The developers of Christoph Niemann's CHOMP and Heidi Wittlinger's Nighty Night Circus, among others, have created an app for movie makers. Caroline Molnar reviews it below. Using familiar characters from their earlier productions, Fox and Sheep GmbH have delivered an entertaining, interactive app. With a variety of backgrounds, characters, and special effects to incorporate, Movie Creator (iOS, $3.99, add-on bundle $1.99, or $.99 individual extras; PreS-Gr 1) will spark creativity and imaginative play with young storytellers. Like the other products from this developer, directions are minimal and the illustrations are full of details and twee characters. While Movie Creator lacks some of the embellishments of Nosy Crow’s Complete Fairytale Theater, fewer frills doesn’t mean fewer choices or less playfulness in this case. The app flows nicely as settings, figures, props, and music effects are selected. One of the highlights of this studio is that it allows children to record and narrate their stories, offering opportunities to develop and work on their fluency, enunciation, and narrative skills. While the app contains a fair amount of options, users can purchase additional school, decoration, and effects packs individually or as in-app bundle. Movies are automatically saved and are easily uploaded to various social media sites, should appsters wish to share. Editing is not available. The instructions and notes for adults are available in nine languages. A trailer is available. VERDICT Movie Creator is easy-to-use and of great value as an educational tool at home and in the classroom.—Caroline Molnar, Worthington City Schools, OH

Screen from Fox & Sheep Movie Creator