The Complete Fairytale Play Theater

PreS-Gr 4—Fans of the developer known for its modern retellings of classic stories can now create their own tales featuring Nosy Crow's cast of characters. After selecting one of six stories from the company's collection, children choose a setting from a menu bar. The 10 possible locations include a castle, cottages, a beanstalk, and a forest, among others; all are illustrated in vibrant colors. To add figures, viewers tap and drag them onto the screen. Mixing and matching characters and creatures from different stories is possible, allowing kids to create fractured fairy tales. An array of props provide story accessories, while one of the 11 options for background music will set the mood. The app is easy to navigate, but short tutorials are available. Children can narrate and record their stories, moving the figures about as they do so. In the finished products, the characters' mouths move to the recorded words, providing a cinematic feel to the tales. Older children may want to add multiple scenes to create more complex stories. Completed tales are saved within the app, but currently there is no way to share the stories outside the environment. Verdict The Complete Fairytale Play Theater is a superb storytelling tool that encourages children to express themselves, and it's likely to draw repeat visits from those who love to write, imagine, and perform.—Cathy Potter, Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, ME