Minnie Bow Maker Review

Minnie Bow Maker is a cute and enjoyable application for kids - part craft experience - as well as including story and fashion show elements.

Having a son, I have not had to deal with a daughter who wants to dabble in the world of fashion at a young age. For this reason, I consider myself fortunate as I could easily be a killjoy when it comes to many action figure dolls geared to fashion-conscious girls that to me, send inappropriate messages.

For this reason, I think many parents, especially those of girls, will enjoy Minnie Bow Maker as this app touches upon fun accessories that may satisfy young children who have shown an interest in the world of fashion.

Although there are three sections to this app, the main area is Minnie’s bow-making machine - a Seussian contraption that makes decorative bows after being fed ribbons that have been personalized by the player who chooses the fabric, color, pattern and shape to product a bow that can be added to a personal photo or given to Minnie Mouse to try on.

Textured fabrics are focused on and include an interesting assortment of choices which showcase the 3D effect these bows have when completed, but my critical eye considers many of these fabrics to be novel in nature that I am sure children will enjoy. It would be nice, however, to see the understated textures of velvet, silk, linen or cotton also included.

There is a nice selection of colors to choose from as well as patterns to select which will appeal to children. Choices include polka dots, hearts or stars, and it is fun that a few surprise details can be found among the shapes one can choose from. After the bow is complete, one can choose to add it to a personal photo. Those with forward-facing cameras can take a photo especially for this purpose, or simply give this bow to Mini to try on herself. Saving this bow will allow it to be included within the fashion show area of this app.

Children will enjoy the 3D effect, seen when the completed bow is ready and creating a nice sense of volume and dimension, appearing to be very much real and sometimes much nicer looking than the individual elements chosen. I do notice, however, that these bows look as if they are floating in front of Minnie instead of being directly on her head. Although this is a distraction to me, I think children will simply enjoy how these bows look, popping off the page as well as moving along with Minnie’s head movements.

If your bow is saved, one can watch Minnie wear this bow as she walks on a catwalk during a bow-centric “Bow Show” fashion show that also stars other characters from this book like Daisy Duck, as well as the bows made for them within the story section of this app. It would be nice, however, if the many bows one may create over time could be stored and chosen for this fashion show, styling Minnie and friends with bows of the player's choosing, but currently only the last bow designed can be saved.

Having said this, I know that if I had a young daughter interested in walking on a catwalk during a fashion show, I would hope to hide my disapproving attitude and instead introduce her to Minnie Bow Maker as this app will allow a catwalk fix while the emphasis is on hair accessories and not on womanly fashion choices.

One may note that to include the other characters one can select for this fashion show, one must first read the story section for each character in which bow-making is a central part of the story, helping these characters in situations such as not having a bow to wear to a picnic or party. Minnie narrates these stories herself, and the words are highlighted when read - always a nice touch.

Minnie Bow Maker would make a great choice for preschoolers who are into crafts or fashion. It is intuitive as well as wholesome, making this an app that parents can feel good about and their children will enjoy.