Amazon.com Product Description

Approaching the last quarter of the 18th century, a tidal wave of change is poised to engulf the American colonies. Sarah Phillips and James Hiller, two young reporters working for Benjamin Franklin, adventure in search of the ultimate scoop for the front page of the Pennsylvania Gazette. Kids encounter soldiers, spies, Indians, Loyalists, statesmen, and townsfolk in a series of adventures that place them right in the middle of one of the most important eras of America's history, the American Revolution.

The primary goal of Liberty's Kids is to provide kids, ages 7 to 12, with a fresh and exciting experience of the extraordinary period in American history, 1773 to 1789. Kids gain insight into the complex ideas, perspectives, and motivations for the American Revolution. Seven historical events set in colonial America, including the Boston Tea Party, the Declaration of Independence, and the crossing of the Delaware, await kids in this exciting educational software game. Each event is can be replayed from different perspectives. Plus, kids can watch mini-movies from the PBS Kids animated series, explore Ben Franklin's inventions, create and print their own newspaper, meet famous historical figures, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Great program!
This game (should I call it a game?) is fabulous! Based on a great PBS show, it continues to teach about the Revolutionary War. By interviewing key people (like George Washington & Sam Adams) the children can create a newspaper, similar to the tv show. Sarah & James help guide you around the sites of major battles & famous towns. For fun, you often have to find certain items to give to the characters before they will allow you to interview them.

The learning mode is great & took my 9 year old daughter about 10 minutes to figure it out and go to town. She has completed the entire game about 5 times in a month and still has not grown bored - the scenerios change every time you play!

I recommend this to anyone who has ever watched the show, but also for a way to teach more about the Revolutionary War. A good reader is needed, and one that can make good judgements to choose which interview comments to publish. This would make a great addition to a classroom library of software!

Definitely a great buy!!!

I loved it!
I watch the show and I loved the CD-Rom! It never gets boring for me, because one time I got the same item for a guy that I got in the last game and he didn't need it, he needed something else! It is also really good because you can get how both British and Patriots felt about what was going on. It was so much fun!

Really cool game!
I never get bored of playing, because it changes every time. I love to hear interesting commentary and arguements between James and Sarah as you journey from scene to scene. It gives a very balanced view of the Revolution, because one's British and the other is American. I've watched the show, and they both have held my interest. It's good for anyone!

Learning and Loving the American Revolution
This game is fabulous! My children love Schoolhouse Rock and this game gave some depth to the songs about the Revolution that they had already learned. We have all played and what's great is that each game and assignment is different. Seeing the Revolution through the eyes of teenage reporters allows my children to appreciate American History without being "taught" or "preached to" by me or by their teachers. They love when I quiz them about the Battle of Saratoga, Valley Forge and Lexington and Concord. Even my 5yr old knows who John Adams is!

Great game for kids!
We bought this game for our kids for the summer, to help keep them busy. My kids LOVE the PBS show and we decided this could be a great way of entertainment and learning. My 10 year old daughter picked up on the game right away and has really enjoyed playing it. My 8 year old son has taken some time to learn the game and enjoys it, but he would like more excitement. I really like that the kids can learn more about the Revolutionary period and be a part of putting it together in a newspaper. If your kids love the show, they will enjoy the game too. ... Read more

Features

• Kid Pix Deluxe lets your child exercise creativity while building color, shape and pattern recognition skills
• Reader Rabbit Math Ages 6-9 takes children on a hike through the Word of numbers with Reader Rabbit -- they'll learn basic math while playing great games
• Storybook Weaver Deluxe lets children enjoy interactive storytelling, as they create their own little worlds and see them come alive
• Ages 6-9

Amazon.com Product Description

Every day can be a fun-filled learning adventure with the Adventure Workshop Preschool-1st Grade, featuring three award-winning educational titles for ages three to seven. Your child will love playing, learning, and just spending time with his or her favorite characters, and you'll love watching your child laugh and learn through colorful and clever activities that build valuable skills in subjects that include vocabulary, reading comprehension, addition and subtraction, logic, and art. Give your child a ticket to join this fun and exciting learning adventure.

The software bundle contains Little Bear Rainy Day Activities (join Little Bear for an exciting day of indoor fun with over 100 activities designed to strengthen creativity, thinking, and memory skills), Arthur's Computer Adventure (in which Arthur, D.W., and friends lead a hilarious adventure that builds critical reading, math, and logic skills with five learning activities and 13 surprises and puzzles), and Dr. Seuss Kindergarten (covering math to music, spelling to sorting, a full year of early learning skills in that unmistakably fantabulous Seuss style). ... Read more

Reviews (3)

mother of two busy boys
I purchased this package two years ago when my oldest son was almost 4 years old. He seldom played with Little Bear, liked the computer adventure with Arthur, but loved Dr. Seuss. This CD ROM alone has been paid for over and over. The features that are great for the children not only include the 7 areas of play (sequencing, measuring, matching, alphabet, spelling, grouping, and math..... plus other little things to do along the way), but the ability to change the level of difficulty within each area. There are 3 levels of difficulty for each area that allow the child to master a level then challenge themselves to the next level of difficulty. It is easy to move up or down a level during the game.

Follow along with your child so you know what they mean when they tell you they like "the Star Belly Sneeches" or "the Rumble Tub", and "Truffula Fruits" the best. The Dr. Seuss vernacular is another one of those things that makes this game unique.

