The Frog King
Written by Heather Leister
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Screenshots
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I’ve always known this story as “The Frog Prince” and I’ll admit it’s been awhile since I’ve heard it so I may be getting my details mixed up. This app’s version tells the tale of a beautiful but spoiled princess who loses her golden ball in the palace well. Lucky for her there’s a talking frog hanging around and he offers to rescue her ball for a price – she must be his friend. The princess agrees but as soon as she gets what she wants she forgets all about the frog….until he shows up for dinner. She ignores him and refuses to hold up her end of the bargain and I began to find her character to be selfish and a bit obnoxious. But the King intervened and like a good father he told her something she didn’t want to hear. She needed to keep her promise. The princess pouts for a bit but she eventually dines with the frog. His next request is that she let him sleep in her bed. I’m with the princess on this one – Ick!! But after a not so gentle reminder from her father the princess takes the frog to her room. Now here is where I need to brush up on my Brothers Grimm because in the version that I remember the princess ends up kissing the frog and he magically turns into a prince. But in this version the princess throws the frog against her bedroom wall. It’s a very unprincess-like throw but it causes the magic spell to break, turning the frog into the prince. Of course the princess is charmed by his good looks and they end up happily ever after. All’s well that ends well but I really didn’t like the princess very much. At the end I wanted the prince to say thank you very much for my freedom now goodbye you selfish brat. But I’m a tired old cynic and there’s a reason I don’t write fairytales. The app’s ending is much happier and won’t give nightmares to children.
The one thing I couldn’t figure out was if it was possible to turn on the story’s text. I couldn’t see a way to do it so I stuck with the narration but older readers might enjoy being able to read the story by themselves. I thought the Frog King’s narration was very well done, it had a nice rhythm and flow to it. Plus, the illustrations have been created by hand (not computer) which is always nice to see.
Price when Reviewed: $.99
Seller: Ghostwriters Entertainment
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this app for review
By Justme on Sep 3, 2010
The iPad Version is with text! There you can choose if u wanna read it by urself or if it should be read out loud to you!
By justme on Sep 3, 2010
The iPad version will be with text. You can choose if you read it by yourself or if it will be read out loud to you in German and English.
By amy on Sep 4, 2010
I so agree about the princess in “The Frog Princess” (in general, I have not seen this specific app) Ok, I get that this shallow girl may fall for the frog once he turns into the prince, but why would he want to marry HER after all her bad behavior!
I have one app version which I like better, the king makes the princess live with the frog and over time she begins to fall for his personality, he makes her laugh and tells great stories, so the princess is much nicer to the frog and they are true friends, but still does not want to marry him. One day the frog gets carried away by a bird and the princess and king fear he is dead, but later he comes back, battered by the bird but alive. The princess is so happy to have him back in her life she kisses him and he turns. This story makes much more sense to me than most of the versions I have heard.
its also free right now, and well done.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/happyreading-prince-story/id377342651?mt=8
By The iPhone Mom on Sep 24, 2010
iPad version of this app is now available, with text.
~Heather