(editor’s note: the SPDBN was not paid to do this review nor endorses this app. This is purely for informational purposes)
Little Lilly’s Touch Book is one of those interactive eBooks that Little Miss returns to again and again. What’s not to like? The writing is upbeat — with a rhythm and rhyme that gets stuck in your head. And the illustrations are oh-so-cute… But the best thing about this story? Little Lilly and Little Miss have one big thing in common: they’re both hypersensitive to textures on bare feet.
Little Lilly’s Touch Book Cover Screen
The creators of Little Lilly’s Touch Book, Extra Special Kids, talks about their apps (they have another, called “Zanny – Born to Run“), saying “approximately 17% of all children have some type of developmental disability, and the number is growing every day. We know that not all kids are the same, so each book addresses a different symptom, not a disorder. This way, our stories can benefit “typical” children who might have difficulties in one area while also helping kids diagnosed with learning disabilities.”
The app itself isn’t super high-tech. It takes the format of a story book that readers navigate by touching the arrows at the bottom of the screen. Each page features a different texture and is read aloud by a male narrator with highlights on the text to help early readers practice.
Sand is way too tickly!
Different pages offer different interactions. For example, on the “sand” page, you can tap different toys in the sand box to reveal hiding critters and play sound effects. Some pages have more interaction than others — but there’s always a fun surprise waiting. And of course, at four years old, that’s the main appeal to Little Miss!
As a parent, the things I like best are a main character my daughter can identify with and the sensory vocabulary that the book introduces. Lilly shows my daughter that she’s not alone — in fact, there are plenty of kids out there who have sensory issues.
Touching pebbles makes her cross!
And while Little Miss listens to Lilly’s story, she’s learning great vocabulary (like “sand feels tickly,” and “grass feels sharp”) that will help her to advocate for her own needs some day in the future.
At $2.99 in the iTunes Store (you can also get it for Kindle for $2.99), the book is a great addition to your electronic library. If Little Miss is any judge, you’ll see a lot of use from this app!