We own about 15 childrens' CD-Roms and this one is by far the favorite. It is fun for the children while the parents feel like they are actually learning something. Our oldest child is on the verge of out growning it (6 years), but our second child, age 3, is right there to take his place.

Good Programs, Good Value
These are not my four-year-old daughter's favorite programs but she does choose them occasionally from her CD-ROM album. The graphics are not cutting edge crisp but are still good by 2003 standards. Parents should love the Dr. Seuss as it brought back a lot of nostalgia for me. My daughter's first book to read on her own was Green Eggs & Ham so it's fun for her to see Dr. Seuss on computer too. All three games are highly educational and a good value sold together. It seems the "Little Bear" title is much easier than the other two.

Loved the Dr. Seuss game
We have bought several CD packs for our 3 yr old daughter including: Living books: Grandma & Me, Brighter Child: The Muppets, Jumpstart: Numbers, Jumpstart: ABC's, and Jumpstart:Pre-K. Adventure Workshop: Preschool-1st grade seems by far the best. Arthur's Computer Adventure (part of this Adventure Workshop pack)is on par with Just Grandma & Me. Both are interactive stories that our daughter enjoys working with. She particularly likes the cashier section of the story.

Little Bear (also part of the Adventure Workshop pack) is a fun game. Our daughter really likes making cookies and dressing up various characters. But, by far the best, is the Dr. Seuss game. We really like this game because it is very educational. Our daughter really likes this game because she really likes the song and dance of the various Dr. Seuss creatures and the background story the games take place in. Unlike the similar Jumpstart games, the Adventure workshop games are challenging without causing her to feel frustrated if she hasn't mastered the task. Dr. Seuss has really helped our daughter better grasp counting and adding, recognize patterns, and identify letters of the alphabet. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This program is designed to help children learn to read. Based on the School Zone Start-to-Read! series, this interactive software has two animated stories. "Jog, Frog, Jog" tells how a frog escapes from a big dog. "Nine Men Chase a Hen" is a humorous story about cooperation and friendship. Repeated and rhyming words, audio guidance, and picture clues encourage reading success. Children can get creative with pictures, art, and words in Create-a-Story. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Let your child escape into a fairy-tale world with the Barbie as Princess Bride CD-ROM, and help Princess Bride Barbie prepare for her magical wedding day. Prince Ken has had to undertake a long journey, and while he is away Princess Barbie dreams of her wedding day and waits for the prince's return. Barbie is helped by Butterfly Fairy in her preparations for the wedding. Invite the guests, make and decorate the cake, sing love songs, retrieve items from the well, conduct the orchestra, help Prince Ken sail home, design the wedding dress and photographs, and enjoy many more exciting fairy-tale activities.

The game can be played in two modes: Story mode plays the adventure from start to finish, and Magic Mirror mode allows players to complete the activities in any order. The CD-ROM is accompanied by an excellent booklet, which should be read before beginning. It is very easy to follow and uses simple language and visual clues. Particularly useful are the helpful tips for troubleshooting if problems arise. The music of Barbie as Princess Bride can be played on any audio CD player, by starting with track two. The manufacturer's recommended age range is 4 and older, but help will certainly be required at the lower end of the range. --Susan Naylor, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (9)

For the Girl in All of us!
I have 2 young girls (5 & 3), they both love this game! They get to decorate a wedding cake, design a wedding gown for Barbie and for the flower girl, bake a cake, etc. There is a lot of learning in this while they enjoy themselves! They learn to follow directions and even a bit of fine motor skills to get the items out of the well. Memory skills are enhanced with collecting the invitations and delivering them. Any young girl will enjoy this game! Good buy!

Pretty Good
My daughter liked this C.D. Rom and she is 4. She needed some help, I wish they would put setting for different levels on the some of the activites. The mazes, cake baking,and music were to difficult and she needed some help, but overall she had fun. I don't think an older child would have problems. The music is pretty and the whole adventure is enchanting. My daughter loves dressing her for the wedding.

Wonderful Software
I love playing Barbie Princess Bride. It's WONDERFUL!!!!!

Barbie as Princess Bride
My 4 1/2 year old twins (a girl and a boy) just LOVE this game! They especially enjoy decorating the wedding cake! I highly recommend this game for young children.

Fancy girls will love this
My daughter received this for her fourth birthday. She is a girly girl and LOVED it immediately. Almost a year later, she still plays it. It has a lot of different kinds of activities. Some are educational (matching, following instructions) and some are just fun (choosing the style of the dresses, decorating a wedding cake). My only wish is that this game had levels of difficulty. My daughter played with this so frequently when she first got it that she mastered it quickly. And while she still has fun with it, the challenge of it is long gone. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

This deliberately paced program takes place in Charlie Brown's world,where kids dress the same day after day and the only character with attitude isa beagle. Players who persist through this CD-ROM's slow start will be rewardedwith games and scenarios that emulate what it's like to live in the middle of a"Peanuts" cartoon. This is a good thing for kids who like the strip and thehandful of "Peanuts" TV specials in existence. But kids who prefer the morefrenetic pace of modern cartoons might find Where's the Blanket, CharlieBrown? a bit too placid.

