Where Do Balloons Go ? An Uplifting Mystery

Overall : Where Do Balloons Go? An Uplifting Mystery is one of those apps where you just stop and go Wow!!  The illustrations and interactive capacity of the app will astound you. The app is only available on the iPad and requires iOS4.3 or later. It is rated at age 4+. 

 

The app is based on the book of the same name by author and actress Jamie Lee Curtis. Illustrated by Laura Cornell.

We all come across interactive apps on a regular basis and I for one am a huge fan of interactive story books. However I am at the point where I thought I was becoming hard to impress as I have seen so many now. Boy was I wrong. What I found in Where Do Balloons Go? takes interactivity to a whole new level. Just when you think there can't possibly be anymore fun in this book you turn the page and there is a whole new activity on the next one. It is impossible to not like this book.

At the beginning of the book we see a blue balloon floating off into the sky , after we are given the opportunity to touch the string ourselves and release it. From there we are brought on a journey of what does actually happen to balloons. We see newsreaders reporting from the scene, policeman putting out an alert and the list goes on. The user can slide their finger over the page and hear so many different voices, opinions and sounds.  You are also shown little arrows at the side of certain pages indicating that the page needs to be scrolled over a little bit further to see the full picture.

 

One of my favourite interactive features of the storybook app was where we are asked what happens if the balloon floats far away and ends up in a Helium House? My children squealed with delight at this one. The user is able to record their own voice and have it played back sounding as if they have inhaled helium.

 

The user is even given the option to write a postcard using their fingers to guide the ink. The postcard can even be emailed.

 

Your abilities at balloon shaping are put to the test when you are given the chance to blow into the iPad in order to inflate a balloon and form animal shapes with it. You are given step by step instructions as you go. I have to say I was not a master at this but my children made all sorts of interesting shapes.









If your children are fans of spotting images in the night sky then they will love the interactive star feature in this app where you get to join the stars up to form a shape.










One of my favourite features of the app was the Balloon Theatre. Here your child gets to create their own unique characters and record a mini stage performance. The ability to bring your own  characters to life is an exciting one for children of all ages.






If you are looking for an interactive storybook that will keep you children entertained for hours then this is the app for you. I can not recommend this app  enough .

If you would like to buy the app now please click on this link itunes. It is currently priced at $5.99 in the US iTunes store. The price may seem a little high to some but I believe it is worth every cent.

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