$5.99
“Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!” – This is the question for Charlie Brown, and the question many people, adults and children alike face each year. Catholic’s even struggle with this, even with all of the Advent symbolism around them, trees, and mangers. With inflatable Darth Maul (and BB-8), it is hard to keep our hearts focused on the real meaning of Christmas.
Help Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the entire Peanuts gang as they struggle to find the true meaning of Christmas. Peter Robbins, the original voice of Charlie Brown, narrates the rebirth of the 1965 animated classic as an interactive storybook complete with original dialogue, digitally remastered illustrations, animation, and music optimized for your Apple device, Android tablet, or Droid Phone.
This year, you won’t have to wait to find A Charlie Brown Christmas on television – you can have it as an interactive pop-up book on your Android or iOS phone or tablet. You’ll be able to fingerpaint or go caroling with the Peanuts gang, play piano with Schroeder, and even participate in the Spectacular Super-Colossal Neighborhood Christmas Lights and Display Contest to unlock decorations for your on-screen Charlie Brown Christmas tree. The app is currently $5.99 in the iTunes app store, the Android Market, and the Amazon appstore for Android.
Play Schroeder’s piano, finger paint with the gan, and touch and drag objects to make them spring to life.
So Why Is This App A ‘Catholic’ App?
Charles Schultz’ award winning Christmas special aired in 1965. With the increasingly awful programming on TV, we still can hear Linus recite the Nativity narrative from the Gospel of Luke. The story touches on the over-commercialization and secularism of Christmas, and serves to remind viewers of the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Jesus Christ.
Charming soundtrack featuring music and sound effects from the original special
At the time, network executives were not at all keen on several aspects of the show, forcing Schulz and Melendez to wage some serious battles to preserve their vision. They didnt want to have Linus reciting the story of the birth of Christ from the Gospel of Luke; the network orthodoxy of the time assumed that viewers would not want to sit through passages of the King James Bible. Charles Schulz was adamant about keeping this scene in, remarking that “If we don’t tell the true meaning of Christmas, who will?” The recitation of the Gospel passage on the Birth of Jesus Christ from Luke is very, very clear. It isn’t washed into the background, and this is preserved in the app as well.
Engaging Kids (and adults)
The app engages multiple demographics. There is the nostalgia of going through the app, and hearing the words of characters from our youth, and for children, it is engaging on a touch, visual, and audio level. It is narrated by the original voice of Charlie Brown, which I felt made the experience that much more authentic. A Charlie Brown Christmas app is a fantastic Christmas app for iPhone, iPad, and Android that takes the old TV version of the classic kids Christmas story and turns it into a relevant app for the digital age and for a new generation of kids to enjoy!
Rediscover the Peanuts holiday classic with this interactive storybook for all ages.
Linus: Sure, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
Linus goes to center stage, spotlight.
Linus: “And there were in the same country Shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone ’round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in the manger.’ And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men.'”
That is the meaning of Christmas.
Do you have someone in your life, that could use a refresher on the meaning of Christmas? Perhaps you could. This app draws you in and breaks all the commercialization and gets you to the very, very core of the season. It is worth it.
Don’t forget that you can gift apps like this one to others on the iTunes Store.
Educational features such as word and note highlighting help improve reading and musical skills.
Kids will love it, and Adults STILL love it.
** Reached #1 Grossing Overall **
** iPhone AND iPad APP OF THE WEEK **
** MACWORLD APPS ESSENTIAL COLLECTIONS **
** ABOUT.COM #1 CHRISTMAS APP **
** Best Kids App 2011 – Best App Ever Awards **
** APPOLICIOUS BEST iPad APPS OF 2011 **
** AWARDED THE KIRKUS STAR **
** ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY MUST LIST **
Featured in CNET, Wired, Mashable, TUAW, MacWorld, NBC, USA Today, The New Yorker, The Guardian, Slashgear, School Library Journal
** “Really captures the essence of a ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas'” – Jean Schulz
** “Makes the iPad feel like magic” – Mashable
** “Beautifully designed… and one that will tug at the heartstrings of anyone” – Wired
** “Pitch-perfect app tribute to the holiday TV classic” – Common Sense Media
** “Worth the money for all the warm fuzzies alone.” – ConsumerReports
** “The attention to detail and craft makes this stand out from the crowd” – The Guardian
** “iPad owners.. would be real blockheads if they overlooked this app” – Macworld
** “A wonderful addition to anyone’s iPad” – PadGadget
** “A perfect addition to any family’s Christmas traditions” – Mobile Tech Review
** “This is a must-have app for the holiday season” – iPad Insight
** “This app is a winner, a lovely high-tech take on a classic” – GeekMom
** “A magnificent addition to the App Store and to anyone’s device” – Apptudes
** “The must-have addition to any tablet you gift” – BetaNews
** “A definite must-buy!” – App Hunger