Seuss, Dr.: How the Grinch Stole Christmas [TSS]

Oceanhouse Media © 2009

Note: Review copy received from publisher.

This isn't a review of the Dr. Seuss classic per se but of an edition of the book for the iPhone/iPod Touch just released by Oceanhouse Media. The book can be downloaded from the iTunes app store for (currently) $3.99. When you enter the app you arrive at a welcome screen that offers two alternatives: you can either have the book read to you or read it yourself. If you choose the former option, a pleasant, expressive male voice with an English accent will read the current page. The words in the text turn red as he says them, so young readers can follow along. The pages don't turn automatically, but one swipes right to left or left to right to go forward or back in the text. If you select the read it yourself option, a reader who is stuck on a word can still choose to have that page read to them: you just touch the text and the same narrator will read that page's content. Again, the words will turn red as the narrator reads them.

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Comments

[Frances]

1.

This is awesome! Thanks so much for sharing. More than worth $3.99. Now I wonder how many other books are available this way. Will check it out when I go to buy this. Happy reading!

[Debra Hamel]

2.

I'm glad you liked it! It is a neat idea. We have something comparable on an old Mac...game, I guess. It's Green Eggs and Ham, but with animation rather than static images, and you can read it yourself or have it read to you. So, a similar thing, and my girls always liked that. The move to iPod/iPhone makes a lot of sense.

[debnance]

3.

The Grinch has to be one of my all-time favorite reads. Christmas time or not. A fantastic story.