A Charlie Brown Christmas was initially aired in 1965 and has since become a classic that many families love to watch during the holiday season. Without a doubt, everyone remembers the Peanuts gang’s attempt to put on a Nativity play. Charlie Brown picks up his iconic feeble Christmas tree that droops with the weight of just one ornament. As Charlie Brown fights the commercialization of Christmas, he and his friends begin to realize – with the help of Linus – the true meaning of Christmas.
Now the developers at Loud Crow Interactive bring to life this great story with the Apple iOS app, A Charlie Brown Christmas, which will assist a new generation to find the charm and true meaning that Charlie Brown searches for in this timeless special. Peter Robbins, the original voice of Charlie Brown, narrates the app.
Scene from Loud Crow’s A Charlie Brown Christmas App
Both Lauralee and Julee reviewed this app. Lauralee is using her iPhone, and Julee using her Android.
Lauralee: When I was little, the thing I looked forward to the most at Christmas (right after the part about Santa dropping ALL of those toys down the chimney) was the Christmas specials. I loved them all; I was, after all, the tv junkie of the house. I loved A Charlie Brown Christmas so much, and I love it even more as a parent. It is quiet and calming; it spreads the TRUE Christmas message, and it’s Charlie Brown, a character I hope my children will remember fondly when they are adults.
Julee: A Charlie Brown Christmas captured my heart every year. I would get giddy at the sound of the music; it was like a reunion with all my friends. Sharing it with my children brings back such incredible memories, and it’s a story that I never get tired of watching!
The interactive keyboard is a favorite with all 5 kiddos and their moms..bet you’ll love it too!
Lauralee: I love the new A Charlie Brown Christmas app for iPhone. It captures the Christmas special’s message, peacefulness, and whimsy and makes it accessible on the go. I adore the interactive book format; I must admit that popping the falling white *dots* to create snowflakes is rather addictive. At the story’s beginning, one taps each character to make them skate across the pond. My three-year-old has already *read* the book several times. My favorite screen is the gang dancing on the stage to the now-famous Lucy and Linus signature song playing. You can play along with the music on the keyboard at the bottom of the screen, and you can tap the characters to make them dance. It is such a fun song to dance to that I have even turned this screen on just for fun this week so the kiddos could take a break from their schoolwork and do a Charlie Brown dance!
Julee: We are enjoying The Charlie Brown Christmas app on our Android. It took us two read-throughs before we discovered all the adventure in unlocking items to decorate our tree. We think it is magical how the app turns pages and the picture appears almost like a 3D Pop-Up book. Li’l Man has memorized some of the pages and now claims to be able to read them as the words are highlighted in yellow as they are read. Both Li’l Man and The Divine Miss M love the keyboard interaction when Charlie Brown is trying to direct the play rehearsal. They especially love making their own song with the keyboard while the characters are dancing.
Lauralee: Users can decorate a Christmas tree that will welcome them at the beginning of the book. We haven’t unlocked all of the ornaments, lights, tree toppers, etc., but it is fun trying! And we did have to have the pink aluminum Christmas tree; what can I say? Ballerina is just like Lucy!
Julee: Since we discovered the added fun of decorating a Christmas tree, my kids are on it. They explore every “page,” trying to find the magic that unlocks the next piece. We’re traditional and have an evergreen tree.
A Charlie Brown Christmas App is delightful fun!
Lauralee: My Big Boy uses the app while he plays with our Charlie Brown nativity set. He sets them up, makes them move around, and has a great time re-enacting what he sees on the screen.
Julee: Li’l Man turns the media volume up so he can listen to the Lucy and Linus song while he does his homework. Then he breaks so he can move the characters to dance.
Lauralee: A Charlie Brown Christmas app is a beautiful, seasonal app that is sure to be a tradition on smartphones everywhere!
Julee: I actually bought this app and loved it. We have experienced wonky moments in the app where it will freeze, but it’s still worth it. An update is scheduled this week and should resolve the issue. We read this last night as a family, and my husband was totally in awe at the interaction and the story that he asked, “Do you think our grandchildren are even going to know what a paper book looks like?” The app is awesome. It’s like watching the movie, interacting, and experiencing the book.
Check out the new in-app store with the free director cut, which includes four more scenes. Also, keep your eyes peeled for the “12 days of Charlie Brown Christmas” Scavenger Hunt.It begins on the 13th and features finding a new ornament every day. Find all 12; you have a chance to win an iPad2 loaded with all of our apps! The details are on their Loud Crow Facebook page.
###| Lauralee Saad loves homeschooling her three kiddos: Ballerina, age 8, Big Boy, age 6, and MESS, age 3. She enjoys sewing when she can find a spare corner to set up her machine and dig out fabrics, cooking and baking – especially if the kiddos are helping, and enjoying a good book after the kiddos have gone to bed. She is thrilled to be welcoming a baby girl into the family in March of 2012. |