OM is featuring some great Smithsonian apps. They quite a few title in some great collections that are sure to draw in children with a wide range of interests.
A few of the titles are
- It’s Tyrannosaurus Rex – Smithsonian’s Prehistoric Pals
- Ladybug at Orchard Avenue – Smithsonian’s Backyard
- Otter on His Own – Smithsonian Oceanic Collection
I was drawn to the Polar Bear Horizon – Smithsonian Oceanic Collection immediately. It follows a mother polar bear and her two hungry cubs as they set out in search of food after a long winter in their den. Along the way she teaches them to hunt and has an encounter with a large male polar bear.
Polar Bear Horizon has beautiful illustrations that interact with young readers. I appreciated that The Smithsonian reviewed the story for accuracy. There is a fact section about polar bears to extend the learning value of this app. I could see this really appealing to older kids, especially those who are detail oriented.
Unfortunately, this was a bit lost on my 3 ½ year old go-go-go son and I would say that the age guideline of 3-8 is stretching it a bit. I think the higher side of the range would be able to better understand and enjoy all the great features and information packed into this app. As with all apps there is a read-along and read-to-me feature but Polar Bear Horizon also has an Autoplay which plays a bit more like a movie.
Visit Oceanhouse Media to find out more about Polar Bear Horizon and other great Smithsonian titles.
Tennille lives in the Great White North with her hubby and two sons. She enjoys sleep but is learning to appreciate caffeine as a perfectly viable substitute.