| A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS By Loud Crow Interactive Inc. Cost: $6.99 |
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I believe I’m part of a generation, a fairly broad generation, that when it comes time for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and especially Christmas, you become aware that at some point on TV they’ll be airing the Peanuts specials. Who can argue against watching “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” or “A Charlie Brown Christmas”? I grew up watching them, and now enjoy the opportunity to sit down and watch them with my children. The experience I get to share with my kids is becoming a bit more expanded now that Charlie Brown and company have started coming to iOS.
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” is what the name itself suggests. It is the iPad app (or iOS device of your choice) version of the television special, but comes with lots of interaction and extras beyond just the telling of the story. One of the first things I noticed, and loved about this app, is that the story is still narrated by Peter Robbins, and even includes the original voices from the original special, including Charlie Brown, Linus, and Lucy. The ability to interact with this app increases its appeal even more! There are objects that you can interact with on nearly every page, including the auditorium and ice rink. Bonuses include being able to play Schroeder’s piano, along with other surprises inside the app itself. Its nostalgia in your hand, on your screen, and it’s not even Christmas yet!
A Charlie Brown Christmas is available on iOS for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.
Features:
* Original dialogue from the 1965 animated classic
* Captivating narration by Peter Robbins, the original voice of Charlie Brown
* Charming soundtrack featuring music and sound effects from the original show
* Decorate your own Charlie Brown Christmas Tree
* Participate in the Lights and Display Contest to unlock rewards
* Educational features such as word and note highlighting to help improve reading and musical skills
* Hear individual words spoken with the tap of a finger
* Touch and drag objects to make them “spring” to life or tilt to watch them slide and move
* Objects that literally pop out of the page to delight you and your family!
* Bookmark reveals handy “table of contents” to jump to any page in the book
* Universal App means this will play on all of your Apple Devices
Why I like it
A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of those special memories, and special shows or item that takes me back to growing up. I always feel like a kid watching it, and having the opportunity to watch it with my kids the last few years has been great. Now there is an interactive app that they can interact with, and be able to grown and love this special just like I have, in a whole new way. The graphic look great, sharp and vibrant. Having the original voices just helps bring it to life. (Admit it, if you read a Peanuts cartoon, you hear the voices from the special. We all do!). I love the ability to interact with the app, slightly more than other storybook apps, and that helped hold the attention of my 2 and a half-year old longer then I think just a standard, “Read to You” storybook app would have. I’m not a huge fan of the price and don’t exactly feel like the amount offered in the app warrants the price tag, but I’m still giving the app 5 stars. I mean it’s A Charlie Brown Christmas! On your iPad (or iOS device of choice). Soon as I saw the app, I was buying it, $6.99 or not, and I think that’s what most people will do. The nostalgia alone is worth the price of admission.
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