Grammy winning singer-songwriter Alicia Keys has launched an interactive, storytelling app geared to children entitled "The Journals of Mama Mae & Lee Lee."  The app was co-produced through a partnership between Alicia Keys, her company AK Worldwide, and Bento Box Interactive and offers the chance for children to explore their creativity through the interactive storytelling app complete with journal, readable books, and exclusive music from Keys herself.  Alicia admits the app mirrors her relationship with her grandmother who, along with her son Egypt, was a big inspiration for the project.  She tells Business Insider, "My grandmother is still a rock in my life, even still to this day. And, that's the thing. I think we have such beautiful, unique relationships with our grandparents and they occupy a certain space in our lives that no one else can. She definitely did for me. She was so regal, and she taught me how to be more compassionate.  The character of Mama Mae in the app is really her essence, that loving, strong kind of ever-present positive, powerful person."  Users of the app will find themselves in Lee Lee's bedroom where they can play the piano, write in a journal, open the music box and read stories off the bookshelf.  Meanwhile, Alicia is set to honor Oprah Winfrey at her ninth annual Black Ball this Thursday, November 1 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.  Carole King and Beyoncé are scheduled to perform for the guests of the charity event this year.