App Review: Ed and the Curious Crew

ED AND THE CURIOUS CREW provides a “behind-the-scenes” look at a children’s hospital.

Published by The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne Australia, this engaging app follows Ed and his friends as they learn, watch, play, and explore. Users choose from five sections: fun & learning, film & television, nutrition & allergies, fundraising & helping, and sustainability & environment. A different member of crew leads each section.

Librarians will find this engaging interactive app to be useful beyond the hospital setting.

To download the app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/…/ed-curious-crew-at…/id1014855340….

App Review: Ed and the Curious Crew

ED AND THE CURIOUS CREW is an educational app exploring life at a children’s hospital.

Designed for ages 9-11, children choose from five areas: fun and learning, film and television, nutrition and allergies, fundraising and helping, and sustainability and environment. In each section, users can learn, watch, play, and explore. The easy-to-use activities engage children in age-appropriate learning experiences related to hospital and health-related topics.

Librarians will find this adorable app to be a great way to explore health-related topics. Pair it with books about illness and hospital visits.

To download the app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/…/ed-curious-crew-at-…/id1014855340.

Book Review: Return to Augie Hobble

RETURN TO AUGIE HOBBLE by Lane Smith combines elements of humor, tragedy, and paranormal activity into a quirky middle grades novel.

Angie needs to do a “creative arts project” for summer school. Since he lives in an amusement park managed by his father, inspiration is everywhere in the form of fairy tale characters and theme park attractions. From comics and photography to illustrated short stories, Smith weaves in a wide range of visuals into the story. Between project ideas, Augie must deal with bullies, an amorous Cinderella, government agents, and a shocking tragedy. And, he may be turning into a werewolf.

This witty and weird work will be popular with middle grades youth familiar with the illustrations of Lane Smith. While the book is humorous, it deals with serious topics including bullies and death in a way that will appeal to children. Lane Smith’s first novel is a step above the many other books for this age that bridge fantasy and reality. While the story stands alone, it could easily be turned into a series.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.lanesmithbooks.com.

Published by Roaring Brook Press on May 5, 2015.