Reviews (44)

Jumpstart Advanced toddler
We bought this as a Christmas present for our son that just turned 2. We were looking for an educational computer game for him and we already had Reader Rabbit Toddler (which he loves). When I first started Jumpstart Adv. Toddler I thought it was way too simple, then I discovered that most activities have 2 levels. Level 1 is pretty basic and doesn't require the kids to do a whole lot...my son was very bored with this. Level 2 is much better...in fact it is more advanced than Reader Rabbit. Most of the activities do not require toddlers to click on the mouse, but if you can click it goes faster. I was surprised by how fast my son figured out the activities. He can do most everything by himself, but he still needs me to help him navigate some. This package comes with 3 cd's - school time, song time and art time. THe song time cd has several fun songs that he just loves. Overall I really like this game and have found it to be very educational. As soon as my son has mastered clicking the mouse we will be getting the preschool version.

JumpStart Study Helpers Math Booster
Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster... is another real winner for all children in grades 1st-5th - like is partner - Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - this program has cute, fast paced, great music and sound three styles of arcade-like games to teach your children their math facts - no more boring math flash cards - learn math on a fast paced pinball machine, or arrange math facts for the the "burpers" or "smack" space ships and and space rocks to get correct answers to math problems - fast and fun - even for an old Grandma, me - all games are controled using the arrow keys and space bar excep to the outer space game where you shoot with a mouse - like the Spelling Bee it has over 800 pre-programmed math problems - all basic subjects are covered - addition, subtraction, muliplication, division, decimals and percentages in SIX different leveals - will auto advance at your child's own speed - on screen instructions for everything - also, like its partner, Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - you can program your child's "real" weekly math problems in to this program so they can learn their "real" weekly school math lessons in a fun arcade style of learning - you will love it for the small price tag - your children will love it for all of the fun they will have - and you will love it even more when your child brings home a A+ grade on their report card in Math. The [low price] is "right" - please buy it - once again this old Grandma is happy to be able to send my first grader, and my second grader back to school this year with this GREAT study tool. Knowledge Adventure can be very proud of these two programs ther Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster and their Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - buy them both and enjoy!
A very pleased Grandmother,
Jacqueline Lee Wilson

JumpStart Spanish a winner
My 5 year old loves her new JumpStart Spanish program. She has learned to count in spanish and her colors so far. Very fun games and rewards. She is really picking things up fast. We have not had any real computer problems, it has locked up once, but that has happened on other software as well. The sound works well. For the price I would recommend this as a beginning spanish program.

My daughter simply loves it!!!!
My 2 year old loves this set of CDs. I found that it reinforces all the things we are teaching her.... shapes, colors, numbers the ABC. The duck that sings is very sweet to their ear. I found it sooo great I am buying it for my daughter's school so the other kids can benefit as well.

Jump Start 4TH GRADE ADVANCED
I rented this software from the Library. It is a 3 disc program. My 3rd grader (almost 4th grader) loves the Ultimate Field Trips and Mystery Club volume 3. The fundamentals disc is a little too hard for her right now, so it is challenging. I played it because it looked fun and it was fun for me to play. I love the "mystery" tone of the software. I like these programs because there are fun games that do not get boring, and while your kids are playing the games, they are also learning a lot. I am going to purchase this software and the 3rd grade ADVANCED program so my child can review through the summer. ... Read more

Features

• Explore the kingdom and discover 7 arcade-style games
• Explanations on everything from chess basics to master strategies
• Experience the Intelligym, a training ground for future chess pros
• Designed with highly-rated chess software
• Suitable for players of all levels

Features

• Travel to exotic locales with Ms. Frizzle and the gang
• 3 educational games: Mars, Volcano, and Whales and Dolphins
• Ages 5 - 10

Reviews (9)

$16.99, That's All?
Three selections for $16.99!! Not a better bargain out there! Parents this is a steal... Your kids will have you wanting to learn while they explore these three selections. Promise you!

Whales, dolphins, volcanoes and Mars? Turn of the Cartoon Network and turn on your kids to something worthwhile!! You won't be sorry!

Another gem from Microsoft
I'd like to preface this by stating that my 6-year-old plays this package daily - after his homework. He installed it by himself, so my opinion is that those who say it's difficult to install need to look at their system resources. He loves the graphics, sound and the activities. I once read a review that this package is not user-friendly and I say, baloney. I say this because he doesn't ask for assistance when using this software. All he complains about is not having all the MSB titles. There is no main menu to show you how to navigate through the CD and many of the screens do not feature an "Exit" icon to allow you to exit the program or return to the main menu, but who cares? I want my six year old to figure out these functions for himself anyway.