The mental workout this program provides is excellent. More than any other gamemanufacturer, Tivola has mastered the art of setting up a problem, then quietlyletting the player figure out how to solve it. Linus's blanket is lost, andplayers can either assume the identity of Charlie Brown or Lucy and find it.Once the problem is presented, players must navigate around Charlie Brown'shouse and use their powers of observation to get the game moving. This segmentcan make players feel like they're trapped in "Peanuts" purgatory, as they arrowCharlie Brown from room to room, desperately searching for a means out of thehouse and into the rest of the game. The on-disc Help file spells out exactlywhere players must look and what they must collect to move on--resist thetemptation to look at the Help file. You will miss the challenge and charm ofthis game if you lose patience and cheat.

As the story line leads from Charlie Brown's house to a library to Schroeder'spiano room to a supermarket with many other stops in between, games areunlocked. The nine games are short, smart endeavors. Some of the standoutsinclude a game in which Schroeder plays a short melody on his piano, and kidsmust click on sequences of actual notes that match the melody. Another greatgame requires kids to put poor, scrambled Peppermint Patty back together aftershe is magically rearranged by the Great Houndini. This descrambling has someadded twists that push it far beyond typical match-the-parts games. Each of thenine games has two levels of difficulty, and once they are unlocked, they can beinstantly accessed for repeat play.

On the way to these games are numerous other minigames, opportunities forproblem solving, and goodies you can feed Snoopy to keep his Snoopy meter onfull. Players can play this game in German as well as English. Where's theBlanket, Charlie Brown? probably won't hold up to a lot of repeat play byolder kids, but the gentle way this program forces players to use their entirebrains to find that darn blanket is remarkable. (Ages 4 to 102 according to themanufacturer; we say 4 to 8, although hard-core "Peanuts" fans of any age willalso enjoy it.) --Anne Erickson ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Fun and Humor at a Great Price!
I love Peanuts and I just loved this game. The characters were drawn exactly as they are in the comic strips and the game remains true to the Peanuts legacy. I really enjoyed my interactive Peanuts fun - and it's a great price for such a wonderful time!

dialog may not be the greatest for younger children
I purchased this game at Target as a gift for my 5 year old daughter. I noticed that it had won some sort of Parents Choice award and she is a big fan of the Peanuts "specials". The game has a charming detective game at its base which is a bit too difficult for her to figure out. She would be happy to continue trying but I am just going to throw this one in the garbage. My problem with the game is the constant negative talk that Lucy and Charlie Brown spew as they search for the blanket. Lucy is even more bombastic on the software than she is on the specials--constantly calling people stupid and putting them down. Charlie Brown is virtual stream of negative self-talk. I am aware that much of the Peanuts humor relies on negative humor and putdowns but it seems really excessive in this software. Even though I threw the game out and definitely didn't get my moneys worth I gave the it two stars because the basic game seems challenging and fun. Definitely not a good choice if your trying to teach your child to be kind and upbeat. I

HELP!!!
My daughter is trying to beat the game and is stuck at the supermarket level...i can't seem to figure it out either... of course it could be because i'm not that great at video games but if someone could just post a thing on here and let me know how to get past it i would really appreciate it!

Thanks

Great game, and good for German students, too!
Where's the Blanket, Charlie Brown? is a fun game all Peanuts fans will enjoy. The pace might be a little too slow for the younger set expecting constant action, and a four-year-old might get easily frustrated not being able to exit the Brown household, but all-in-all it is an appealing game with lots of nice extra features. The reviewer who mentioned the fuzzy graphics probably installed the game on the Quick Install method - if you use Full Install, the graphics are crisp (although it does take up a bit more disk space)! Finally, the game is also great for German students, such as myself, as it provides more exposure to the language in an entertaining way by playing the game in German.

Mostly fun & addictive game for Peanuts Fans!
This game is fun for Peanuts fans of ANY age to enjoy. Don't be put off by the marketing, which touts this as a game primarily for young children. I am an adult (also a gamer) and I thoroughly enjoyed this game. It's interesting because there are games within the game you unlock. These are not challenging in and of themselves but it's fun to have these pop up randomly. The game is true to the spirit of the Peanuts characters, with Lucy being the fussbudget she is and Charlie Brown being resigned and wishy-washy. Although, it's not a Mensa workout for adults by any means, I think children will find it challenging and engaging and even adults may find themselves stymied by the sheer simplicity of the game, i.e. I sometimes found myself "thinking too hard" and missing obvious solutions because I'm a grown up. The only gripes I have, which is why I didn't give it 5 stars are the graphics and sound. The drawings are a bit ragged around the edges and the sounds don't always match the action (and the words don't always match the mouth movements). Additionally, the sound is set too loud (the lowest setting was still too loud at least on my iMac). Other than the few technical glitches, overall, this game is just as fun as the Sims and it's nice to play a game that doesn't involve violence. Besides, who doesn't love Snoopy and the gang? If you're a parent, this is a good game for kids and if you're a Peanuts fan, you'll love it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

When Little Raven comes across Eddie Bear's brilliant tricycle, he can't stop thinking about all the amazing adventures and fun he could have. Eddie Bear isn't around, though, and Little Raven just can't wait for Eddie's permission. After all, Little Raven thinks he'll take just a little ride and that his friend won't mind. Kids join Little Raven and learn important lessons about friendship, responsibility, and cooperation along the way. The game can be played in English, French, or German with just mouse clicks. Plus, kids get to play seven Little Raven games, including Cheeses Maze, Rounding Up Beetles, and Test Your Memory. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Fun for Preschoolers
This game is based on a story book. Stripy, the little Raven, is the main character. He borrows Bear's trike and crashes it. Along the way the child makes choices about what to do. For example to begin with the child has to decide whether to tell the truth or a lie about how the trike got broken. Kids learn about consequences and how their actions affect others in this game. Too many wrong choices and you end up in the Time Out Cave. It's pretty boring there, so the child helps Stripy make the right choices, then they can join in the game again.

