# The Surprise (Home) > Wordless animated story app for children to create custom narration. (iPhone/iPad app by Hamaguchi Learning & Development, LLC.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-surprise-home/id527223436 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Hamaguchi Learning & Development, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/460288922) - Category: Education, Books - Price: $2.99 - Rating: 4.70/5 from 27 App Store ratings · 39 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 12.0 · 68 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2012-05-22 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-surprise-home/id527223436/reviews.md ## What is The Surprise (Home)? From ConsonantlySpeaking.com: "Hamaguchi Apps has revolutionized storytelling in their application, "You're the Storyteller: The Surprise." In this beautifully animated, wordless story, the child watches each scene and can then record and/or write their very own narration! This is the HOME version. It is for a single user only, and for the iPAD. (This app is not available for the iPhone) Check out our Youtube demo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyyzZxOt9BA In this delightful story, a boy brings home a stray dog and attempts to hide it from his mother. Using body language, facial expressions, and carefully selected sound effects, the story unfolds and we find out why this story is called “The Surprise!” There are 8 chapters in this wordless book. Each chapter’s animation clips runs an average of 15 seconds, allowing the child to describe and retell the story in small increments. The user may replay the entire narrated story from beginning to end via the Table of Contents. You can also watch the original story with or without music accompaniment, email your story including the voice file, or print it out! There are “Challenge Words” provided for each chapter. These are optional and for more advanced language learners who want to try and put them into their narration. The “Questions” bone provides 3 questions for each chapter. Answers and suggestions for both of these are available in the Information page. This is the HOME version. Only one user’s voice file and one written narration is kept in the program. When a new recording or writing is provided, it erases whatever was previously recorded or written. (The Professional Version keeps the voice/narration files for up to 30 users) Aside from being just plain FUN, this app lends itself well to a host of educational and therapeutic possibilities: practice with articulation, fluency, syntax development, social cognitive skills including perspective-taking and body language/facial expression interpretation, and much more! PRIVACY POLICY: We do NOT collect personal data from our users and have no ads. Personal data regarding user performance on the tasks on this app are self-contained and not transmitted in any way, unless emailed by the user to someone else. There are no in-app purchases in this app. A demo link will allow a user with internet access to view a video on YouTube to learn about the features of this app, as well as a link to our other apps in the iTunes store. Developed by noted speech-language pathologist and author of Childhood Speech, Language & Listening Problems: What Every Parent Should Know, Patti Hamaguchi, M.A., CCC-SLP. To find out more about this app and our other upcoming projects, visit our website: www.hamaguchiapps.com Questions or need Tech Support? Email us at info@hamaguchiapps.com ## Key features - Wordless animated story - Record custom narration - Write custom narration - 8 chapters with short clips - Replay narrated story - Email narrated story - Challenge words and questions ## Recent user reviews (10 of 39) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-surprise-home/id527223436/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Love it! *2013-10-24, version 1.1* What a wonderful app! It's so versatile, and can really be modified for so many age groups and so many goal areas! PLEASE do more wordless stories! ### 5/5 — Great SLP App *2013-07-16, version 1.1* Awesome app for story generation when you don't have enough time for children to come up with their own story! Includes all parts of story grammar and can be recorded and sent to parents. Kids loved it too. ### 5/5 — Awesome *2013-05-03, version 1.1* I love this app. It is really thought out and there is so much to this app. You get to work on creating your own story based on what you see and think is happening. You get three questions per chapter, but you can also ask your own questions. I also love the info page that gives you tips and suggestions for using the app. The home version works great for one user, but I work with several kids so I really like the pro version because you can let your kid listen to their story and/or other saved stories so they can see how others interpreted the story. Great job Hamaguchi! ### 5/5 — Awesome *2013-05-03, version 1.1* This is a terrific app that allows you to narrate a story and answer questions about what you think is happening. I love this app and my kids love it as well! Great job on the info page as well! I look forward to more stories! ### 5/5 — Great!!! *2012-11-07, version 1.0* I love how this is laid out, so many opportunities and ways to develop speech and language skills for my students. I can't wait to see more! ### 5/5 — Love this app! *2012-11-02, version 1.0* This is an amazing app geared at allowing the use of