He is not very PC-savvy but he knows the basics of PC's. And, he does use other software easily. I wonder if some of these negative reviews are making mountains out of molehills. I'm know I'm not overlooking something obvious here - so what's the problem?

obsolete software that doesn't work with win2k
these seem like very old titles, written for win/3.1 and possibly working on win/95, but incompatible with the modern microsoft operating systems. out of 3 titles, two failed to install on my child's win2k system at all. one installed, but didn't function right. its graphics are the 10 year old primitive 256 color 640x480 VGA, 2-dimensional and flat. the game's audio wouldn't turn on. i can only guess that the other 2 titles were even more antique. a major dissapointment, because science related titles for small kids are so rare and hard to find!

i have encountered other children's titles that were poorly written for win/3.1 or older versions of windows, and hadn't been updated in 10 years, which wouldn't install or run right under win2k, but these are titles published by microsoft itself!!!

great games
i ordered all the bonus packs (6 total software titles). and my 5 year old son loves them. they entertain him for hours. so much learning and fun on so many subjects! i highly recommend them.
that said, lets get on the the technical part. i had a lot of trouble getting them to install. some of them froze up. some of them wont autorun. and the Animals one we have never been able to play at all. it is like it "half installed". says it is there in programs. but wont open no matter what. so try to uninstall or reinstall and that wont work either. i have sent it back to the manufacturer and havent heard from them yet. my computer is almost 2 years old with windows ME and lots of ram, memory, big hard drive. and even some graphic upgrades done recently. even tried it on someone else's comp with same results.
but i still say the problems i am having are worth the fun my son is having with 5 games. and he doesnt even know there is a 6th game he hasnt been able to try yet.

This is how learning should be - FUN!
Our 5 yr. old son plays these games for HOURS (if we let him). He loves them so much that "computer time" has become a treat for him when he has earned a reward. These cds are packed with great information, which is presented in lots of fun and challenging games. Even "Dad" enjoys them. AND they are not as annoying/loud/hyper as many of the computer games that we have come across. You will be amazed how fast and how much your child will learn! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

If order is important to your child, Thomas the Tank Engine's world is probably a favorite place. In Thomas and Friends: The Great Festival Adventure, kids enter the tidy world of Thomas and Friends and immediately set about polishing engines, loading boxcars with the right items, and making sure passengers get onto the train in timely, proper fashion. All the while, Sir Topham Hatt encourages kids with phrases such as "I know I can trust you to be really useful." High praise in this place where practicality is paramount.

This CD-ROM could win an award for cinematography--the "camera" tracks, zooms, and swoops through the activities. Thomas, Percy, and everyone's favorites, the Troublesome Trucks, move about the Island of Sodor preparing for the upcoming festival. The seven activities are either of the counting/sorting/pattern-recognition variety or ones that work on basic hand-eye coordination and mouse control. Kids can go to the engine shed to polish, oil, and wrench the engines into prime working condition; unload Bulstrode the Barge and fit the packages into the boxcar with the matching label; or help round up cows that escaped from a farmer's pen. Each task has only three levels of difficulty, and they can be completed quickly by a kid with some computer savvy or an older child. Between these chores are short vignettes involving Thomas and his friends, making this CD-ROM feel familiar to fans of the television show.

While the age range for this program is "2 and up," don't assume that it'll keep your 5-year-old busy for very long. But if you have a helpful 3-year-old who needs to learn how to mouse and count, Thomas and Friends can put your child on the right track. --Anne Erickson ... Read more

Reviews (9)

All aboard for fun with Thomas
In The Great Festival Adventure,Ride around the island of Sodor with Thomas, and his friends to get ready for the festival.There are seven games:One at the Shed,one at the Quarry,one at the Harbor,one in the Field,one at the Station,one at the Fair Ground,and one at the Band Stand at the Fair Ground. In the Shed, you'll help Thomas get cleaned up before he goes out to help his friends.

In the Quarry,there has been a rockslide and you have to fly Harrold over the rocks,pick them up put them in the right trucks for James to tow away.

At the Station,Annie and Clarabelle need your help to figure out which passengers go and which stay.

At the Harbor,Well the Harbor game is pretty much the same as the Quarry game.

At the Fair Ground,help Harrold put together stalls and rides.

At the Field, help Terrence chase cows into their pen.

And at the Band Stand,listen to music and make music with the musicians.

Tip:Skip around after you complete the game.

I loved theis game.It was alot of fun.If you like Thomas get this game now!

Wonderful graphics, great audio
I bought this software when my son was around 18mnths old. He is a total Thomas fan so he is always asking to play it. He loves to sit and watch Thomas and his friends travel around the island of sodor. He is currently 2yrs old and wants to play it every day. It really is a great piece to have my only complaint would be that he is now starting to get bored with the activities. It doesn't allow children who can not use the mouse to interact with it's games , which is important to keep them content. It also doesn't give you much else to do once you've mastered the five step program. It's the pictures, sound and graphics that keeps them coming back not the content and tools to learning. I would still recommend it don't be too disappointed. It would be nice if they came out with a game that the children could actually drive the train and interact with it choosing what destination to go to as well as being able to stop, start, pull forward and back up the train. something to think about.

good graphics, poor entertainment value
While there are some stunning sequences of Thomas & Friends zooming around the island, the interactive sections of this offering do not really cut it.