Stripy acts like your typical toddler/preschooler. So do the other animal characters. The folks who designed this really knew kids. The children really identify with the characters and situations in the story.

As for restarting the game, you choose a picture at the beginning, and remember which one you chose, and then go back to that one and the game is supposed to start where you left off.

I love Tivola games because the graphics and music are so soft. It's a lot different than the majority of children's cartoonish software out there.

This program is based on a picture book.

It's a lot of fun for the kids. My two---3 and 6 love it.

Not That Good
I could not decide on one or two stars - decided on one.

- Graphics:
Marginal.

- Game play:
The characters talk almost in slow motion - annoying.
The character vocies are low and the music is loud.

- Irks:
Can't save your progress, so you and your child must go through the beginning of the game over and over each time you play it.
Hit the escape key by accident and the games quits - does not ask you if you want to - just quits ! - Dumb.

Cute!
This game is very sweet; something that moms will be happy to let their kids play. It teaches little ones about cooperation, and about making responsible choices. I love that there is a Timeout Cave for when The Little Raven chooses to do something less than nice. Overall, it is a very cute storybook-type game, that should satisfy young kids and parents.

So Cute!
This game is sooooo cute. I bought it for my daughter and I and we just loved it. I personally loved the Time Out Cave! This game is adorable. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Join Barbie and friends in a race through the carnival, searching for clues and suspects. Tell Detective Barbie your name and she'll ask for your help throughout the game. It's up to you to solve the case. But watch out--clues and suspects change every time you play. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Fun to Play
This game was fun and exiting to play. You find neat clues, follow footprints and look for handprints, and even chase suspects on cool rides. The clues and the theif/kidnapper change each time, and it is always fun to see where the clues lead you too. The only problem with it is that Barbie walks way too slow! If only she would ever run, maybe the game would be more exiting and less frustrating when you try to get her to move.

MsDollie
My four nieces (ages 8 to 12) really enjoy this game. There are times when the clues are well hidden and take some careful examination to find, but that is part of the fun. There are several games to play within the mystery setting. Our only real complaint is that Barbie moves slowly through the carnival setting. We always want her to run - especially when following a hot clue!

Detective Barbie at the Carnival
I found this game a bit too hard or a glitch in there.

After looking for Ken and the clues seemed futile, my daughter and I really enjoyed the rides.

We quit worrying about find Ken and figured he left the park, so we went on the rides.

It is fun, but a few minutes of rides and we were ready to leave the park.

Best Computer game ever!!!!!!!!!!
Barbie Detective Carnival Caper,was the first computer game i ever had and i have to say it's better than any computer games in the world!

Pretty Cool
This game is fun and suspenseful...but Barbie walks way too slow. It takes me hours to play because the locations are spread out and Barbie needs a walker to get from location 2 location! It's sooooo slow. But a fun game, at that! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Based on the popular PBS television show, Zoboomafoo Animal Alphabet takes kids on a guided tour of their ABCs, allowing them to brush up early reading and spelling skills while learning about animals from the Kratt brothers and their leaping lemur friend.

An educational activity center for children in the 3 to 6 years age range, this game offers a variety of simple minigames designed to build alphabet knowledge by capitalizing on a young player's curiosity about the animal kingdom. Users can color animal flash cards or play an arcade-style round of Penguin Pong, bouncing ice floes off each other to reveal the answer to a quiz question. Alternately, they can go to Animal Mixups, a top-notch activity where kids mix and match animals, grafting a zebra head, to take one possibility, onto a tiger torso, perhaps with a cow or reindeer tail to finish.

As an extra bonus, play is interspersed with lengthy live-action sequences from the television program. A win in one of the spelling games triggers a shot of the Kratt brothers going face-first into a mud pit. The Kratts and Zoboomafoo the leaping lemur also host a collection game, where players seek out animals whose names start with the different letters of the alphabet, and then get to see video footage of the creature itself.

Animal lovers and fans of the show should enjoy Zoboomafoo Animal Alphabet thoroughly, especially if they have never seen a game of this type before. More experienced players may recognize that about half of its activities are standard fare, reworked versions of games that appear repeatedly in educational software. This is the only complaint to be made, though, with what is otherwise a completely engaging game with lots of fascinating animal facts and great potential for teaching young learners some basic reading skills. (Ages 3 to 6) --Alyx Dellamonica ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Nice mix of learning and fun
My 3 year-old really enjoys this game. It is perfect for a child who is learning her capital letters, but who is not quite ready for phonics yet. Also, while the graphics aren't superb, they are good enough for a pre-schooler and make her feel like she is interacting with the show. The CD-ROM also has a nice variety of games where different skill sets are tested. My only reservation is that that the software seems to have a few glitches on my Windows XP.

a good collection...
of games that teach spelling, reading and letter recognition. In addition to this, are the usual colouring and puzzle games. The positives: my 3 year old is quickly learning how to spell simple words and seems to enjoy the animal movies and graphics. The negatives: the font they've used for the games utilizing the alphabet is quite difficult to read (the k could be an x, etc.) Easy readability is crucial to a teaching program such as this, when will they learn? Also, the "Penguin Pong" program needs a patch but it is easily retrieved if you go to the Learning Company's website.

