Charlie and Lola: I've Won!

PreS-K—Following on the heels of Charlie and Lola: My Little Town, the developers have released a second app featuring Laura Child's irrepressible siblings of book and television fame. The latest app is a board game that can accommodate up to four players at a time. Player or players may choose to represent Charlie, Lola, or friends Lotta or Marvin, on the board. Three boards are available with the largest five by five squares.Players advance by rolling (tapping) a die that appears on the screen and moving their figures the corresponding number of spaces. The square that a character lands on presents a challenge in the form of a game or activity that involves matching, spelling (simple three-letter sight words with clues provided), spotting differences, a maze (which requires tilting the device to move through it), and so on. Counting and fine-motor skills come into play throughout the game. Missteps or errors are returned with encouragement to try again, and cheers are sounded as stars fill the screen after the correct answers are offered or activities completed. The first character to make it to the final square wins, with confetti and balloons raining down on him or her. Board challenges change and rearrange after a game is completed.Beloved characters, bright visuals, seamless functionality, musical accompaniment (with an on/off button), and a variety of challenges will have children coming back for more in this well-designed app.—Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal