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Tinybop Inc.

Tinybop's Explorer's Library

Recommended Ages
Our apps are designed to work both with very young children who just want to explore and older kids interested in how things work and the names of things. Each app contains hundreds of labels that are localized in 40+ languages so they're also useful in language learning.

K-6

Each of the apps in Tinybop's Explorer's Library series covers a big foundational topic in science. From the Human Body to Space, the apps teach through interactive play. For example we don't tell kids that the spine holds up a human body, but if a child removes the spine, the skeleton collapses. Each of the 10 apps is considered best-in-class and have won countless awards. We offer free supports for parents and teachers in the form of handbooks (available on our site) and printable (on teachers pay teachers). The apps are single purchase. You pay once and that's it, so they're super affordable for families.

Features
AppCaregiver-LedEarly LearnerExperiential

Children with a deep curiosity about how the world works are our biggest fans. Parents who like apps that are slow and gentle also really appreciate us.

Pros

Kids tell us our apps are mysterious and funny. Parents like that after playing with our apps, kids are full of questions.

Cons

Some parents are so used to goal oriented games that they are mystified by open play apps. Our suggestion is usually to let your child play and see what happens.

When purchased in volume (30 or more apps at a time our apps are available at a 50% discount through Apple's Volume Purchase Program.

The Explorer's Library bundle is 24.99 (35.90 if purchased separately).

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Tinybop's Explorer's Library
$2.99 USD

Skills

What kids will learn
View all collections
STEM
STEM
Science
Science
Biology
Biology
Creativity
Creativity
Earth Science
Earth Science
Geology
Geology
Nature Study
Nature Study

Our mission

Tinybop designs playful experiences that inspire creativity, curiosity and a love of learning.

Our story

Tinybop was created by a dad who was frustrated. Even in a book-filled house his kindergartener was obsessed with screens. But the quality of children's apps on those screens was poor, often loud and noisy they sometimes just involved rote memorization or were ads for other kids entertainment. He wanted to create experiences that were as beautiful as the most beautiful children's book, but also designed for these powerful devices. Starting in a small co-working space we made our first app, The Human Body, incorporating everything we loved about children's books but marrying it to this new tech. The camera became the eye, the microphone, the ear etc. This first app was a huge hit around the world and millions of families began their journey with Tinybop. Twenty apps later we've always kept to those high standards and see each app as a cathedral in miniatures: an exquisite object crafted by many hands. Our biggest joy is seeing our first generation of app users 10 years ago come back to us and tell us that they decided on a major in college from some idea that was sparked in an app when they were in grade school.

FAQ: Additional Details about Tinybop's Explorer's Library

We always start and end with questions. Imagine you are about to visit a city with skyscrapers. You might download our skyscraper handbook and ask your child some of our leading questions about skyscrapers to see how they imagine them being built. Then you might ask them if they have questions about skyscrapers. Starting the app, and building a few skyscrapers might prompt more questions. What happens in heavy winds or with skyscrapers? How do they get water up to the top floors. After playing in the app, you might have your child draw a skyscraper from their imagination. And finally when you get to the city, you might visit a skyscraper and see if the things your child understands about skyscrapers are born out.

Generally in homeschools the caregiver will cover a subject. Let's say The Human Body. We provide resources for this if they need help (http://tinybop.com/handbooks). They might start asking guiding questions and start a discussion to give context. Then they might introduce our Human Body app and let the children explore. Then they might print out our free worksheets (available on teachers pay teachers) and see what the child understands. On another day, they might return to the app but this time with labels turned on and start to name things. Or they might have children narrate what they think is happening in a particular scene and then discuss what they are experiencing. Some multilingual schools will then switch the labels to another language and teach the parts in that language.

Our apps can be played without caregiver involvement, but are enhanced when caregivers are available to answer questions and guide discussions.

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While never properly studied, parental feedback about our apps suggests our quiet approach is exceptionally popular with kids on the spectrum. We believe this is because we design to slow kids down rather than speeding them up.

Our apps are gentle without soundtracks (and always with the ability to turn off sounds)

For the motivated child, the labels feature of our app is a big selling point. By naming things children start to have a larger sense of the world. Many children who use our apps are able to master the names of objects and concepts far outside their grade level.

While never properly studied, parental feedback about our apps suggests our quiet approach is exceptionally popular with kids on the spectrum. We believe this is because we design to slow kids down rather than speeding them up.

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Refunds are controlled by Apple/Google.

For families who look at learning as a goal oriented set of tasks, our apps will not be a good fit. Some kids who are motivated by game-like goal-driven tasks (winning gold coins, credits etc) are also not a good fit.

For goal-oriented families programs like IXL might work better.

In addition to the Explorer's Library bundle, we have two more apps in the series (not yet bundled) and another series of open play building apps called Digital Toys. This includes The Robot Factory (Apple's iPad App of the Year), Infinite Arcade (a game programming app beloved by kids who have built a quarter of a billion robots in the app), and Me: A Kid's Diary (an SEL app, popular in schools).
Contact form

Meet Raul Gutierrez

Raul Gutierrez has enjoyed a long career in technology and the arts. As a high school student in rural East Texas, he was an early Apple developer but then went on to have an eclectic career that included a stint in Hollywood, as a designer, and in startup world. Raul is and avid photographer, occasional blogger, and unrepentant collector of unusual objects. He lives with his wife and kids in Brooklyn. In addition to Tinybop he also runs PictureStudio a tool for AI image making.

Modulo's expert opinion

Our learning specialists give their honest evaluation
ManishaCEO and Founder of Modulo

Tinybop’s Explorer’s Library is beautifully designed to spark curiosity while grounding kids in real-world science.

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