Nominated by: Sheila Ruth

Finalist blurb: Mental Floss calls this app, ?a whimsical, interactive textbook to the stars.? And I couldn?t agree more. Professor Astro Cat?s Solar System weaves fun facts together with content-rich games to deliver an engaging educational punch. It makes play and learning one, just as its developer, Minilab Ltd., intended. But it doesn?t stop there. The app is gorgeously illustrated, a real pleasure to look at. It?s beautifully designed too. Everything works exactly as it should with nice sound effects and visual animations accompanying user actions. The interactivity works to extend the content, not distract from it. There is nothing missing or out of place in this app. Though non-linear, Professor Astro Cat?s Solar System is very intuitive. It?s highly responsive with multiple layers and activities to unlock, which makes the app appealing to a fairly wide age-range. The non-fiction content is clearly written and delivered in just the right doses. I had a great time playing with this app. It hooked me to the end. What?s more, I learned a lot. Your kid will too. Without even knowing it.

Winner blurb: The colors, music, animations and content focus (space) give Professor Astro Cat?s Solar System an impressive amount of kid appeal. The app, based on the book by the same name, contains informative content presented within an easily navigable interface enriched with cleanly designed illustrations and meaningful interactive features. Favorite graphic features are the size comparison chart assigning planets to different types of fruits and vegetables (Jupiter is a watermelon to Earth?s cherry tomato) and the ?unzip? feature which reveals a cutaway view of the inside of each planet. Unique facts will unlock a fascination with the extraterrestrial abound: discover your age on Mercury, why there are no seasons on Venus, that 1,300 Earths fit inside Jupiter and that one day on Uranus?takes 42 Earth years! Exciting sound effects and adventurous music complement the app?s palette of blue, orange, yellow & white creating an auditory and visually appealing backdrop for one irrepressible retro-looking space Cat. Have jetpack, will travel! The app is full of inspiring, exciting topics to explore, all reinforced with a ?Jetpack Challenge? interactive quiz game designed to help kids retain what they have read. Answer questions correctly and earn rocket parts to build your own rocket. Children will enjoy exploring the solar system with Professor Astro Cat as their guide.