New App Aims to Help Kids Understand Cancer
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"The Terrifying Building in Eyeville" is a new digital kids book which helps to explain cancer to children through colorful storytelling. The book has been released as an app for Android and iOS.
- (1888PressRelease) June 05, 2013 - The story is set in a little town called Eyeville, a calm and orderly place where everyone is happy and content. One day everything is changed when pleasant Mr. Nice allows a mysterious housebuilder called Mr. Kanser into his home.
Kanser sets to building an odd structure right in the middle of Mr. Nice's living room and it soon becomes clear that Mr. Kanser can't be stopped. He builds and builds and builds and soon his horrible building threatens to destroy not just Mr. Nice's house but all of Eyeville.
About the Author
The book was written by Joel Grøndrup, whose one year old daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of retinal cancer. The affected eye was removed and she received various forms of treatment, including the insertion of small, radioactive plates in the remaining eye. Today she is healthy and sees well and the disease is under control.
"When my daughter was struck with this disease I needed some way of explaining to her, and her twin brother, what cancer is. That's what gave me the idea for this story," said Joel Grøndrup, who consulted with his now 4 year old twins all through the project. "The children have helped to choose the characters' appearance and have, of course, had the story read to them countless times and suggested improvements."
Also A Great Story
The story is aimed at kids of 4 and older, of course with grown up help to explain the allegorical aspects of the tale. It can also simply be read as an entertaining story with beautiful illustrations by Dawid Woldu and Tomek Ruducha. There is also an option to hear the story read aloud.
The app costs 0.99$ and is available in the App Store and Google Play.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/terrifying-building-in-eyeville/id641524945?l=da&ls=1&mt=8
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=joel.biz.eyeville&feature=search_result&hl=en_GB
Homepage
http://www.eyeville.info
YouTube
You can see a short trailer on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLfdXumNtq8
Reviews from the Danish and English-language Press
The app, originally written and released in Danish, has won many positive reviews.
"... an important story about a serious topic - told in a really great way." - Rikke Pal (link, in Danish) http://mors-apps.com/2013/04/24/en-vigtig-app/
"The Terrifying Building in Eyeville is probably one of the most unique storybook apps I've encountered." - Sarah Hanlon, http://www.theiphoneappreview.com/2013/05/the-terrifying-building-in-eyeville-ipad-app-review/
"20 best iPhone and iPad apps this week. ...important and valuable: an allegorical tale that aims to help adults explain cancer to children - whether the kids have it themselves, or know a friend or family member that does." - Stuart Dredge, http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/appsblog/2013/may/13/best-iphone-ipad-apps-the-doors-running-with-friends
"An interesting story for little people... Young readers will not get bored with it very soon." - http://www.realkidsapps.com/books-13051601/
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