LEARN THE SONG AND YOU CAN 'READ ALONG' in the text of the book.

Animalations books all include an original song, so.... just learn the song and you can read along... even if you are a pre-reader or non-English speaking. I am the author of Animalations books. My family is from Sweden. I actually had to go to Stockholm and talk to my Swedish cousins to find out... Swedes are using Animalations books to learn the English language. I am an author, but I am also the founder of SpringStone Montessori Schools. I believe in using phonics to sound out letters in words as a child learns to read. However, children learn in different ways. Some children learn best by using music to learn to read and that is where Animalations books enter the scene. Phonics or sounding out letters in a word is fine, but imagine a child who has confidence that he can read the entire book, even before he learns to sound out the letters in a word. Teachers at SpringStone Montessori comment on children who use Animalations original songs to sing the words in the text of the book before they can read. In doing so, they also learn bigger words because the bigger words just happen to be in the song. Then all of a sudden, "Mommy, listen to me sing this song. I can sing the song and read this story at the same time." Owning early learning and Montessori Schools in four states for almost 40 years, I can attest to the satisfaction children, teachers and parent receive, by "Singing the song and Reading along in the book."

FREE APPS FOR MEMORIAL DAY AND MONTH OF JUNE.

We are so pleased to announce: all seven ANIMALATIONS iTunes apps are FREE for Memorial Day and the month of June 2012. LET'S LEARN TO READ THIS SUMMER, using ANIMALATIONS apps and youtube ANIMALATIONS videos. Remember: learn the song that accompanies the app and you will be able to read the entire book. Just search iTunes apps for each of the following and download it FREE: Riley the Rhinoceros, Sly the Dragonfly, Little Goose, Mr. Walrus and the Old School Bus, Cassandra the Cow, Louwse the Mouse Get Out of My House, Louwse the Mouse in the Big Apple Tree (NYC, of course). ANIMALATIONS APPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD IN 122 locations worldwide.

Animalations apps are a hit around the world. Other countries are learning the importance of including music along with the story to learn the English language. We are extending FREE DOWNLOADS of all animalations iTunes apps through April 16. When you download animalations apps on iTunes apps, be sure to leave a review.

Animalations Apps FREE for Easter Holidays

All seven iTunes apps are now FREE for download on your iPad, iPhone, and other platforms for audio and video media. This holiday special will continue today through April 12. We're celebrating reading around the world. These apps are great for preschool aged children, primary readers and students of all ages learning to read. Share this opportunity with family, friends and worldwide students of English. You may log into iTunes to see all of the apps, watch the videos on youtube.com or go to animalations.com to find your favorites. Search online for animalations apps or Patricia Derrick. Happy Reading!

Give every child in your life a FREE Animalations App for Valentine's Day. Riley the Rhinoceros and all of his friends are free on iTunes apps - now through February 15. All around the world, children will sparkle as they sing and tap-along, as interactive pages turn. Free Apps include:

Riley the Rhinoceros

Sly the Dragonfly

Goose With the Droopy Wing

Mr. Walrus and the Old School Bus

Cassandra the Cow

Louwse the Mouse Get Out of My House

Louwse the Mouse in the Big Apple Tree (NYC, of course)

This is a special gift for you and all of your loved ones, whether they live in your house, down the street, or any street in the world. Enjoy this special treat and share it on Twitter, Facebook and maybe even your blog.

So where have I been for 2 1/2 months? I have been sooo busy working on my new book for Young Adults. It's titled, FLESHSHIFTING. I can't wait to share it. Today, it is in the hands of the editors. It will probably take a few more months. Website: fleshshifting.com will be up and running soon.

I have another book that will be available very soon on iTunes:
CATALINA AND THE DUKE OF LOMBARD: two cats, two worlds. This book is especially for TWEENS.

Current Animalations apps downloading on iTunes.com include:

LOUWSE IN THE BIG APPLE TREE

RILEY THE RHINOCEROS

SLY THE DRAGONFLY

LITTLE GOOSE WITH THE DROOPY WING

CASSANDRA THE COW

MR. WALRUS AND THE OLD SCHOOL BUS

LOUWSE THE MOUSE GET OUT OF MY HOUSE

Animalations apps are gaining recognition worldwide because they combine music and language: helping children and adults learn to speak and read the English language. Combining music and language also stimulates the brain to make stronger neuron connections, thereby making learning easier. Go to animalations.com research and learn more.

Please help us by writing a short Customer Review of each of your favorite apps in the iTunes.com app store (just below the Screenshots).

LOUWSE IN THE BIG APPLE TREE is a new app, available for download on ipad, iphone and ipod. This wonderful, holiday app tells the story of the Big Apple (New York City) and the evergreen tree that is placed in Rockefeller Center each year. It is the story of Louwse the Mouse pushing through the branches of the tree to find a busy community of tree workers inside the tree, ever so busy, getting ready for the holidays. Louwse discovers an elevator in the trunk of the tree that takes him to each of the ten levels of the tree. On each level, Louwse quickly volunteers to help the workers move forward because there is so much to be done to get ready for the holidays. Then on the tenth level, Louwse is selected to drive the sleigh through the sky to deliver joys to children around the world. Price:$2.99 includes an original song that sings the words in the story. This wonderful tale will be shared year after year, by children around the world.

Animalations has 7 new ipad/iphone apps on iTunes. They rotate each week: FREE, 99¢. $1.99, $2.99. Please help by reviewing your favorites.