# Talking Shapes 1: Fat Cat

> Interactive app for 4-6 year olds teaching English phonics and early reading skills. (iPhone/iPad app by Talking Fingers Inc..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talking-shapes-1-fat-cat/id1186595661 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Talking Fingers Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/714047488)
- Category: Education
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 1023 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2017-03-22
- Data updated: 2026-07-07
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talking-shapes-1-fat-cat/id1186595661/reviews.md

## What is Talking Shapes 1?

THE FAT CAT is the 1st of seven TALKING SHAPES apps that teach 36 sounds of English, the letters that represent them, and words that can be built with them. The ongoing storyline is about two sisters (“long, long ago”) who invent letters in order to remember the stories they love. FAT CAT is FREE and teaches 6 letters, 6 phonemes, and four words: FAT, CAT, SAT, HAT with an interactive story and games. Talking Shapes 2-7 teach the rest of the 40 sounds of English and words that can be built with their letters. Each app is $1.99.
Letters are shapes that talk.  They change the sounds in spoken words into shapes that we can see. Talking Shapes helps 4-6 year olds identify the sounds in the words they say, draw and name the letters that represent them, sound-out and spell 3-letter words, and read short rhymes that use the words they have built. The camera feature of the tablet shows in “selfies” how your child’s mouth moves to say the different sounds in words. Letters are embedded in pictures that call to mind both the sound and the shape of the letter. Children use their fingers to draw the letters on the touch-screen.  A catchy Phoneme Song helps them remember the sounds of vowels.
Funded by the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, the apps were developed by Dr. Jeannine Herron, a research neuropsychologist in consultation with Drs. Linnea Ehri,  Carol Connor, and Leslie Grimm, (developer of “Reader Rabbit”).  Independent research with pre-school children using Talking Shapes, carried out by Dr. Margie Gillis, affiliate of Haskins Laboratory at Yale University, showed they had gained significant superiority of reading skills compared to controls on entering kindergarten.
These evidence-based apps implement discoveries from recent brain research revealing how the brain develops efficient pathways for skilled reading.

## Key features

- Teaches 36 English sounds
- Letter recognition and formation
- 3-letter word building
- Interactive stories and games
- Camera feature for mouth movement analysis
- Evidence-based learning methodology


## Frequently asked questions about Talking Shapes 1

### What is Talking Shapes 1: Fat Cat?

Talking Shapes 1: Fat Cat is the first in a series of apps designed to teach 4-6 year olds English sounds, letters, and how to build words. It features an interactive story and games to make learning engaging.

### What specific skills does Talking Shapes 1: Fat Cat teach?

This app teaches 6 letters, 6 phonemes, and four words: FAT, CAT, SAT, and HAT. It helps children identify sounds in spoken words, draw and name letters, sound out 3-letter words, and read short rhymes.

### How does Talking Shapes 1: Fat Cat help with pronunciation?

The app includes a camera feature that shows children how their mouth moves when making different sounds. This visual feedback aids in correct pronunciation and sound articulation.

### Is Talking Shapes 1: Fat Cat suitable for children preparing for kindergarten?

Yes, research with preschool children using Talking Shapes showed significant superiority in reading skills compared to controls upon entering kindergarten. The app is designed to build a strong foundation for reading.

### What is the learning methodology behind Talking Shapes 1: Fat Cat?

The app is evidence-based, implementing discoveries from brain research on how the brain develops pathways for skilled reading. It uses a visual approach where letters are shapes that talk and are embedded in pictures.

### Does Talking Shapes 1: Fat Cat have ads?

No, Talking Shapes 1: Fat Cat is ad-free, providing an uninterrupted learning experience for young children.

### What devices is Talking Shapes 1: Fat Cat available on?

Currently, Talking Shapes 1: Fat Cat is supported on iPads. Future platform compatibility may be announced by the developer.

### How often is Talking Shapes 1: Fat Cat updated?

The latest version is 2.3, and the app was last updated on January 16, 2022. This indicates a history of updates, suggesting ongoing support and potential improvements.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.3 — 2022-01-16

Fix bugs

### 2.2 — 2022-01-15

Landscape left is the new default orientation

### 2.1 — 2022-01-14

Enable landscape view right and left.

### 2.0 — 2022-01-12

Recompiled on newest Xcode and streamlining app

### 1.5 — 2017-05-11

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

Bug fixes.

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## More apps by Talking Fingers Inc.

- [Talking Shapes 2: Silly Hen](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talking-shapes-2-silly-hen/id1187146557)
- [Talking Shapes 3: Dancing Pig](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talking-shapes-3-dancing-pig/id1187151459)
- [Talking Shapes 4: Stop The Fox](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talking-shapes-4-stop-the-fox/id1187152652)
- [Talking Shapes 5: Big Sneeze](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talking-shapes-5-big-sneeze/id1187154855)
- [Talking Shapes 6: Pet Bet](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/talking-shapes-6-pet-bet/id1187479689)

All apps by Talking Fingers Inc.: https://appshunter.io/developer/714047488

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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 2026-07-07.*