Dr. Seuss Enterprises has launched its first augmented reality app for the popular Dr Seuss title, Dr Seuss’ ABC – An Amazing AR Alphabet App.

A digital learning-focused app, the launch is the first part in a series of digital educational experiences to surface, all of which will be based on popular titles from the widely celebrated author. The app allows kids to interact and learn the alphabet along with Seussian characters, while utilising AR technology.

Children can play with animated characters such as Aunt Annie’s Alligator, David Donald Doo, Fiffer-Feffer-Feff, Little Lola Lopp, Vera Violet Vinn, and more, as well as create their own AR story world.

“Dr. Seuss’s ABC – An Amazing AR Alphabet! App is an exciting way to ignite young imaginations through interactive play with the creative stories and beloved characters both kids and parents love,” said Dr. Seuss Enterprises president, Susan Brandt. “We are thrilled to launch the app just in time to commemorate the annual Dr. Seuss’s Birthday holiday.”

The app is currently available on the Apple App store and Google Play for phones and tablets. Its launch coincides with this year’s Dr Seuss Birthday celebrations which kicked off on March 2 and will continue through the week.

The digital learning app uses augmented reality technology with features that allow kids to direct their own experience.  The Story Mode feature guides kids sequentially through the alphabet from A through Z with the animated characters appearing in AR.  In addition, there is an A to Z feature that lets kids select a chapter of the book and listen to a narrated story with their favourite characters.

“Digital media and AR technology can be a powerful tool for supporting young children’s learning, so we are looking forward to offering families this new opportunity for interactive play,” Sugar Creative’s managing director Jason Veal added.

“Dr. Seuss’s ABC – An Amazing AR Alphabet! App invites kids to create unique and hands-on learning experiences every time they play.”

The app also offers an innovate Sandbox feature that allows kids to select animated characters and create their very own AR world. The app is powered by Unity’s MARS extension, which gives brands the power to build mixed reality and augmented reality applications that interact with real-world environments.