Nosy Crow's third app is a departure from its first two, Three Little Pigs and Cinderella, but it is also unmistakeably Nosy Crow in design and quality. Bizzy Bear On the Farm is the publisher's first app developed from an original story and the first that is based on one of its own titles: the Bizzy Bear book series is published by Nosy Crow in the UK and by Candlewick Press in the US.

It is also aimed at a younger audience, ages two to four. Children follow Bizzy Bear on his day at the farm and play inside the story. Using the touchscreen, they help pick apples, collect eggs, drive the tractor, feed the pigs and take the horse out for a ride.

According to Kate Wilson, founder and managing director, toddlers and preschoolers love stories about animals and farms, and this app draws them into Bizzy Bear's day. “Parents will enjoy seeing their children listen to directions, complete tasks and feel a sense of accomplishment as they help Bizzy Bear do his farm chores." Interestingly, she says that there was a special challenge around making things bang-on for a young age-group. "It required quite a radical repurposing of the excellent toolbox that we'd built with The Three Little Pigs and Cinderella."

It was worth the effort. My toddler loved it from the off, and I enjoyed watching him navigate his way through it. Then back. And back again.

Like the Bizzy Bear board books, the app feature chunky tabs to push and pull, or in the words of Camilla Reid, Nosy Crow’s editorial director "simple ways for little fingers to explore the story". In the app, there are also sound effects and music to make things even more fun.

The app will further Nosy Crow's reputation in this field, which can only bring relief to 'bizzy' parents looking for quality and safe content for their children. What's most impressive (for parents) is how despite being based on illustrations from Benji Davies as opposed to Ed Bryan, it still feels very much part of the Nosy Crow family. The graphics are clearly rendered and colourful, and the animation slick.

I've not seen the print books, but I'm encouraged to buy them from what I've seen of the app. For Nosy Crow it'll be interesting to see how sales in one medium prompt sales in the other: personally I'd be prepared to buy both renditions for fun offline and on-Pad.

Bizzy Bear on the Farm is available for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch from the App Store for £2.49 in the UK. A second Bizzy Bear app, Bizzy Bear at the Building Site, will be released in January 2012.