A poetic new iPhone app: Making magic with words

There’s a new poetry app for children out this week that’s designed to bring the magic of poetry to school-age children. And 10% of all sales will come to Save the Children.

It’s called iF Poems and features verse read by Helena Bonham Carter and Bill Nighy, with pictures by Natasha Law. So when you buy it you’ll be helping bring the magic of words alive for your children, and you’ll also be helping children the world over.

Poetry in your pocket

Created by former actress and mother of three Allie Esiri, and writer and mother of five Rachel Kelly, iF Poems is designed to put the magic of good poetry in your pocket. It costs £1.99 for the iPhone app and £2.99 for the iPad app, which includes a dictionary.

“As a child I was a bit scared by poetry,” says Helena Bonham Carter, “until someone told me it was a song that didn’t need the music… It’s just making magic with words…”

Get your hands on the greats

I have to say I’ve always felt a little intimidated by poetry too, despite being a lover of words.

But this is a good introduction, lovely to look at and easy to navigate, with poems by T.S. Eliot, Lewis Carroll, Emily Dickinson and William Shakespeare, among many other greats.

It’s on my list

I’m a real believer in the power of words to expand not just children’s imaginations but their empathy. So I think this kind of creative, educational use of the technology they’re so comforatble with is a winning combination.

If that alone isn’t reason enough to buy it, you can record yourself (or the kids) reading poems too, and it’s a portable little world of stories to take along on all those Christmas visits. Plus, best of all, every purchase helps some of the world’s poorest children grow, develop and fulfil their potential too.