Learning to read can be fun if what you are reading means something special. For kids, this means drawing them into the story. As adults, we can put ourselves into any situation and fill gaps using our imagination. Kids need more. That’s where Lemon Tree comes to the rescue.
Lemon Tree is an online library of books that your child can download and read. You get a total of eight books when you purchase the app for just $1.99. A small price to pay for a personalized publication!
So, not only do you get a nice set of books, you also get to personalize each one of them so you child’s name appears in each. There are reading books and coloring books, so it offers variety that is sure to keep you little reader entertained.
After downloading, when you open a book it will prompt you to enter a child’s name. You provide this and, when needed, names of friends. The book then fills in the names into the story making your child and the named friends characters in the storybook. What is neat is that the app highlights the personalised information in color, so your child’s eyes detect their names easily.
Stories include characters like elves in Santa’s village, a grumpy old teddy bear, fun loving dinosaurs, and fairytale fairies. While the stories are written in traditional format, it’s important to remember that if your child is not fully reading on her own, she will need assistance.
A feature that I really liked, that you don’t find in many children’s books are the Fun Facts that appear at the end of each story. Each story is entertaining and educational at the same time. Parents can go over Fun Facts with kids or let the kids ask about them on their own.
Each page of every book is bright with color, the text is crisp and easy to read. Moving between pages involves simple swipes that anyone can handle.
A small but powerful feature would be to add a “read to me” option. If the book was like an audio book, it would be a great enhancement and would allow for non-readers to join in on the fun. I always thought hearing the story was a great way to learn how to read. You can follow along with the word as they are spoken. I would also like to see a QWERTY keyboard for entering names and places.
Other than that, Lemon Tree is a definite download for anyone that’s looking for books that your child will love and ones that you can pop open wherever you are!