It’s a Small World App Review

It’s a Small World is one of my favorite rides at Walt Disney World. I love how simple it is, while still being magical. And, honestly, sailing through the lands is one of the best place to be on a hot and humid Florida summer day. When I heard that they were coming out with an app, I was skeptical. But the It’s a Small World app brings the reader on a beautifully illustrated journey around the world. This one is a little gem.

The app has us setting off on a journey via hot air balloon to 15 different lands. In each land, it reads a line from the famous song while highlighting the words on the screen. There are children of different ethnicities dressed in traditional garb, and appropriate, if not authentic, music playing in the background. The app slowly pans through the scene and then heads back to the balloon before loading the next land. Impatient kids can zip things along, or head straight back to the balloon to choose a land of their choice. Once they’ve explored all of the scenes, they can enjoy “Sing Along” mode.

Pros:

• Beautiful illustrations
• Music is optional
• Lots of interactivity
• Easy to navigate between scenes

Cons:

• It’s not always clear which country you’re visiting (kids from different countries often mingle together)
• It’s pricey for the depth of play

My four-year old daughter loved the It’s a Small World ride. She was captivated by all of the sights and sounds. She is equally captivated by this app. It’s colorful, fun, and has plenty of things to discover. It is more of an e-book than a game, but kids will enjoy exploring it over and over to find the clickable spots. The major flaw is the price tag. $3.99 for an app with beauty, but no real depth of play, is a bit steep.

• Recommended ages: 2+
• Platform(s): iPad, iPhone
• Cost: $3.99
• Publisher: Disney Publishing Worldwide

Disclosure: We received a copy of this app for review purposes. There was no promise of a positive review and the opinions contained in this post are my own.

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