Endless Spanish/Infinito Español

PreS-Gr 4—The latest app in the "Endless" series incorporates the same playful environment and monsters as the earlier titles. Here the creatures are employed to teach common Spanish words and their usage. There are two audio modes: one in which Spanish words and sentences are translated into English, and Spanish-only.This is how it works: when children click on a word on the home dial, a bull runs across the screen and over the term, scrambling its letters. Learners spell words by dragging and dropping each distinctly and playfully animated letter into its proper spot (shaded outline provided). While doing so, they hear each letter sounded and named. Cheers and other celebratory sounds ensue when a term is completed. The app then sequences automatically into sentence mode (although viewers can skip the sentence by clicking the "abc" tab). The bull runs across the screen, again chased by friendly looking monsters who scramble three words. As children drag the animated words back into their proper spots within the sentence, they hear each one pronounced and watch as the sentence is enacted, then hear it read and translated into English. (For example, for "amigo/friend": "!Los monstruos están muy contentos por tener un amigo nuevo!" repeats in English: "The monsters are very happy to have a new friend!") Young learners will enjoy getting to know the characters Pinkerton, Scampi, Rocky, Francis, and Sherbert through the animations that illustrate each sentence. However, some children may be disappointed to discover they cannot enter the sentence mode exclusively.Only six words are accessible in the "free" edition, so the full edition is recommended. The voices are multiple, expressive, and stick to Latin American Spanish (no vosotros). Lively snatches of music, colorful cartoon art, and fireworks that can be triggered by tapping the screen add to the fun. A trailer is available.—Sara Lissa Paulson, Sara Lissa Paulson, City-As-School Library, NY