Mickey's Shapes Sing-Along by Disney Imagicademy

Mickey's Shapes Sing-Along by Disney Imagicademy hits some high notes with its singing features but falls a little short in other areas. As expected of Disney songs, the shapes tunes are really catchy, so kids and parents alike will be singing them in no time. The lyrics are simple, repetitive, and fact-filled to help kids not only recognize the shapes but also understand their attributes: "One, two, three, four straight sides make a square. Four equal straight sides, four equal corners." The games give kids a little hands-on practice identifying and drawing shapes, but they aren't the real stand-outs. Giving kids the option to to record their own singing is the main attraction, so once kids have heard the songs a few times, they'll feel ready to sing along, which will help cement the facts in their minds. Unfortunately, since kids learning shapes are usually pre-readers, the words on the screen won't help them; instead, they'll need to hear the song many, many times to learn it. The app recommends headphones when it opens, and parents will likely agree the tenth time through the songs. The breadth of shapes covered is impressive for a preschool app, too, using both diamond and rhombus and including hexagons. Pentagons and octagons are notably absent, though.