My kids are IN LOVE with the world of Elfishki Fairy Tale apps! Truth be told, so am I! We’ve got all three that are currently out, and we’re looking forward to whatever new ones come out!

Have you heard of Elfishki? It’s an amazing series designed to teach elementary school-aged kids reading skills. The stories are created so that the kids can look through the images, and make predictions of what the story is about. Then the kids can set off to read the stories.

Each page of these books has questions, so that children learn to analyze, not just “read” to get the reading done. It’s all about conscious reading skills, so your child is developing intellectually, and culturally.

Now, my daughter is new to reading. She’s in first grade now, and many books I’m still reading to her. However, she is getting more interested, and has found these particular books to be something to look forward to. It’s like watching a movie, but mommy’s reading a book. Her favorite part is when she gets to touch the iPad screen, to see what’s animated within the book. She loves it.

My son, who is only in Pre-Kindergarten, loves the games that come with the books. That’s right, it’s not just about reading!!! Interactive games teaches him, without him actually realizing it.

Right now there are three stories that can be downloaded to your iPad: Elfishki and the Giant Cake, Elfishki and The Unwelcome Guest, and Elfshiki and the Performance in the Fountain.

Elfishki and the Giant Cake is super cute, and since my kids love to help in the kitchen, it’s one of their favorite stories. It’s about a restaurant owner, and a bakery owner – and how they had to go from being at odds, to learning to work side-by-side. The game attached to this one is pretty cute, you can make your own three level cake. My son loves to snap the picture of it at the end of his design, and asks to email it to Daddy every time. Super cute, however, it does get old after a few cake designs…..

However, Elfishki and The Unwelcome Guest is a whole different ballgame. The love the story of an Ice Cream seller who couldn’t get into his own garage for his freezer boxes. I must be honest, though, their favorite part of this book is the game that comes with it. Basically, it’s an interactive “search” game. There’s a big backpack, in a hugely overfilled room, and everything in the room has to be put in the backpack…..one piece at a time. The image of what has to be found in the mess of a room shows up on the backpack, kids have to find it in the room, and drag it to the backpack. Once it’s filled, it makes a cute little song, jumps around a bit, and then you can play again.

Finally, It’s super cute, and my kids love anything to do with mermaids, and the sea. Plus, who doesn’t love a circus performer who always screws up her tricks, right? The game on this one is “finding” various items hidden in the underwater picture. My son figured it out, and he likes it, but he much prefers the game from The Unwelcome Guest. My daughter, same thing! But I think she likes this story a smidge better than all the rest.

Finally, Elfishki and the Performance in the Fountain. It’s super cute, and my kids love anything to do with mermaids, and the sea. Plus, who doesn’t love a circus performer who always screws up her tricks, right? The game on this one is “finding” various items hidden in the underwater picture. My son figured it out, and he likes it, but he much prefers the game from The Unwelcome Guest. My daughter, same thing! But I think she likes this story a smidge better than all the rest.

What does Mommy like? The graphics. It’s seriously beautiful. It’s so skillfully done, plus, the interactive nature of the stories…..I’m blown away by the details of these books. I cannot wait for the new ones to come out, and I’m looking forward to the new games, as well.

I enjoy the fact that they can “listen” to the story, without me having to read it. How’s that for Mommy friendly, right?!!!!

I also love the price of these downloads! Totally worth the couple of bucks at iTunes, for sure. The three books range in price, NONE are over $3.00. However, if you want to check out “previews” before you buy, you can visit the Magic Shop on their website!