Deseret Book has published The Christmas Train, a children’s storybook that tells a sweet personal story from President Thomas S. Monson’s childhood. There is also an audio CD of President Monson narrating the story.

Deseret Book also offers an iPad app that beautifully showcases the book’s illustrations. Like most iPad storybooks, The Christmas Train contains interactive elements on each scene, which literally brings the story to life, with moving toy trains, flickering Christmas lights, and more. The app also allows you to choose to have the story read to you, with President Monson himself narrating the story–definitely an added bonus. The book is only 14 pages long, making the total reading time no longer than 5 minutes.

Is it worth the download? If you’re looking for a heart-warming story with much more meaning than most mind-numbing kids apps, this is a great choice to help kids learn about charity and love. But if $2.99 is more than you want to spend on a seasonal book, then this might not be the right app for you

Pros:

• Beautiful illustration
• Interactive book
• Narrated by President Monson

Cons:

• No retina display support
• Pricey for such a short book
• iPad only