creativity and imagination. As a SPED teacher, I will certainly utilize this app in a variety of settings with a variety of students. Thank you Hamaguchi for yet ANOTHER amazing app! Both my students and chiildren LOVE this app! ### 5/5 — Wow! What a wonderful writing tool! *2012-09-23, version 1.0* I am looking at this app through the eye's of a teacher. This app is awesome for the beginning writer. It allows them to watch the video and then they can either write or record a story to go with the video. Many times students have trouble writing because they can not think of anything to write about or they want to just write a sentence or two. This app makes it fun for them to create and then write a complete story. It also works on using and recognizing certain words. The students will love recording their stories and listening to the playback. I believe that is app is worth 5 stars! The pro version would be great for special education classroom as well as your lower grade levels! I can't wait to start using this with my kindergarten kids! It leads them into the writing process without them knowing it :) ### 5/5 — The Suprise Storytelling App *2012-09-06, version 1.0* I think this is a good app to use with the students that I work with. This allows them to participate in many areas. As an Occupational Therapist, I can work on writing skills as well as working on problem solving skills. My Speech Therapy friends will love it as well! This is a fun app. ### 5/5 — You're the Storyteller *2012-09-05, version 1.0* By:Papadiz Great concept for building language skills. I can see this app being used in a wide group of age ranges, covering a limitless number of stories. Show us more! ### 5/5 — Excellent *2012-08-17, version 1.0* I provide speech and language therapy to pre-K to 3rd graders. This is just what so many of my kids need. More titles please! Different styles of illustration would be good for future editions as well as a range of characters featured. ## Frequently asked questions about The Surprise (Home) ### What does 'The Surprise (Home)' app do? This app provides a beautifully animated, wordless story for children. Users can watch the story unfold and then record their own voice narration or write text for each scene. The app allows you to replay your personalized version of the story. ### What are the key features of this app? Key features include a wordless animated story divided into 8 chapters, the ability to record and write custom narration for each scene, replay the entire narrated story, email your creation, and optional 'Challenge Words' and questions for language practice. ### How much does 'The Surprise (Home)' app cost? This is the HOME version of the app, which is a paid application. There are no in-app purchases or ads. The description indicates it is a one-time purchase for single-user access. ### What devices is this app compatible with? This specific version of the app, 'The Surprise (Home)', is designed for the iPad only and is not available for the iPhone. It is intended for single-user use. ### What are the educational benefits of using this app? The app is beneficial for practicing articulation, fluency, and syntax development. It also helps in developing social cognitive skills, such as perspective-taking and interpreting body language and facial expressions, making it useful for educational and therapeutic purposes. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.5 — 2021-03-06 Bug fix for IOS 14 ### 1.4 — 2017-10-05 Updated for IOS 11 compatibility ### 1.3 — 2015-01-21 - Minor fixes - Video preview for the App ### 1.2 — 2014-04-01 Updates for - Parental gate - iOS 7 changes ### 1.1 — 2013-04-19 iOS6 compatibility ## Apps similar to The Surprise (Home) | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Brainy Skills Doesn't Belong](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainy-skills-doesnt-belong/id1471152833) | 5.0 (1) | $1.99 | Education | | [Sequencing from I Can Do Apps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sequencing-from-i-can-do-apps/id906769557) | 3.8 (4) | $5.99 | Education | | [Guess Who? from I Can Do Apps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guess-who-from-i-can-do-apps/id583540727) | 2.5 (4) | $3.99 | Education | | [TAP Library School Edition](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tap-library-school-edition/id1407324366) | 4.5 (14) | Free | Education | | [Avatalker AAC](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avatalker-aac/id796694627) | 5.0 (2) | $49.99 | Education | | [Inference Ace](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inference-ace/id875998338) | 4.5 (4) | $8.99 | Education | ## More apps by Hamaguchi Learning & Development, LLC - [First Phrases Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-phrases-lite/id460291615) - [First Phrases HD](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-phrases-hd/id473894018) - [First Phrases Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-phrases-lite/id474142004) - [First Phrases](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-phrases/id474146399) - [Fun With Directions HD](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fun-with-directions-hd/id475972703) - [Fun With Directions HD Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fun-with-directions-hd-lite/id478249055) All apps by Hamaguchi Learning & Development, LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/460288922 --- *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 2026-06-10.*