iBooks

Price: Free!
Grade Recommendation: All
Subject: Reading
Specific Skill: N/A
Levels: N/A
Players: N/A
For iPad, iPod, or Both: Both

For reasons unknown to me, iPads and iPod Touches do not ship with iBooks installed, despite the fact that the app is Apple's own e-book reader. Nonetheless, this should be one of the first apps you install.

The app links to Apple's iBookstore. I'm impressed with the selection of books available. But beware that books tend to be about the same price you would pay if getting them from a traditional brick-and-mortar bookstore.

The iBookstore is not as user-friendly as I hoped. It's difficult to 'browse'. Rather, you really need to have a title in mind and use the search option to see if it's available. But you can also use the 'Top Charts' option in the 'Children & Teens' category to see popular titles.

Many classic books are available for free! But chances are you'll have to purchase copies of modern/newer and more popular books. The purchasing and downloading processes are super easy and super quick.

Back in the app, all downloaded (either free or purchased) books sit in a beautiful and simple bookshelf. You may also choose to have them in list form instead; this option allows you to organize them by titles, authors, or categories.

There are plenty of other options once you 'open' a book to read. You can adjust the screen's brightness and the text's size and font. Tapping on a word allows you to look it up in the built-in dictionary, highlight it, make a note, or search for the same word in other parts of the story. You're also able to see what page you're on and out of how many. The same thing is true for each chapter ("16 pages left in this chapter"). You can even use the bookmark to hold your spot.

Simply put, no iPad or iPod Touch should be without this app. Make it one of the very first you obtain. Happy Reading! :)