Pass On This One
With all the software titles available now days, I would suggest passing on this one. My child loves animals and learning, however, this is one of our least favorites. Maybe this is because we have access to more software (family "hand-me-downs") so this one just sits. After using this a few times I kept thinking there would be more substance, there isn't. I would suggest one of the JumpStart learning series (jumpstart advanced preschool etc.).

kids and parents deserve better than this lame software
I am really startled at the praise this software is getting. We own approximately twenty software titles for children and I would rank this as one of the three worst. In its favor it does not crash, but the quality of both format and content is poor.

First off, the resolution is bad. We've run this game on a Macintosh laptop and desktop computer, and the introductory footage looks fuzzy on both.

The live-action introduction is fun for fans of the show, but the few live-action sequences in the game's interior are not enough to keep little ones happy. The Kratt brothers are charming hosts of the television show but we don't see enough of them in this game. After the introduction children see a pan-and-scan version of Animal Junction populated with twenty-six clickable animals, each representing a different letter of the alphabet. When kids click on one of the animals, they receive a "page" with a picture and an assortment of facts about that creature, though in eight instances a child is presented instead with a game (more about these later). Confusingly, when a game is finished we hear Zoboo say, "That was great! Here's your animal page. Do you want to play again?" Instead of seeing an animal page, kids get a Yes-No choice. If they choose Yes they go to a game repeat. If they choose No they then go to the appropriate animal page. Did they beta test this at all?

Finally, the games are neither well-explained nor are they well-designed for children. Penguin Pong, even at the lowest of three difficulty levels, moves slowly and, in the vein of the classic game Pong, you have to knock out 49 blocks. It takes forever and kids get bored. Similarly interminable, the letter scramble is also a mess. A child must rearrange letters to form the name of a pictured animal, then click on a virtual spinner to advance Zoboo 1, 2, 3 or 4 spaces on a "game board". First complaint: when a child uses a letter from the scramble list it remains active, which is confusing for little ones. Second complaint: the game board is 35 spaces long -- it takes at least nine scrambles, and usually many more, for Zoboo to get to the end. Third complaint: when Zoboo does finally reach the 35th square, nothing interesting happens, unless you count that now-familiar non sequitur, "That was great! Here's your animal page. Do you want to play again?" What's the lesson here -- lowered expectations? In the Noodle Hut game, Zoboo asks for a letter and your child is supposed to click on it amid a field of noodles, each with a letter on it. But even at the lowest difficulty level, there are multiple examples of letters, again confusing to little ones. If there are three "R"s, which one should they click on? Also, some of the letters are presented at a three-quarter view which makes them less recognizable. Why would you do that to young children just learning their letters? My final complaint, and an important one, is that the games are not presented within any story or context to make them either interesting or meaningful.

I could continue to find fault with each of the other games, but why bother? This is lazy, sloppy software that is not good enough for your child. Instead, buy Blue's Clues or Franklin or Reader Rabbit software -- consistently well-designed and well-written. It is strange and disappointing that PBS, long considered THE leader in creative educational children's programming and products, seems to be faltering in the wake of recent competition.

Our family will continue to watch and enjoy the Zoboomafoo television show, but this software is a loser.

Your Favorite Lemur Is Back
Animal kids is here now on CD.
On this game you must collect 26 pages for your animal book.
There are also 8 great games.
They include penguin pong,the mud pit,and Wiggys noodles.
There are many other games too. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Disney's Animated StoryBook: Toy Story is a CD-ROM adventure where you bring the story to life. With the click of a mouse, you'll enter a wacky 3-D world where toys come alive. As you read along, it's up to you to help Woody and Buzz escape bad-boy Sid, catch the moving van, and become best buddies. Every page is packed with fun surprises, plus music and 3-D graphics just like the movie. In fact, there's plenty of new animation for a nonstop reading adventure worth getting all wound up about! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Please help me with this. -
My 4 year old son absolutely loves toy story. He has 3 toy story CD Roms, and every toy, tape, and cd that can ever go w/ it. The problem is, I have been trying for months to get the Animated Storybook cd rom to work properly. I know it has something to do with quicktime, I am pretty sure. I think I have a newer version of quicktime, and it wants to install and delete it, but the pc won't allow it to. Well, I get as far as Ham telling you how to play, press on the play icon and it dies on me. Always w/ a message regarding qtc or pixo, both having to do with quicktime. Once I actually got all the way to the claw game, what a dissapointment that was to my 4 year old. The first day I put it in months ago, it worked great, the next morning, it never worked past Ham at the beginning again. Any ideas? Please, help, my son will grow out of his love for these characters before I know it, and I would love for him to be able to enjoy this cd rom. Thanks

My son loves it
We got this for my four year old son for Christmas. He is big into Toy Story and just loves it. He will play hours at a time without a peep. With its different levels I expect he will be entertained for some time to come. Even his older sister, who is 7, enjoys playing the game. I would recommend it highly. Keep them coming Disney!

