Monday, November 30, 2015

Zwoosh!








Zwoosh! Interactive Book App  
Version 1.6.5, updated 9/11/15, iOS 8.0 or higher required, iPad compatible

Written and narrated by Marie Rose 
Art by Susan Lee
Music & Animation by Chris Chamberlain 

Children's / Interactive / Educational / Fantasy 
I gave this App 5 of 5 Stars

POP-UP GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment on this post, and IndieRoseBooks will choose a random winner to get a free audio book, eBook, or App download! 
App Store Blurb:  
A hand-crafted, fine arts interactive storybook for kids of all ages. 


Fly to the stars in your very own rocket ship. Wave at the mean, green Martians. Picnic with Moon Men. Play tag with the comets. Win a blue ribbon space race.  


Inspired by the palette of Vincent van Gogh, let's go on a colorful space journey as we explore the planets in our solar system through the power and wonder of a child's imagination.
********************************************************************


Zwoosh! is visually SUPER appealing with every inch of the screen/page beautifully covered with rich color and texture. Along with a constant outer-spacey-sounding soundtrack, this interactive book app is fun, but it is soothing and not stimulating for those who are okay with electronics at bedtime.  Author Marie Rose is also the narrator, and her pace and tone are just perfect.  Rose didn't necessarily read the sentences as they were punctuated, but I don't think any kids would care.

Readers will enjoy that there are no advertisements -- this is just a straight interactive storybook. The information presented is a mix of fact and fiction, so it's best that a parent is there to make the distinction.  Some of the interactive portions are more obvious than others, so kids will have to do a little searching to find the action or sound responses. (Some actions are repeatable, while others are one time hits - personally wish all were repeatable without having to back out of the page and reload.)  It's not overly complicated, and though the recommended age range is ages 6-8,  it's possibly too simple for kids much older than kindergarten age.  I haven't seen the book, but based on the App, I think it would make a nice companion and would appeal to the older end of the recommended age range.

Thank you to Words Turn Me On Promotional Services for providing me a download of the App in exchange for my honest review -- the only kind I give.  


WATCH THE APP TRAILER!




ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Marie Rose holds a Master of Arts degree in Theater from The University of Texas at El Paso. She's an alumna of several super cool entertainment industry programs including The Walt Disney Fellowship in Screenwriting, Producers Guild of America's Diversity Program, and the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women, through which Marie directed Dakota Fanning in her first starring role.

Additionally, she's taught children's theater, is published in children's and women's literature, and is a commercial voice over artist who specializes in audio book narration.

Marie is the owner of Indie Rose Books for Kids, a playground for children's literature of all kinds. When she's not busy daydreaming about the places a child's imagination can go Marie is also an award-winning screenwriter, director, and film producer in Los Angeles, California.
Connect with the author:

TWITTER      GOODREADS     WEBSITE     FACEBOOK






Friday, November 27, 2015

Black Friday Book Bonanza

Why brave the masses when you can join me and over SIXTY other bloggers and authors and enter to win something bookish?  Every site on this hop has its own GIVEAWAY where you will have a shot at winning new and new-to-you books, gift cards, book swag, book crafts -- all things bookish!

Start right here with the HALL WAYS GIVEAWAY, then hop around -- all from the comfort of home (and preferably wearing jammies and fuzzy socks).  

==>2 WINNERS EACH WILL WIN<==
A $10 AMAZON GIFT CARD plus
 A MYSTERY BOOK SELECTION
Choose From: Children's, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Adult, or Variety. 
(3-5 books; books may be ARCs or Finals, hardcover or paperback, author signed or not) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Congratulations to winners Daria and Amber!**
HERE ARE ALL THE FABULOUS PARTICIPANTS:





1. Kimberly @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer {Host} (INT)  33. Brooke @ Brooke Blogs (US Only)  
2. Jennifer @ Bookshelfery {HOST} {INTL}  34. KissinBlueKaren (US Only)  
3. Nelle @ Nelle's Nightstand  35. Author Rose Wynters INT  
4. Kristin @ My ParaHangover (US only)  36. Paul (Audiobook Reviewer)  
5. Readingdiva's Blog (US ONLY)  37. Amanda J. Greene, Author (INT)  
6. Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings (Int)  38. Practical Frugality  
7. Bitten by Romance (US only)  39. Melissa L  
8. Read Your Writes Book Reviews (US Only)  40. Savings in Seconds (US)  
9. Hall Ways (US only)  41. Brooke Reports (US only)  
10. Writing Pearls  42. Laurie Here - Cont Fiction and MORE  
11. MHDeanCollectibles Book Blog  43. Goldilox and the Three Weres  
12. Ali@Ali's Bookshelf (US Only)  44. For What It's Worth (INT)  
13. Marlene @ Reading Reality (INT)  45. E.S.P.  
14. Michelle@Because Reading (US Only)  46. Unshelfish [INTL]  
15. Cassandra Giovanni Author  47. Raven Haired Girl [INTL]  
16. Deirdre Riordan Hall  48. The Kids Did It  
17. Cheyanne Young  49. Gator Mommy Reviews  
18. Mochas, Mysteries and Meows (US only)  50. Batch of Books  
19. Liza @ Reading with ABC (INT)  51. Jennifer Dawson -Author (INT)  
20. Jessica L. Brooks  52. Candace's Book Blog (INT)  
21. Ramona @ My Bookish Life  53. Obsessive Book Nerd (US)  
22. Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust (US)  54. Book Sniffers Anonymous (US)  
23. The Book Nympho (US Only)  55. Second Run Reviews (US Only)  
24. Marcee@anurseandabook  56. The Mommy Island  
25. Words Fueled by Love (INT)  57. Jessica @ Bottles & Books Reviews  
26. Angel's Guilty Pleasures (US)  58. vvb32 reads (US)  
27. Tonyalee @ After Hours at Lilybloombooks  59. Nikki Godwin, YA Author  
28. Kaisa Clark  60. Joann Downie  
29. S.K. Wills  61. Kim @ kimberlyfaye reads (INT)  
30. Meara Platt  62. Writer with Wanderlust (INT)  
31. PageCurl Publishing and Promotion  63. Yvonne @ Socrates Book Review Blog (US Only)  
32. Lynne Barron