# Sparky's Birthday Surprise

> Interactive storybook app teaching fire safety with games and songs. (iPhone/iPad app by NFPA.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkys-birthday-surprise/id688456828 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [NFPA](https://appshunter.io/developer/321307309)
- Category: Education, Books
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.30/5 from 15 App Store ratings · 20 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 8.0 · 59 MB
- Languages: American English, European Spanish
- Released: 2013-08-21
- Data updated: 2026-06-04
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkys-birthday-surprise/id688456828/reviews.md

## What is Sparky's Birthday Surprise?

Now available in English and Spanish

​*Winner of Children's Technology Review Editor's Choice Award

It’s Sparky® the Fire Dog’s birthday, and his doggie friends are throwing a surprise party. In this fun and original tap-and-play storybook app, kids will learn important fire safety skills while joining the excitement of preparing for a surprise birthday party. The story includes bright graphics, surprising animations, interactive learning games, and a hilarious one-of-a-kind sing-along music video. 

Highlights in Sparky’s Birthday Surprise include: 
THREE STORYTELLING MODES
Just a Book, perfect for quiet reading time, Read & Play and Read To Me in which early-learning reading skills are reinforced with text highlighting and synced narration.

FUN BAKED INTO THE STORY
Learn about the various parts of a fire truck and decorate Sparky’s birthday cake with highly interactive pages found in the story.

LEARNING ACTIVTIES STARRING SPARKY THE FIRE DOG®!
Piñata Counting and Sparky Addition mini-games teach kids to count and add in fun new ways, and the Birthday Shapes game helps kids recognize basic shapes.

ORIGINAL SING-ALONG MUSIC VIDEO
Your child will love singing the “If the Smoke Alarm Sounds” song with Sparky and his tiny flea friends while learning about what to do when they hear the alarm.

COLORING PAGES
Kids can get creative with coloring pages featuring an array of paint buckets, brushes, colorful spray paints and stickers inspired by the story.

SHARED SCREEN TIME
The Thinking Corner offers thoughtful questions designed to spark open-ended conversation and reinforce reading comprehension.

 
Hey, parents and caregivers! This app contains gated links to ensure that only adults can access social networking sites, send contact e-mails or visit app stores. We never collect personal data from children and we never use data for behavioral targeting. For more information, or to view our full app privacy policy, please visit www.cupcakedigital.com/appsprivacy.

## Key features

- Interactive tap-and-play storybook
- Fire safety learning games
- Sing-along music video
- Coloring pages
- Three storytelling modes
- Interactive cake decorating

## Recent user reviews (10 of 20)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkys-birthday-surprise/id688456828/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Update

*2017-12-03, version 1.1*

Please update your app!!

### 5/5 — Good for all ages

*2014-04-25, version 1.1*

Both my 2 and 6 year old boys love this app. It's engaging and informative. Win.

### 5/5 — Great educational and interactive app

*2013-11-15, version 1.1*

I downloaded this on a wimp while on a long car ride with my nephew who was getting tired of being in the car. We had fun reading through the book together and finding the different interactive components on the pages. He really liked being able to dress Sparky in his fire fighter uniform. This app did the trick in a time of need and I think my nephew learned a thing or two about fire safety in the meantime!

### 5/5 — Nice

*2013-10-23, version 1.1*

Great, I like it, and my son does it too. Thank you. 🚒

### 5/5 — Bravo Cupcake Digital, for providing this book!

*2013-10-19, version 1.1*

Sparky's Birthday Surprise is a must have for all families with young children. Sparky the Fire Dog, is the official mascot of the NFPA (National Fire Protetion Agency). The book is a delight in rehearsing and reinforcing fire safety and prevention, and presents loads of fun activities and interactive pages.  After reading, it also gives you the parent, a chance to set up your own family fire safety protocol. Cupcake Digital should really be commended for this app as it also meets CCC standards. I simply won't say recommended, but get it!

### 4/5 — A fun and educational app!

*2013-10-18, version 1.1*

Another fun and educational app created by Cupcake Digital! A child is never to young or old to learn about fire safety, my son is almost 3 years old, and can already reach the stove area! Now that he is able to run around and can reach the knobs on the stove we thought this would be a fun way to discuss fire safety with him. Luckily he is a fan of all Cupcake Digital's apps so it wasn't hard to get him to try out the app! He loves it and we were happy he was able to sit still and enjoy the story included!

### 5/5 — Fire Prevention Month

*2013-10-06, version 1.0*

Overall, I believe this app is fantastic.  From the read to me, read and play features, videos, games, and coloring pages, this app offers children with a great theme for the month of October of fire safety to help teach kids about fire saftey prevention.  My students are going to love this app.

### 5/5 — Fantastic Fire Safety Teaching Tool

*2013-10-06, version 1.0*

This is a fantastic fire safety teaching tool.  It is fun, educational, and does not scare children when talking about fire safety.  It is great for boys and girls so all children can learn. I would definitely recommend this application to everyone I know with children.

### 4/5 — Fun and informative!

*2013-10-05, version 1.0*

This was a great way to teach my 4 year old about fire safety!

### 5/5 — What a great app!

*2013-10-03, version 1.0*

I read about this today on Apparoo and love it!  My 5 year old keeps wanting to hear the alarm go off.

## Frequently asked questions about Sparky's Birthday Surprise

### What age is Sparky's Birthday Surprise recommended for?

Sparky's Birthday Surprise is recommended for children aged 4 and up. The app's content and interactive elements are designed to be engaging and educational for this age group.

### Does Sparky's Birthday Surprise have ads?

No, Sparky's Birthday Surprise is ad-free. This ensures an uninterrupted and safe learning experience for young children.

### What learning skills does Sparky's Birthday Surprise focus on?

The app focuses on fire safety skills, counting, addition, and shape recognition through interactive games and story elements. It also reinforces reading comprehension through thoughtful conversation starters.

### Can I play Sparky's Birthday Surprise offline?

The description does not specify offline play capabilities. However, as a storybook app with interactive elements, it is likely designed to be played with an internet connection for full functionality.

### How often is Sparky's Birthday Surprise updated?

The app was last updated on January 24, 2018, to version 1.2.5. While not frequently updated recently, it has maintained its core educational content.

### What devices is Sparky's Birthday Surprise available on?

Sparky's Birthday Surprise is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed for iOS devices.

### What are the different storytelling modes in Sparky's Birthday Surprise?

The app offers three storytelling modes: 'Just a Book' for quiet reading, 'Read & Play' which highlights text as it's read, and 'Read To Me' with synced narration to reinforce early-learning reading skills.

### Does Sparky's Birthday Surprise collect personal data from children?

No, the developers state that they never collect personal data from children and do not use data for behavioral targeting. Gated links ensure adult access to external sites.

## Version history (last 3 releases)

### 1.2.5 — 2018-01-24

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

-App has been republished to make it 64-bit compatible
-Minor UI fixes have been made

### 1.1 — 2013-10-08

Now in English and Spanish (Available as a free upgrade for those who have already downloaded the English-only version).

### 1.0 — 2013-08-20

No release notes.

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## More apps by NFPA

- [NFPA Journal](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nfpa-journal/id526415775)
- [Sparky & The Case of the Missing Smoke Alarms](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparky-and-the-case-of-the-missing-smoke-alarms/id869373998)
- [Sparky's Brain Busters](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkys-brain-busters/id1024000995)
- [Sparky's Firehouse](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sparkys-firehouse/id1154573522)
- [HAZMAT FLIC](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hazmat-flic/id1157625832)

All apps by NFPA: https://appshunter.io/developer/321307309

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-04.*