You may not have heard of NARR8: it’s a really interesting app for digital comics, with animation, interactivity and soundtracks rather than just static pages. Now there’s a version for kids too.

It’s called, logically enough, NARR8 for Kids, and it was released on Friday for iPhone and iPad. The idea is the same: comics built for touchscreen devices rather than printed pages, with a variety of stories available.

“We offer an enticing array of fairy-tale and cartoon series as well as fascinating magazines about the world around us,” promises its App Store listing. “Stories are divided into episodes that are instantly available on your mobile device the moment they come out. Each episode is filled with animation, music, sounds, special effects and interactive features to get the young reader really immersed in a world of wonder, knowledge and adventure.”

There are six specific series available at launch for children to browse. Eureka! focuses on “the most prominent inventions in human history”, while Paradigm is more about “the fascinating secret world of common objects and phenomena”. Alma Mater looks at the natural world, while The Pandas & Boom and Qumi-Qumi are interactive cartoons.

As you’ll have spotted, these aren’t the comic-strip characters your kids will already be familiar with. That could be a barrier if they’re demanding Ben 10 or Batman, but it could also be a good thing: introducing them to new characters and worlds.

NARR8 for Kids is a free download for iPhone and iPad, but it uses subscriptions to charge for the various series of between £0.69 and £2.99 each. Alternatively, you can pay £3.99 a month for access to all the series for your child.

We’re fascinated by the potential for digital comics: Niko and the Sword of Light, Comics in the Classroom and FriendStrip Kids are three other reasons why from this year. We’re looking forward to seeing how NARR8′s app evolves too.