The two of us grew up together and have collaborated on creative endeavors for as long as we’ve known each other: writing stories together in elementary school, starting a rock band in high school, and so on ever since.  When we each became fathers of young children who read voraciously, it was only natural to shift our creative efforts to early literacy.At the outset, we aimed to bring interactive narrative to picture books while keeping the story absolutely central, as inviting young readers to drive the plot through meaningful choices provides a new level of engagement not available in traditional picture books.  Along the way, we recognized we could further facilitate story engagement and comprehension through multimedia elements (like animations, music, and sound effects), while avoiding interactive elements that can distract (like hotspots).

What is your favorite aspect of your app?

We love how Max & Meredith invites kids to make meaningful decisions and experience the consequences.  The story presents two characters who tackle problems in diverse ways: Max is the brainy yet cautious one, while Meredith is the fearless leader, ready to rush into action to tackle a problem head-on.  With the ability to make different decisions each time, kids learn there’s more than one way to handle a problem – though the consequences may differ!

We’re also quite partial to the music.  We’ve found kids (and some adults) can’t resist singing along.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

While quality educational apps are valuable for independent learning, we encourage parents also to read Max & Meredith with their children.  Max & Meredith provides a unique opportunity for grownups and kids to jointly engage in decision-making – though be prepared for kids to have the final say!