Loopimal, Miximal, and Drawminal are all proof positive that YATATOY’s dedication to “making playful tools to inspire creativity and creation” is working. In a video, Lucas Zanotto, founder of YATATOY, talks about his vision and these digital toys that he suggests are “in an abstract way, programming.” The developer’s most recent production, Bandimal, won’t disappoint. Allison Tran reviews it below.

YATATOY is at it again with a musical app that will be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Designed in a palette of pastel colors and populated with quirky animated creatures, Bandimal ( iOS, $3.99 ; PreS & Up) taps into patterning and sequencing concepts as they relate to composing music. As with the developer’s other productions, this one offers an instruction-free exploratory experience.

Users are invited to jump right in, tapping and swiping to create unique melodies and rhythms using animal avatars such as llamas, pandas, yaks, chickens, and snakes. The creatures twist, bounce, stretch, and jump at users’ discretion, each motion corresponding to a specific sound. With a simple dashboard of shapes and colors, viewers can adjust the rhythm, add percussion, and tinker endlessly with their compositions. The finished product is automatically saved within the app for children to proudly revisit and reflect on. A note in the “info” section states, “There is no right or wrong.” Indeed, that sense of creative freedom is empowering here. The app is designed so that any combination of sounds is harmonious, imparting a satisfying self-confidence in a child’s ability to compose music. (Adults within earshot will be pleased, too.) Bandimal is a perfect next step for children who have already mastered Toca Boca’sToca Band and seek something a little more versatile and complex. VERDICT A surefire hit with music lovers and STEM enthusiasts.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

For additional app reviews, visit School Library Journal’s dedicated app webpage .