The Journals of Mama Mae & LeeLee is an iOS app launched by Alicia Keys in conjunction with AK Worldwide and Bento Box Interactive. The app is interactive and follows a young girl, LeeLee, and her grandmother, Mama Mae. The story is loosely based on Keys’ own childhood relationship with her grandmother.
Upon first launching the app, you are met with a screen asking you for your nickname. Entering your nickname brings you to a room. Tapping on the music box makes it open up, revealing a locket. Inside the locket there is a music playlist. This is the soundtrack for the app. There are stations to play the piano, a desk where you can write in a journal and a bookshelf where you can pick a book to read.
The app, while beautifully produced, is graphic intensive. I tested it on an iPad 2. I was greeted by loading screens in between the chapters of Blue Moon. It took a few tries tapping on the prompts for some of them to respond. I thought the mini game with the bird and what appeared to be birds was okay. I thought the bird flew a bit too fast for a toddler/preschooler.
Even so, I thought the Blue Moon story was amazing. It was beautifully written and illustrated. The story is about a Native American girl, Abey, who gets lost in the Great Smoky Mountains. This is not a lean-back story. It is definitely interactive. There are areas where you cannot proceed without executing the required action.
The app is more geared towards girls, in my opinion. I find this interesting since Alicia Keys has a son. She has said there will be more stories released through the app. I am left to assume these will be available for in-app purchase rather than included the initial $3.99 price.
I have been a fan of Alicia Keys for a long time. I believe motherhood fits her well. It is obvious that she channelled her own childhood experiences, gained inspiration from her child for this app and got together with a team to put it together to almost perfection.
“The Journals of Mama Mae & LeeLee” is currently available for $3.99 through the Apple iTunes App Store for the iPad, iPhone and iTouch.
$3.99 – Download Now (iPhone/iPad)
aadmin is a contributor at DadPulse. We are committed to providing well-researched, accurate, and valuable content to our readers.
