Stella and Sam

Stella and Sam Backyard Twilight
By zinc Roe

About the app

Play alongside Stella and Sam and their dog Fred as they spend a night camping out in their backyard. Look for bugs in the tent, discover constellations among the stars and learn about shapes with the fireflies. From zinc Roe games, the makers of the award-winning Tickle Tap Apps, the Stella and Sam Interactive Adventures combine stunning animation with three elegantly-designed activities.

STELLA: “The night Giant is coming Sam. I think I can hear his big footsteps coming over the meadow.”
SAM: “I can too!”

The Stella and Sam Apps are based on the television show and the bestselling picture book series by Marie-Louise Gay. Stella and Sam books have been translated into fifteen languages. They have sold over one million copies and are loved by children all over the world.
each Stella and Sam Adventure features beautiful fullscreen animation , three fun and simple games, quick navigation by chapter and game as well as support for English and French .

Our Thoughts

Jasmine adores the Stella and Sam apps that we have.   So when she saw that there was a new one to review she was jumping up and down and kept asking “I want to hear the story!”.  I have previously reviewed In the Snow We Go as well as Rainy Days and Rainbows so I knew what to expect from this app.

This time around, I decided that I wanted to see the app in French.   So I went to change the language settings of our iPad and proceeded to listen to the story.    I am impressed with the translation of the story to say the least.   However, having to change the language directly from the settings on the device is a pain I find.   I would love to have the flexibility to choose the language directly from the app instead of having to change the language of the entire device.  I love having French apps but the flexibility of switching between the language has a value for me as well.  

Having said this, I would like to present you the Stella and Sam Backyard Twilight app.  This time around Stella and Sam are camping in their backyard and plan to sleep there for the night.   It reminded me when our tent was up in our backyard and I slept there.  It was a time where you didn’t have to worry much about bad events happening, where I could drive my bike without a helmet, where I had to walk to go to school without worrying much, where kids would go back home for lunch time, and when television programs were cleaned for kids.   I am pleased to see that the Stella and Sam television show is very good for kids.

The first activity that your child will have to do will be to find the bugs inside the tent.   With the help of your flashlight, you need to cover the area to explore and discover the bugs that entered the tent.   Then you have an activity where your child will have to play with fireflies to create a fun picture.   This time around though, the fireflies are always drawing the same picture which I won’t reveal to you.  Personally, I would have liked more drawings to be done by the fireflies but in the context of this app, this one is good.  

Stella and Sam are also exploring the stars and using the stars your child will explore what image will come out of them.   This time around you can discover multiple pictures from the Night Giant. Finally the Stella and Sam go to bed.   Jasmine always say “Goodnight!” to them.   Cute.

As I have mentioned before these apps are part app part video.   It is perfect to use when you are waiting at an appointment to the doctor or dentist.    Their graphics and frames are simply well designed and colorful for the children.    I adore sitting next to my daughter and watch her play with her Stella and Sam apps.    I highly recommend them to everyone who have toddlers and preschoolers.

Stella and Sam Backyard Twilight is available for purchase at iTunes for the price of 2.99$

Keep you eye open for another Stella and Sam title coming soon.  Go-There-Square will explore magical places outside.

Disclaimer: I received the app for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Stella and Sam Rainy Days and Rainbows

I have recently discovered the Stella and Sam books and apps.   My daughter who is three years old just can’t get enough of the stories on the iPad.   Every time she can, she will ask for either Rainy Days and Rainbows or In the Snow We Go. 

I was once again blow away by the quality of this app.  Not only the child will travel will Stella and Sam in the world of rain and rainbow but he/she will interact with them as well with fun games like painting with the dog or guiding a boat in a puddle. 

I particularly like the fact that the Stella and Sam apps are not “books” to read but more like a little video that the child can watch.   Having interaction screens incorporated in these is simply very creative I find.   My daughter just loves to help Stella and Sam in whatever activity she has to do while watching the story.    The language in the app is clear as well.   I have no problem to hear what Sam is telling Stella in English.   To be honest, it is very good because I have problems hearing certain consonants combinations when people speak too fast or there is too much noise around me.   

This app is very colourful and I find that it is simply wonderful to see the my daughter listening to it.    She really enjoys Stella and Sam and I don’t mind letting her watch it because I know that the app is based on books that are fantastic for kids.

I know this app can be played in French as well.   It will automatically play in French on devices that have French set as the default language. To listen to the French version simply go to the "Settings" app then tap "General" then "Language". You will have to choose French and then re-launch the Stella and Sam app.   I wish the creators behind the Stella and Sam apps would consider making the switch from English to French a little bit easier than that.  Not everyone would like to always go in the settings to change the language on their iPad.    We prefer leaving the setting of our iPad to English and would like to have a quick button to switch from English to French on the main menu of the app.   I know it is feasible as I have seen other apps like this.     Having this feature would probably encourage families to have their kids listen to both the stories in both languages more often.

Stella and Sam – Rainy Days is available for purchase on iTunes for the price of 2.99$.

Disclaimer: I received the app for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Stella and Sam–In the Snow We Go

Last month, I participate to a contest online to win a Stella and Sam book, crayons and stickers.   I was one of the five winners.   In my email to participate to the contest, I asked if I could review the new Stella and Sam – In the Snow We Go story for the iPad.   They agreed and send me a promo code for me to be able to download it.

Some of you might wonder “what is Stella and Sam?” (like I was before I discovered them…)   Stella and Sam is an animated TV show about the joy and wonder of childhood. It’s based on the best-selling book series by Canadian author Marie-Louise Gay.

“Stella and Sam is about engaging children to discover and explore the world around them, sparking children’s imaginations and encouraging their creativity.”— Marie-Louise Gay, author and creator.

I was expecting a story where the pages will turn and in which my child would interact with the story.   Not so.    I was amazed and surprised to see a video story being unfolded under our eyes.

My daughter Jasmine (who is 3 years old) watched in awe and wonder.  She listened carefully to the story and participated to the activities included in the video. 

I don’t think I have seen another app like this before.   It is very colourful, interactive and versatile, and will catch the attention of your young kids immediately.  There are three games included in the story and each time your child will listen to it the games will be different…   I know because my daughter probably watch and played with Stella and Sam about four times if not more the first time she used that app.   For example, for the activity of drawing in the snow, the images to completed was different each time Jasmine was playing with it.    I wasn’t expecting this…  I thought that more than likely the image would be the same.   Boy was I surprised.   

The story last a good 10 minutes or so and you will enjoy it as much as your little one.     I am pleased to have discovered a wonderful series of books for my daughter.   A few days later, she has received the book I had won in the first place and immediately asked me to read it to her.    She adores Stella and Sam.

If you have little ones and want to entertain them while waiting to the doctor, I strongly recommend Stella and Sam adventures as I find the quality and the content is well worth the price attached to this app.  

Coming Soon on an iPad near you…. more fun apps with Stella and Sam.

• Rainy Days and Rainbows Stella shows Sam how much fun it is to go outside on a rainy day. Activities: Paw Prints, Autumn Treasures and Pinecone Race.

• Backyard at Twilight Stella and Sam look at the nighttime sky to try and see the Night Giant. Activities: Bug Hunt, Firefly Pictures and Connect the Stars.

• Go-There-Square Stella uses a Go-There-Square to help Sam discover magical places outside. Activities: Bubble Pop! Daisy Bridge and Dandelion Fluffs.

Stella and Sam – Into the Snow We Go is available for purchase on iTunes for the price of 3.99$.   

Disclaimer: I received the app for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.  All opinions expressed here are only my own.