App: Endless Alphabet

Released at the beginning of 2013, Endless Alphabet is just about the most adorable app I have on my iPad. The cuteness factor is in full force here, and the kids are in nonstop giggles while this app is open. Even when Sam was only 18 months old, he was entranced by this app. Adorable character design and playful music define the app from the opening screen.

The premise is simple. It’s an ABC app, but it’s an ABC app kicked up a notch. Kids are presented with a word before a group of monsters tears across the screen and scrambles all the letters. Kids then need to move the letters back into place to spell the word. As each letter is dragged into place, it comes alive. Every letter has a unique animation and goofy sound that reinforces phonics, albeit not always 100% correctly.

There is different audio for soft and hard c and g, which was nice to see, but I do agree with at least one iTunes reviewer: Don’t use this as your only phonics instruction. Some of the silly letter sounds add vowels (/puh/ instead of /p/) that are technically incorrect.

When kids successfully spell a word, they are rewarded with an animation that acts out or reinforces the meaning of the word. Then the definition is given in easy-to-understand language, even for the more difficult words (like contraption or contagious). What really distinguishes this app are the hilarious animations and unusual word choices.

Is this a great phonics app? No. Is this a great spelling and alphabet app? Absolutely. At 5, Zoey has rediscovered the app after her brother started playing it. It’s one of the few apps they keep returning to and never seem to grow tired of.

It’s available from all the usual places, and the price jumps around a bit.

iTunes / Google Play / Amazon / Windows

Originator Kids has also released Endless Reader (iOS only), which teaches sight words. We haven’t tried this yet, but we might just give it a test drive. It also looks like Endless Numbers is coming soon.