The iPad is good for many things (I hear… still don’t have one *Hint* *Hint*)… including getting all of your rugrats to read something other than the credits at the end of another video game they just pulverized.  One main reason… interaction!  Many of the books hitting the market these days are chock-full of cool animations, music, videos, help with read-a-longs and tons of juicy iPad goodness.

The newest addition to the visual smorgasboard is The Penguins of Madagascar: Read & Play ($7).  We had the opportunity to play with it a little (on a friends iPad… again HINT) and it was a blast!  It keeps all of the fun shenanigans from the movies, while incorporating good learning skills and visually catching screens.  Everything needed to keep your little ankle-biters happy.  Hey… wait a minute!!!  You’re kids get to play with your iPad?!?!  Just an FYI… you may one to check out the iPad OtterBox (HERE) if you’re going to keep that up.  Just sayin.  Here’s a video demo:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC5ZHj_cWfE&hd=1]

Described in iTunes as:

Four adventurous penguins living at the New York Zoo are now on the iPad. As their fearless leader Skipper would say, they’re an elite strike force with top-tier commando skills and a world-class clandestine headquarters.

This app is packed with books and activities that will delight and entertain kids of all ages, including two Storybooks, a Joke book, and interactive activities such as Create a Scene (digital sticker book), Kaleidoscope (using the Penguins’ binoculars), Spot the Difference, Mazes, and Coloring Board with nine coloring pages.

iStoryTime brings the fun and adventure of The Penguins of Madagascar to the convenience of your iPad in this entertaining kid’s book application based on the hit show.

Welcome to iStoryTime, a library of narrated children’s books. iStoryTime books are illustrated and narrated, so your child can enjoy the book even when you’re busy. Best of all, the app is drop-dead simple to use because it’s actually designed for kids 2-years and up.

iSto

ryTime has been featured in New York Times, LA Times, CBS Early Show, theiPhoneMom.com, CNET, and winner of the PTPA Media (Parent Tested Parent Approved) Seal of Approval.

Waiting for dinner to come at a restaurant? Long airplane or train trip? Need ten more minutes to finish the grocery shopping? Hand your kid iStoryTime and let us read to them. With iStoryTime you’ll always have a great book on hand to entertain and educate the kids, rather than resorting to movies or video games. Pages can be turned automatically or manually depending on the age and preference of the user.

FEATURES:
– Includes character AUDIO and VIDEO from The Penguins of Madagascar
– Create a Scene: Digital sticker book
– Kaleidoscope
– Spot the Difference
– Mazes
– Coloring Board
– Automatic navigation option and narration for storybooks make it incredibly simple to use
– Highlighted text helps beginning readers make associations between the words they hear and see
– Record your own voice ability to have it played back in your own voice. Kids can practice their “out loud” reading skills. Or, traveling parents can leave a bedtime story in their own voice.