1. All of the Dr. Suess apps ($1.99-$8.99)
The Dr. Suess books have been masterfully redesigned for the iPad. The narration is engaging and interesting, and the app zooms in and out of illustrations, creating a thoroughly engaging reading experience. There are options for the books to be read aloud to your child, or she can read them on her own, tapping individual words for reading help. Children of all ages and reading abilities are captivated by these amazing ebooks. My personal favorites are Green Eggs and Ham ($3.99), The Lorax ($4.99), and How the Grinch Stole Christmas ($4.99).
2. Toy Story (FREE!)
This app, in which an engaging narrator tells the story of Toy Story 1, engages children of all ages in reading. It includes games, a sing-along, and coloring activities in addition to the story. I have seen students read this book again and again. And the best part of all – it’s totally free!
3. Phonics Genius (FREE!)
This free app includes stacks of cards for hundreds of different letter blends. Your child can go through them and practice reading letter patterns. You can set it to read the words automatically, or have your child practice first and then have the words read to him. Then you can create your own cards based on the examples in the app, and practice phonics in a myriad of new ways. This is a great way to learn phonics and spelling!
4. Book Creator ($4.99)
With this app, your child (or you) can create new ebooks on any topic. Choose a topic to research, read about it with Safari (or check out books from the library) and then have your child create his or her very own ebook about the topic. You can customize the page and font colors, and findphotos from your iPad photo library to include in your book. This is a fun way to do research, write, and read!