Peekaboo Presents

Board books are a beloved baby introduction to the world of words, and the sturdy stories come to life in Peekaboo Presents. This super easy pre-reading app is best for the littlest learners in your house, since the concept is cute and uncomplicated.

Bouncing presents entice tiny fingers to tap, swipe and interact with them onscreen—each tap unwraps a jumpy gift under the animated Christmas tree. Dolls, dinosaurs, dump trucks and rubber ducks burst from the gift-wrapped boxes as a child’s “reward” for engagement. As each toy is unwrapped, the narrator’s voiceover (as well as the word spelled in block print on the screen) helps reinforce each item, to help kids learn to recognize them.

Bold, bright graphics appeal to the preschool set, but the basic premise and lack of variety will leave older kids wanting more. The selection of presents is very small and after only a few minutes of play, the presents start to repeat. While this app offers a distinct learning component with the printed words, the target audience is a tad too young to benefit. Older kids may be into this pre-literacy push, but remember: just as with a board book, the range of words is limited.