Marking the first time it’s launched a preschool property to digital first, The Jim Henson Company, in partnership with UK app developer Mindshapes, has released Chatter Zoo, a new multi-platform preschool IP.

The new US$1.99 app helps teach preschoolers early language acquisition, caregiving, and responsibility through the assistance of four playful baby animals and is currently available at iTunes for iPhone and iPad devices.

It features an appisode format including two learn and play activities, two interactive stories, animations and music content. Users can interact in activities across playtime, mealtime, bathtime and bedtime using Mindshapes’ customized Livebook format.

Created by Alex Rockwell (Pajanimals, Bear in the Big Blue House), Chatter Zoo will also launch for Amazon’s Kindle Fire in September, and Henson has plans to develop the property for TV and expand the brand into toys and other consumer product categories such as books in 2014.

The latest app release further extends Henson’s existing partnership with Mindshapes which saw the companies launch a Sid the Science Kid app in April with plans to release a Pajanimals app later this year.