So appy! New My Very Own Name iPad app!

The world of children’s book publishing is changing, as the iPad and other tablets allow publishers to take customization and interactivity to a whole new level.

We are SO APPY to announce the release of our very first personalized iPad app, My Very Own Name! The app is based on our award-winning My Very Own Name personalized storybook. This innovative app changes the story and even the illustrations each time, depending on the child’s name that is entered. This level of extreme customization, accompanied by interactivity and learning, is a sign of what our newest generation of children will come to expect of their bedtime story.

In the My Very Own Name app, a forest of animals comes alive, and animal characters bring letters one by one to spell out the child’s very own name in rhyme. The child has the fun of catching the letters of his or her name as they appear from behind trees and rocks in the scenes of rolling hills. Throughout this beautifully illustrated story, the child is encouraged to trace the letters of his or her name, find hidden animals to add to his or her interactive zoo, and learn fun facts about animals.

I wrote the My Very Own Name book ten years ago to celebrate the uniqueness of each child, and to teach children letter recognition and how to spell their names. Allan and I wanted to extend the experience of our classic book by creating an interactive app for toddlers and preschoolers, to bring the book alive and encourage the child to read the book over and over again by making it fun as well as educational.

Allan and I connected with our digital partner to develop the My Very Own Name app in the spring of 2011. It was an exciting, fun and highly creative experience. Our eldest son, Austin, even got involved in the development process and helped contribute ideas and enhancements to the app, such as the “my Zoo” area.

Our team also met with Amy Susman-Stillman, Ph.D. and Co-director of the Center for Early Education and Development (CEED) and the University of Minnesota to ensure the app was reviewed from a child-development perspective. Amy loved the app and said, “I’m careful when it comes to how technology plays a role in the lives of young children. Here, I am impressed with what I See Me! has created to extend the pre-literacy learning opportunities for young children.  The My Very Own Name app gives toddlers and preschoolers the opportunity to explore the letters of their name in fun, engaging ways so that they will be motivated to keep on learning the alphabet and the wonderful world of words.  Parents looking for an age-appropriate educational app to promote pre-literacy skills will be pleased with the My Very Own Name app.”

The app can be downloaded for $4.99 on the Apple store at: http://itunes.apple.com/app/my-very-own-name/id476463738?mt=8  We are SO APPY about this new release. And, we hope you come and get appy with us too!