Toy Story Animated Storybook
My two-year-old son loves this animated storybook. He has been asking to play with the CD everyday since we first got it. I bought four other animated storybooks along with Toy Story. However, this is his favorite out of all of them. The pictures are vivid and colorful. The navigation of the pages are simple compared to the others. He is able to navigate it with a mouse all by himself from the beginning to the end. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Never face another rained-out ball game with this stunning simulator just for kids. Backyard Baseball 2001 lets you manage your own team through sunshine, hail, and hurricane. Whether you want to enjoy a single pickup match or maneuver through an entire season, this game will let you put the players you want on the field of your choice before pitting them against the toughest young players the Major Leagues have to offer.

Play in Backyard Baseball 2001 can be as simple or as difficult as you want it to be. While it is definitely useful to know a few simple statistics about your team members, it is not required. During play, batters may choose between power hits, line drives, bunts, and grounders as they try to hit the fiendishly clever pitches of the opposition. Once a hit is made, players direct runners from base to base. Unlike the earliest baseball simulators, where many decisions were made by the computer, this one puts the user in control of everything, encouraging a good sense of baseball tactics and discouraging rash play. (Stealing bases with a player who is not a good runner, for example, is a quick road to an out!) When pitching, players select from a menu of pitches and then give the pitcher a target within the batter's box for their throw. A hit transfers play to a wider view of the field, so you can direct the ball to whichever base the runner is headed for.

Backyard Baseball 2001 is an upgrade of an earlier game, and players familiar with the original Backyard Baseball will find that it is very similar in design and structure. Your favorite players (and their color commentators) have been carried over wholesale from the first game, complete with the same signature animations as they come up to bat. At first glance, in fact, the program may seem like it hasn't been spruced up much at all. However, the newer game allows players to join Major League ball teams, such as the Toronto Blue Jays, or to create their own team names and uniforms. Players may recruit or play against youthful versions of current sports superstars, such as Mark McGwire and Tony Gwynn. They can even create customized team members to shore up weaknesses in their outfield or custom-tweak an even deadlier pitcher. Another very welcome upgrade is Internet play, which takes the players on the virtual road, pitting them against teams managed by other players online.

The game design in Backyard Baseball 2001 is absolutely stellar. The interface is easy to use and entertaining. The eight ball fields each come with advantages and disadvantages to be puzzled out and exploited. Players themselves come from a pleasingly multicultural palette with a good age, gender, and ability mix. This game also carries over and expands on the original Backyard Baseball's zany sense of humor: a drinking-box gauge shows how much "juice" the pitcher still has, the patter of the commentators is pleasing and surprisingly nonrepetitive, and successful play is rewarded with power-ups for both pitcher and batter. These power-ups are hilarious--a hot pitcher can throw Fireballs, for example, which literally burn as they zoom past the luckless batter. Batters who do manage to hit these special pitches earn the right to try Crazy Bunts, which carom randomly around the field, or the (literally) Screaming Line Drives.

Young baseball enthusiasts will love this program, which combines entertainment and sports education in seamless combination. So put your team together, suit up, and play ball! --Alyx Dellamonica ... Read more

Reviews (54)

THE BEST BASEBALL GAME OUT THERE, EVEN FOR GROWN-UPS!
If you want baseball on the computer, get this game. Backyard Baseball 2001 has 31 Major League stars as kids (2 from the Reds, 1 from each other team) and 30 other players that you can pick for your team. You can play as any MLB team or pick from a list of custom names. You can even create your own player! But the most surprising part of all is that on Backyard Baseball 2001, Frank Thomas is an amazing pitcher (even better than Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling). In fact, he is so amazing, I pitched a perfect game with him once! The only downsides of this game is that you can only pick 9 players for your team (no subs) and that there are some players that you can't pick for your team that other teams can pick. This game is so good, maybe I'm even gonna start a BYB2K1 webpage! Get this game. It's worth the price.

This game is a must
Backyard baseball teams up with Major League Baseball and The Major League Baseball Players Association to bring real-life baseball pros to the neighborhood baseball diamond...as kids! They have players from Mark McGwire to A-Rod,Ivan Rodriguez,Randy Johnson,Larry Walker,Chipper Jones,Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa,Ken Griffey Jr.,and much,much more! As well as all major league teams. And you can play people on the internet. Theres game modes like season,single game,and batting practice. Plus you not only get the game but you get baseball cards with the game and its a whole lot of fun for anyone.Enjoy!

They Should Make More Games Like This!
I've had this game for a long time now, and I've played it more than any other game I own and it's my all-time favorite game. It has tremendous replay value because of its wide selection of modes like single game, season, internet play, practice, and T-Ball mode. I especially like internet mode because it allows you to play with other kids on the net. Parents, don't worry! The internet mode is safe and secured and monitored by the company themselves! I say it is a great game because you can choose from 30 Backyard Baseball player kids and 31 MLB players as kids! That's 61 kids in all to choose for your team! Awesome! But that's not including the custom characters you can make! The controls are EASY! I never experienced anything that was so easy! Just point and click! There are many special pitches and batting types in the game, from spitballs to fireballs and from crazy bunts to aluminum power bats! The special pitches: spitball, fireball, corkscrew, big freeze, zig-zag, slo-mo, and elevator. The special batting types: crazy bunt, aluminum power, under-grounder, and screaming linedrive. Bottom Line: Get this game! It's GREAT! Tip: If you have the game, here's how you can play as Mr. Clanky, the untiring robot with sizzling pitches! Just point your mouse or controller on the robot at the main menu and click on him while holding the shift key!

