Charming Interactive Storybook App Gorilla Band Delivers Common Core Aligned Edutainment

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Aug 15, 2013, 08:30 ET

ATLANTA, Aug. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- App developer Wasabi Productions today announces the launch of the musical tale Gorilla Band, an interactive storybook that is set to dazzle and delight pre-K through 2^nd grade classrooms this back to school season. It goes live with Common Core Standards aligned reading strategies to help teachers and students get the most out of the app.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130815/PH64466-a)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130815/PH64466-b)

These lessons from Sascyn Publishing contain discussion questions, research and writing assignments and drawing activities. They highlights puns, idioms and every nuance of the language contained in the app. They're also linked to Blooms Taxonomy making the app ripe for ELA classroom use.

Written in rhyme and packed with music, Gorilla Band helps with the development of phonological awareness, imagination, emergent literacy and instrument recognition by sight and sound – all-important age-appropriate educational benefits for its 2-7 year old audience.

Placing the reader at the center of the story, the app unfolds through their interaction, and takes place in a dynamic, 3D jungle set that allows for camera pans and sweeping changes in perspective.

We meet gorillas at Jungle Music School learning piano and violin and after a serendipitous exposure to tunes from other rock star jungle musicians, see them enthusiastically form a band and write a song.

Music is widely regarded as an important part of a well-rounded education, and it also helps with skills in literacy, "discriminating sounds fosters phonological awareness, or awareness of the sound structure of language - an important emergent literacy skill^{^[1]}."

Wasabi is proud to support American not-for-profit VH1 Save the Music Foundation, whose mission is to restore instrumental music education programs in America's public schools, and raise awareness about the importance of music as part of each child's complete education. 10% of proceeds from app sales will go to benefit the charity's work^[2].

Paul Cothran, Vice President and Executive Director of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, says, "It is exciting to see how technology can further complement education and help students develop their appreciation for music."

Graham Nunn, Creative Director for Wasabi says, "Gorilla Band is a memorable story, and it gives families and schools the ability to expose children to music with authenticity and ease."

Available as a universal app for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch for $3.99 (Educational discount applies through iTunes). Launching soon for Android. Special launch pricing of $0.99.

^{^[1]}Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence and Teacher Handbook
^[2] Sale proceeds will be donated up until 31 December 2013 and may be extended

Media enquiries:

Amy Friedlander, VP Marketing & Strategy, 4045793861/ Email