5 apps for creative iPad storytelling


A clutch of tools for writing ebooks, poems, flipbooks, and more

storytelling-ipadNarrative writing and storytelling skills are useful in nearly every discipline, from English language arts to science and history. Students that might not be able to explain their thinking one way, might fare better using audio, visuals, or some combination of the two. The iPad, a recognized content-creation tool, is a natural companion.

Here, we’ve gathered a handful of apps for story creation, in all its forms, that were originally summarized on APPitic.com, an app resource site with more than 6,000 apps in more than 300 subcategories.

[Editor’s note: eSchool News has selected these apps, which were originally curated by Apple Distinguished Educators, that may help you meet your instructional needs.]

1. A Novel Idea, Free
An app for quick bursts of inspiration, which lets users jot down characters, locations, and plot points and link them together. Written scenes can be organized and moved in and out of order.

(Next page: 4 more apps, including book builders and a poem-writing aid.


2. Creative Book Builder, $3.99
Write and build e-books with this app, and read them on any epub reader (or export to PDF). Images and video (remotely hosted to reduce file size) can be added to books and teachers can also plug in various assessment features, such as quizzes.

3.  FlipBook, $4.99
Have students create animations and turn them into flip books to illustrate hard-to-explain concepts. The app includes drawing tools and image import, as well as features designed to simplify the animation process. A free version with reduced functionality is also available.

4. Demibooks Composer, Free
Combine images, text, music, animation, and more to create realistic-looking ebooks, ideal for telling complex stories. Users build their stories by creating pages, and then linking them together via navigation at the front of the book. There is a free version and a $9.99 version with additional features.

5. PortaPoet, $1.99
A poetry-writing aid, this app helps users find rhyming words, organize poems, and collaborate with other writers. Users can also publish their poems via the app and read others’ work. A haiku syllable checker is also included.

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