Great game... for the younger kids
this is a very fun game. Great graphics, smooth gameplay, and, as i said, lots of fun! you can choose from a bunch of pros, such as arod, nomar, bonds, giambi, beltran, and sosa. and the backyard kids, like pablo sanchez, dante robinson, jocinda smith, etc.

but, as my title says, it's made for the younger kind. The game gets really easy really fast, and on the hard mode with errors off, i beat the other team 44-1.

I would borrow it from a friend, see how you like it, and go from there, but don't buy it right away.

"You'rrrrre Out!"
This game consists of picking players for your team by learning a bit about each player, what they are good at or not good at in baseball. Then you can choose your team's name, colors, and whether to play one game or a season. You tell your pitcher what pitch to throw & where to throw it - or, if you are up to bat, you tell your player when to swing.
It is a fun game, however I strongly recommend it for ages 7 and up. There is some reading necessary - and you must be able to comprehend what defines a "good" baseball player. For the older child - it can be hours of entertainment - and satisfying when you pick a winning team! ... Read more

Features

• Arthur must run, jump, and fly through Elwood City to recover lost pets
• Pet Chase has 5 worlds, each with 6 levels of difficulty; kids experience 30 unique environments
• Games build critical thinking, problem solving, spatial relations, logic, and other skills
• Kids can play both games independently--demo movies provide kids with help
• For kids ages 5-7

Amazon.com Product Description

Lost your marbles? You're not alone. The intergalactic lost and found is full of missing things that need to be returned to their rightful owners. Jump into action and help chase down lost socks, go after flyaway balloons, and corral the caboose that got loose. There are lots of lost toys and so little time. Get ready, get set, and start clicking.

Reading Blaster is part of the Blaster Learning System, an integrated line of game-based learning software. Blaster Learning System missions use gameplay to teach fundamental math and reading skills to kids ages 5 to 9. After mastering the essentials, kids can move on to Cross Terrain Challenge, created to sharpen critical-thinking skills through extreme game adventures.

Reading Blaster's unique motivational learning system recognizes each child's achievement with points that can be redeemed for rewards. The Blaster Learning System goes the extra step with SmartPoints to provide an incentive to play, practice, and learn. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Freddi Fish--super sleuth of the sea--has an eye for detail and is always looking out for her friends, especially her best friend Luther. In Freddi Fish: The Case of the Haunted School House, the young guppies are convinced that a ghost is scaring them and stealing their toys. Freddi thinks something's fishy and sets out to build a trap to capture the phony ghost. In this cartoon-style adventure, kids direct the action in over 40 locations, where they meet and help new friends, explore sunken ships and caves, and even swim through the lost city of Atlantis to solve the case. Plus, a bonus arcade-style game--Maze Madness--comes on the same CD-ROM. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Terrific game...highly recommend!!!
Both my 3 1/2 yr. old and my 6 yr. old daughters play this game. They both absolutly LOVE it!!! It utilizes problem solving and memorization in a wonderfully fun way. Even my husband and I have played this game as well. We have had to now go and get the other Freddi Fish games, because our children enjoy them so much. I would definitely recommend this game!!!

My kids LOVE this game!!
My girls age 3 & 4 could play this game for hours. It's a new game every time you play. The girls get SO excited when they finally capture the ghost! I recommend this for anyone with kids age 3-6. I even enjoy playing it myself!! lol Hint: if you do not get a booklet with the game, press F1 key & print off the game suggestions. I just bought 3 more Freddie Fish games for my girls-that's how much they love this one!! Worth the money!!!!

Excellent!
We ordered Freddi Fish 2, 3, 4, and 5. All are just wonderful! My three year old daughter loves them. They have staying power, meaning they do not get old very quick like a lot of the other children's games. They have excellent learning value. I would highly recommend any and all of them for someone from the 3-5 age group.

Keeps kids entertained
This is a great game for kids. My 4 year old just loves playing it because it's challenging enough to be interesting, but easy enough that it's not frustrating. The object is to build a trap to catch the ghost and for that you need to find 5 things. Finding each piece requires a 2 step process, something my daughter caught on to about halfway through the first time. Although the box says it's different everytime you play it, there are only about 5 variations of the game. Still that offers great variety for the price and by the time my daughter got through them all, it was still a bit challenging to remember the tasks she had to do. I do think an adult should play along the first time to point out the "ghost" is just some bad fish in disguise and make light of some of the scarier characters. But, there are plenty of friendly characters too. I've seen other reviews mentioning the lack of a save feature. It does have one (press the "S" key), but the instructions don't mention it-the website technical support section explains the save feature. Overall a great game that is highly recommended-we'll definitely be getting more Freddi Fish games in the future.

