Ellison the Elephant

Review

Common Sense Media says

Sweet character shows kids that it's great to be unique.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the storybook app Ellison the Elephant encourages kids to feel OK about being different, especially if they have a different voice or aren't considered a "good" singer, and it shows what the support of one caring adult can do in a kid's life. The sound that comes out of Ellison's trunk isn't the same as all the other young elephants. With his mom's encouragement and the support of his imaginary friend, Ellison sees that his sound is not only OK, it's great in its own unique way. Like most Oceanhouse Media storybook apps, this story is beautifully illustrated and can be read by a narrator or read by kids themselves.

  • Ease of use4
    Very easy to play. Kids are given prompts for how to "turn" the pages or "tap pictures," or "tap and hold words or paragraph" if you want it repeated again. Finding which images on the screen will make sounds when tapped is by trial and error.
  • Violence0
    Not applicable.
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
  • Language0
    Not applicable.
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Is it any good?

 

The message that ELLISON THE ELEPHANT sends to kids about self-acceptance and uniqueness is told in a sweet, non-preachy way. While the artwork is beautiful to look at and the story is engaging, it may be a little long for some younger kids to get through in one sitting, especially since interactivity is limited compared to other apps. Just as with paper books, it's OK to read part of a storybook app and come back for more later, especially when it's as good as Ellison's story. This story's message about learning to love your own "voice,"  whether it be the actual sound that comes out of one's mouth or, more generally, how one relates to the world, is something most kids and adults can appreciate.

This review was written by Dana Villamagna

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This review was written by Dana Villamagna
Topics:wild animals
Category:Books
Platforms:iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire
Price:$1.99
Size:19.40 MB
Publisher:Oceanhouse Media
Version:1.08
Release date:January 4, 2012
Minimum software requirements:iOS 3.2 or later
This review was written by Dana Villamagna
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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