New Apps Using Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature Books: from kandelsmith

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The information below is about a new company, kandelsmith, which is creating mobile apps using classic children’s stories. These apps are particularly exciting to me because they’ve been made by Rita Smith, former Curator of the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, and her daughter using classic children’s books from the Baldwin Library. As a company,  kandelsmith was created to share 19th century children’s books with a new and wider audience by creating interactive apps for the iPad.
Their first two apps (alphabet books) were released on September 7 and are available in the iTunes app store for FREE through September 14. These are the links for the apps:

This is the official press release:

kandelsmith is proud to introduce two interactive children’s apps that bring nostalgia to story time by recreating books  for the iPad from historical children’s literature.  These charming alphabet books have been beautifully reproduced and enhanced with press-and-hear objects and read-to-me options.  Each interactive app includes two 19th century alphabet books with faithfully reproduced text and illustrations.
Our first offering (ABC, vol 1) includes Baseball ABC, originally published in 1885, featuring colorful images of 19th Century baseball;  and Elton’s Pictorial ABC, with 250 engravings of objects mapped for press-and-hear interactivity.
The second offering (ABC, vol 2) features two more alphabet books:  Funny Zoological ABC, originally published in 1873, comprised of fanciful color drawings of animals and rhymes with a read-to-me option; and Child’s Treasury of Knowledge, a beautifully hand-colored rhymed alphabet book with read-to-me and press-and-hear options, originally published about 1860.
Both of these apps can be downloaded from the app store free through September 14, 2012.
kandelsmith is a recently formed company whose mission is to bring many of the delightful 19th century children’s books to 21st century audiences in electronic form. The captivating illustrations and enchanting texts can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
kandelsmith was created by a mother (Rita Kandel Smith) and daughter (Rachel Smith) who love reading and have an interest in historical children’s literature.  For over twenty years, Rita served as Curator of The Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, located in the Special Collections Department of the University of Florida Library.  After her retirement, she looked for ways to open up the wonderful resources of this collection to a wider audience.  By combining her knowledge of 19th century resources with Rachel’s technical skills, the two have created kandelsmith to provide this access.
Other offerings from kandelsmith in the near future will include poetry, fairy tales, folk tales, Mother Goose, and short stories, as well as more alphabet books.  For more information on kandelsmith visit us on-line at kandelsmith.com and follow us on facebook and twitter.
Best,
Rita Smith for kandelsmith

I also particularly love that “kandelsmith” is a combination of two family names. I’m very excited to see these out, to share them with others, and to start playing with these!