Spoiler Alert!  At the end of Cinderella, the glass slipper fits.  The King falls in love with our heroine, and all is well with the world.  It’s a classic feel-good story that’s been told countless times in cultures far and wide.  The book delivers the goods.  So can an iPad app improve on it?  Well, as long as you’re not a storybook purist, oh yes it can.

The Cinderella animated picture book for iPad enables your child to play an active role in the story, without straying too far from the general plot.  There are no game elements – no scores to beat or baubles to collect – just active participation, as if your child is a featured character along for the ride.  They can help Cinderella tidy up the kitchen, select her clothing, and even control each character’s physical placement within a scene, like a digital storyboard artist.  Very cool.

Whether in “Read to Me,” “Read by Myself” or “Read & Play” mode, the app combines modern illustrations and animations with character-specific and scene-setting music.  In one of my favorite touches, your kids can insert their image into the story with the iPad’s built-in camera.  Not to spoil the ending again, but they’ll love seeing themselves live happily ever after.