clear and the narrator, Juliet Stevenson, is an expressive reader. Unfortunately there does not appear to have the text in front of you whilst listening to the audio, this would have been useful. Further chapters will have to be purchased, either at a cost of £1.49 each or all ten episodes for £9.99. This seems a little expensive to me but hopefully Downton fans will consider it a bargain. Personally I like the concept and I enjoyed the first chapter and my inclination is to want to read on but I'm not convinced I would pay out this much in order to do so. 8/3/2016 0 Comments International Women's DayAs today is International Women's Day I've spent some of it thinking about the tweeting women whom inspire me - I've come up with the list below:
JK Rowling - anyone that knows me could probably have predicted this one, not only did JK write my favourite series of books of all time, she also made sure those books had very strong female characters and has remained 'human' - entering into dialogue on Twitter, visiting local libraries etc She is witty, caring and has raised a heck of a lot of money for charity, this lady has it all. Alice Oseman - an author with so much talent at such a young age that it's almost scary. I have just finished Radio Silence which is sensitively written, with an authentic teenage voice and a gripping story. Very much looking forward to reading all of her future books. Kate Wilson - founder and managing director of Nosy Crow publishers who produce fantastic children's books and apps. Using the word 'inspirational' to describe such an eloquent, creative woman seems a little hackneyed but this fangirl is struggling to find an alternative! Dr Sue Black - we are so not worthy! Sparky, campaigning and proving to the world day after day that yes, women can do tech and bloody well too. Sarah Crossan - Not just because One has an assured place in my top ten books but because listening to her rhapsodising about poetry is sheer pleasure - and very funny! - and would encourage more young (& more mature!) people to explore and enjoy the medium more frequently. Just a few, because I could go on for hours, I follow so many amazing women and I'd like to say thank you to all of them for bringing out my creative side, making me laugh, sometimes making me cry and generally enhancing my online life on a day to day basis. 3/1/2016 0 Comments 2015 Reading RoundupHappy New Year all! I am very pleased to have surpassed my GoodReads target of reading 120 books in 2015 (in fact I read 121) so now need to set myself a new challenge. I was going to make this post a list of my top 5 books of the year - but I can't possibly limit it to 5, will have to be 10! Here they are in no particular order, and they are not necessarily books published in this year, just books I have read: One, Sarah Crossan - this book stands out for me as the book that I have recommended to everyone and that probably made the most impression on me. Lyrical, beautifully written and so emotional, if you haven't read it yet go read it now! Concentr8, William Sutcliffe - an extremely powerful read that is scarily credible with some thought provoking extra reading on the subject of the over prescription of Ritalin etc. Twisted Dark Volume 1, Neil Gibson - I've started to read more graphic novels this year and intend to continue to do so in 2016 and Twisted Dark are going to help me with that. Hard hitting and not for younger children this was not always a comfortable read but gripping nonetheless. Clariel, Garth Nix - being drawn back into the world of the Abhorsen was an absolute delight, this prequel to a favourite series was like being given an unexpected present Reasons to Stay Alive, Matt Haig - an important, sensitive description of Matt's struggle with depression that is both uplifting and comforting. I've requested this as my book to give out on World Book Night, fingers are firmly crossed. (very honourable mention to A Boy Named Christmas too which is destined to be a December read for me for many years to come). Monster, CJ Skuse - the one that kept me awake at night and gave me nightmares! Tense, scary and set in a boarding school (reminiscent for me of Mallory Towers!), what's not to like?! Demon Road, Derek Landy - first YA title from the always sarcastically amusing creator of Skulduggery. Read this in one greedy gulp and will will go back and reread. Darkly funny but bloodthirsty too. Because you'll never meet me, Leah Thomas - debut novel and very unusual story of a friendship built on letters that sustains and is a lifeline for two 'different' teenage boys. Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar, Emily Mackenzie - my favourite picture book of the year. Ralfy Rabbit is obsessed with books, he just can't get enough of them and this leads him into a life of crime when he starts to steal other peoples. He's 'saved' by a library - of course! Eren, Simon P Clark - Gorgeous book about the very nature of story and the impact it can have on life. Narrowing down to just 10 books has been ridiculously difficult and I must give a hat tip to a couple of others that didn't quite get into the lineup, Cleo, Lucy Coats & Mind Games, Teri Terry that I thoroughly enjoyed too ;-) My reading resolution is quite a simple one - read......more! and I'm looking forward to discovering more fantastic books in 2016. |
AuthorMy blog is a collection of thoughts and I hope you will learn something about me from the ramblings as well as finding some useful links. I'm Bev Humphrey and I'm a Literacy, School Libraries and Technology Consultant. I am self employed so views expressed are solely my own. CategoriesAll Android Apps Authors Bett Book Giving Day Books Cats Childrens Books Christmas Christmas Challenge Conferences Dickens Dyslexia English Games Geography Graphic Novels Images Inspiration International Women's Day Ipad Ipad For Education Libraries London Mfl Picture Books Podcasts Poetry Poetry Day Primaries Reading Resources Revision Twitter Urls Video Visits Wbd Wordcloud Wordle Workshops Write Path Writers Writing YA Youtube |