The Artifacts

The Artifacts is a digital story with a unique look. The illustrations are very much like art with a blending of several different styles and then animation added to some of the screens. The story tells of a boy named Asaf who liked to collect a little bit of everything. His collections take over his room and cause his parents concern. One day the family moves and Asaf is no longer allowed to keep his collections in his new room. This upsets him but he turns to his imagination and books. At the end of the story he leaves home with “two small suitcases and one very large mind”.

I didn’t really like the way the parents were portrayed in the story when they cleaned out his collections. That seemed a bit harsh to me even though it was necessary for the plot. I thought that a few parts of the story were a bit too dark for my own kids, particularly when Asaf is shut up in his new room. Here you tap on the screen and words that include the betrayal, the cheerlessness, the crime, the dearth and the desolation appear on the screen. It captures the mood of the story but it’s a bit too heavy for my children’s ages. I’d suggest this book for older readers.

I like the look of The Artifacts and it was interesting to see what surprises are triggered when you tap on the screen. The story has an positive message in that it was good to see Asaf being resourceful and using his imagination to deal with his new situation.

Price when Reviewed: $1.99

See the app in iTunes

Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1 or later. This app is designed for both iPhone and iPad.

Seller: Slap Happy Larry

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this app for review purposes.