Beginner Freddi fans
I gave my 3 1/2 year old grandson his first Freddi (Haunted Schoolhouse) for Christmas, and it's fast becoming the game he always wants me to play with him. Animation is fantastic! Only problem we're having is there seem to be no instructions for playing "Maze Madness". There are all these wonderful looking mazes, but I can't figure out what we're supposed to do with them. Makers of the software need to fix that part. Other than that, the game is great fun! ... Read more

Features

• 3-in-1 set teaches reading, early math, problem solving, and creativity
• Discover entertaining reading activities with Clifford Reading
• Tackle riddles and various challenges with I SPY School Days
• Solve problems and play creative games with Huggly Saves the Turtles
• For kids ages 4 to 7

Amazon.com Product Description

Arthur's Math Games invites kids to join Arthur and the gang at the carnival and have fun while learning math. There are six fun-filled activities and five difficulty levels to keep the challenges fresh. Kids learn a number of essential math skills, including counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, basic geometry, simple fractions, memory skills, problem solving, and patterns and sequences. There are also art and music activities for extra fun. (Ages 4 to 7) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

It's ok but dont expect your child to learn math...
I was disappointed with this CD. There are only 5 or 6 activities on this CD (Other CDs offer more). In a specific game you quickly get through all the options and start soon with reputations. The differences between the levels is too steep so my kid cant really use them all or progress through them. For example: The first level of a game, the child was shown a shape and had to say how many sides there were. The last level was multiplication and division problems. That's a span of 2-9 year olds! I guess its good if you have kids with a wide range of ages. My son wasn't so happy that he couldn't do the last level but was very bored with the first and second level. Children can't actually learn math here on their own. It doesnt offer those kind of games. Theres a painting game (math?!), a maze, a find an object by hints. I was expecting adding and subtracting but there is very little of that. No classic math, maybe math prep.. The good pointer is that the games are fairly easy to play so children can get on their own and of course it IS Arthur...

A win2000 note: although it does work, the sound gets cut all the time so you get partial sentences. It doesnt bother playing.

Arthur Teaches Math and Makes it Easy...
I think by using Arthur, who is a favorite character of my grandchildren, they will always learn easier from a character they like. Also, this book makes it simple and easy to learn and fun to learn. It is a great learning tool. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Lions and tigers and bears--it's Oz: The Magical Adventure! Designed for children ages 4 to 7, the amazing 3-D world of Oz unfolds to reveal a delightful land filled with activities that develop memory and problem-solving skills, number recognition, creativity, imagination, and more. While building skills, kids also join the Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, and Cowardly Lion on a quest to rescue Dorothy. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Absolutely fabulous for my 5-year old
I bought this for my five-year-old son last Christmas, and he's been playing it ever since. It has three difficulty levels that keep it fresh over time. Very nicely done!

entertainment that is quickly run through
I got this to span the gap in my kids ages. WHile officially set for 5-8, my 7yr old got thru the highest level of difficulty in one afternoon and my 3yr old son is now on it after a few weeks. WHile fun for them, it is hardly educational. This is just an elaborate puzzle that walks thru OZ, and in that it is very very good. Alas, however, I wanted something more. I think the DK does a lot of the absolute best sorftware and books for kids and we bought a bunch of it this xmass. Apparently my expectations for the medium are too high.

Recommended as entertainment. I guess it is a good deal, given the outrageous prices we pay for movies these days. But I confess that I think we can do better. Much better.

Oz, a Magical Educational Adventure!
Oz the Magical Adventure is a wonderful educational trip down the yellow brick road. My mom bought this game for my autistic brother and he loves it. The games are entertaining, the characters are wonderful and the animation is highly enjoyable.
This adventure puts you into the story of "The Wizard of Oz". But something has gone terribly wrong. The Wicked Witch has sent one of her flying monkeys to capture Dorothy and Toto. As Dorothy and Toto are carried away from the yellow brick road Glinda the good witch of the South appears to tell the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and the Lion to keep going to the Emerald City. Once in the throne room of the Emerald City, the Wizard of Oz tells the three companions he will grant their wishes if they rescue Dorothy, kill the Wicked Witch, and bring Dorothy back as proof. He gives you a medallion which will open the door to the witches castle. It's missing nine jewels. The jewels are hidden all around Oz. Your objective now is to help the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Lion find the jewels and get to Dorothy and Toto. Now it's up to you to save Dorothy, Toto, and all of Oz from the Wicked Witch of the West.
This game is based on the original book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum, not the movie with Judy Garland. The game brings out characters from the book, characters from other Oz books, and new characters that are equaly lovable. You must journey with the Tin Man, Sacarecrow, and Lion to locations in Oz such as the Land of the Munchkins, the Land of the Winkies, and the Country of the Quadlings. In each land there are three games. Between each land there are mini games. Some are to transport you between the lands and some are for plain entertainment and don't have any purpose other than that. There are 15 games total.
The games all teach basic logic and directions. For example: In the Land of the Munchkins you must help a juice lady to recover her memory that the wicked witch has stolen. You must listen to her instructions to make a fruity drink that will help her recover and she might be able to tell you where a jewel is hidden. In the land of the Quadlings you must set the water pipes right or the jewel will be stuck. To reset the pipes you need to dircect the colored pipes in different directions so the water will flow the right way.
The games are very educational and entertaining. The animation is brilliant. It really brings Oz to life. The Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow are always at your side and interact with you so you're never alone. Before each game starts you can select levels (Bronze: Easy, Silver: Medium, Gold: Hard). And after each game you can either quit or choose another level and start over. The game really makes you feel like you've fallen into the book and met all the characters. Me and my mom taught my brother how to play each game. He eventually learned to play the games all by himself. We're hoping he will soon progress to the next level. This game provides really good challenges for 4-8 year olds. The game is always changing so it doesn't get boring quickly. I highly recommend it.
So put on your magic slippers, grab your basket, get your dog, and head down the magical yellow brick road for an unforgetable journey through Oz. ... Read more