The Adventures of Alex: Electricity is a new iPad app available in English and Spanish. It’s an educational ebook with a funny twist at the end.

Alex is a curious little boy who wonders where power comes from. Learn what types of devices around your house require electricity by tapping each object on the pages. Then, go with Alex as he follows the power lines to find out where they begin.

Alex travels for miles with his dog to investigate the source of the electricity. Get ready for a big surprise at the end of the story. Although Alex finally finds the power plant, he discovers that what’s creating the power is rather unexpected:

I like that this story integrates the truly educational with something slightly humorous. It makes it more fun for kids who might not be as curious as little Alex about la electricidad and could spark a funny conversation at story time.

Find The Adventures of Alex: Electricity in iTunes

Available for iPad

Recommended for ages 4-9

Price: $4.99

Visit the Adventures of Alex website for more info.

Editor’s note: We continue with our week of Sylvan Dell Publishing Spanish-language book reviews. Check out the book review below and don’t forget to enter our GIVEAWAY for each book reviewed, but also the GIVEAWAY on Friday for a one year subscription to the Sylvan Dell eBooks iPad app Fun eReader!

BOOK DESCRIPTION/REVIEW

A grandfather builds a fort for his granddaughter using “six simple machines” in “La Fortaleza de la Calle Cuatro: Una historia acerca de seis máquinas simples” by Lois Spangler and illustrated by Christina Wald. Like all books in English and Spanish from Sylvan Dell Publishing, each story includes a non-fiction “Creative Minds” section with activities and informational text.

I was impressed by the quality of this book from cover to cover and although the target audience is ages 4-9, my 11-year-old and I enjoyed it together. As non-native speakers we even learned new words such as “polea” for “pulley” which we don’t typically use in everyday language around the house!

BOOK DETAILS

Title: La Fortaleza de la Calle Cuatro: Una historia acerca de seis máquinas simples

Author: Lois Spangler

Illustrator: Christina Wald

Ages: 4-9 years

Publisher/Year: Sylvan Dell/2013

ISBN: 978-1-60718-717-2

Price: $17.95

Website: Sylvan Dell Publishing

The Giveaway!

We are giving away one copy of La Fortaleza de la Calle Cuatro to one lucky winner. All you have to do is leave us a comment letting us know why you think your child will enjoy this book. Then, enter the Rafflecopter below.

You can also enter to win one of the other three Sylvan Dell Publishing books we’re giving away, plus an annual subscription to its Fun eReader for iPad and computer devices. To enter each one, visit this link.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Editor’s note: We continue with our week of Sylvan Dell Publishing Spanish-language book reviews. Check out the book review below and don’t forget to enter our GIVEAWAY for each book reviewed, but also the GIVEAWAY on Friday for a one year subscription to the Sylvan Dell eBooks iPad app Fun eReader!

BOOK DESCRIPTION/REVIEW

In ¿Hay alguien en casa? by Marianne Berkes, Zara Zarigúeya is looking for a home where she can raise her expected baby possums. The reader learns that some animals are diurnal (awake during the day), while others are nocturnal. Each animal has a different type of house that is perfectly suited to them: the bees living in the colmena so they can take care of their queen, the nido of the birds, high in the trees to protect the babies from predators. In the end Zara does find a home perfectly suited for her in time for her babies.

This was a wonderful book for my nature-loving kids, and compliments their lessons in school about animal homes. Whether in English or Spanish, I especially appreciated the vocabulary presented because even the newer terms were easy to understand with the colorful illustrations and detailed text. My four children (ages 5-9) and I highly recommend this book for elementary-aged kids.

BOOK DETAILS

Title: ¿Hay alguien en casa?

Author: Marianne Berkes

Illustrator: Rebecca Dickinson

Ages: 4-10 years

Publisher/Year: Sylvan Dell/2013

ISBN: 978-1-60718-7141

Price: $17.95

Website: Sylvan Dell Publishing

The Giveaway!

We are giving away one copy of ¿Hay alguien en casa? to one lucky winner. All you have to do is leave us a comment letting us know why you think your child will enjoy this book.

You can also enter to win one of the other three Sylvan Dell Publishing books we’re giving away, plus an annual subscription to its Fun eReader for iPad and computer devices. To enter each one, visit this link.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOOK DESCRIPTION/REVIEW

When I learned that Sylvan Dell Publishing publishes award-winning picture books about math and science in Spanish, I was immediately interested in checking them out. At 7 years old, Vanessa is enthralled by anything related to the ocean, jungle animals, space, the planets and how things work, so I knew the review book we got would be a hit.

The book is called Un día en la profundidad and this is what my daughter had to say about it: “I liked learning more about the animals in the deep. The pictures are cool because they told me more about what I was reading.” In fact, she was so impressed by the illustrations, that she made two drawings based on what she had seen and read!

Personally, I enjoyed the realistic images, the wealth of information and the impeccable Spanish translation. Each books comes with an additional educational section, which is perfect to continue the exploration of the topic discussed.

We liked Sylvan Dell Publishing books so much, that we’ll be reviewing — and giving away — all four of its Fall 2013 titles in Spanish as well as its iPad app Fun eReader this week!

BOOK DETAILS

Title: Un día en la profundidad

Author: Kevin Kurtz

Illustrator: Erin E. Hunter

Ages: 4-9 years

Publisher/Year: Sylvan Dell/2013

ISBN: 978-1-60718-7185

Price: $17.95

Website: Sylvan Dell Publising

The Giveaway!

We are giving away one copy of Un día en la profundidad to ONE lucky winner. All you have to do is leave us a comment letting us know why you think your child will enjoy this book and enter the rafflecopter below.

You can also enter to win one of the other three Sylvan Dell Publishing books we’re giving away, plus an annual subscription to its Fun eReader for iPad and computer devices. To enter each one, visit this link.

a Rafflecopter giveaway