TVOntario has launched its first iPhone app, teaching preschoolers with its Melvin’s Marvellous Words. The word-matching game, by TVO and Zinc Roe Design, is meant to prepare young minds for reading. It takes its name from the TVOKids show and accompanying web game.

‘It challenges young minds in an interactive and educational literacy game that makes learning fun,’ said Patricia Ellingson, TVO’s creative head of children’s programming, in a release.

TVO is selling it for free this month through Apple’s iTunes store, before bumping the price to $1.99 in February.

TVO follows the National Film Board, Hockey Night in Canada and other media outlets that have jumped on the iTunes bandwagon.