To begin with, they are mouse intensive, so a toddler who has not yet mastered the mouse will be left watching an adult manipulate the elements involved. Secondly, they are not all that inventive, and some of them downright illogical - when you are presented with a platform full of passengers to load on a train, why should you only be getting the number suggested by the game on board? My son keeps asking me "what about the others" - they just magically disappear off the platform.

Other activities in the game seem a little contrived - clicking on band members and trains simply to hear them make a sound grows old pretty fast, especially when it's done only by moving a mouse. If there had been a "hit a key, see who plays" feature, it would have been a little more enjoyable. Likewise the intitial section where you prepare the engines in the engine shed - putting a drop of oil on a yellow dot, then tightening an imaginary bolt on a yellow dot, then putting coal on a yellow dot - all a little tame.

For real entertainment value I would recommend Reader Rabbit's toddler, which is 100 percent "keyboardable" and offers challenges that can keep a toddler interested for quite some time.

A final word of warning: the game claims to be able to run on a 133Mhz or better PC with 2Mb of video Ram. there is no way that would happen, at least not to the enjoyment of anyone with the patience and attention span of a two year old. The game is slow and clunky, even on a 233Mhz it drags and the sound struggles.

Beautiful graphics but limited
This software was put together beautifully. The graphics are top notch as is the audio. My 3 year old enjoyed this software for the 8-10 times he played it. It would have been nice to have different levels that the kids could progress to instead of the same game and the same 3 trains in the car wash and other games over and over again. This software is fun and it is part of our library so that we can pull it out every few weeks. I would have preferred something that held his interest for a longer period of time. A nice touch is the ability to print out pictures of the trains either in color or black and white for your kids to color. This part continues to be a hit. Despite my reservations regarding different levels, I still recommend this software.

Outstanding graphics & sound, a bit light in gameplay
Thomas, his friends, and the island of Sodor look absolutely fantastic in this game's high quality 3-D graphics. The stereo sound effects are also top-notch. (In fact, graphics and sound are probably much better than they really needed to be for a preschool-age game!) On the downside, the game itself is a bit lacking in terms of things to do, especially for older preschoolers. The activities range from the super-easy (i.e. click on the sponge and then wipe the dirt off Thomas) to the mildly challenging (i.e. put the large rock in the large freight car, the medium-sized rock in the medium-sized car, etc). There aren't a lot of activities, and they don't change with repeated playings. It's probably a great game for kids brand new to the computer and/or for Thomas fans, but more experienced computer-kids will lose interest after a couple of rounds. ... Read more

Features

• Teaches essentials skills like arithmetic and logic
• 11 engaging activities and 3 unique adventures
• 3 levels of play automatically adjust to child¿s progress
• Starring popular characters and voices from hit TV show
• Automatic help allows for independent play; for ages 3 and up

Amazon.com Review

From island adventures to arcade-style games, there are tons of activities waiting here for the dinosaur fan in your house.The latest version of this long-popular program has much improved graphics and animations. The creatures really do come back to life, and since it covers the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, that includes a lot of creatures!

The guide through the different games is Rolf, a young dino who's the only "cutesy" character in the whole program. To help him find his buddy Pterrance, build a maze with different puzzle pieces--it's a great spatial abilities builder. After that, kids can pick from matching games, platform-style skill games, fossil-assembling puzzles, or just plain exploring.

The 3-D videos are great--exciting and lively without being too scary for the little ones. And with so much information, you'll soon be learning the detailed differences between herbivores and oviraptors just to keep up with your kindergartner! --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (48)

A must have for ANY dinoboy/girl
My 4 year old son and 6 year old daughter have played this game over and over and over and over and... It is my sons favorite computer game.
He started playing this when he was 3, with a little parental help, but can now go at it alone.
A earthquake has causes all the eggs on dino island to get lost.
You need to help Rolf find all the eggs. Oh, there's a small problem, a T-Rex is on the loose too, and Rolf needs to hatch these dino eggs so the babies can help him defeat the T-Rex.
Travel around the island to the different periods, Triassic, Cretaceous, Jurassic, and help him complete puzzles and games to earn hatching crystals. Keep your eyes open for hidden eggs along the way. Answer questions to reveal the eggs.
When you find and hatch all the eggs, you can then beat the T-Rex!
Games include Connect-A-Cave (logic puzzle), Bone Builder (build a dinosaur out of bones), and Scrambled Eggs (matching), and more.
The game automatically levels up for each individual puzzle as the child progresses. You can also easily decrease or increase the level of play manually, allowing ages 3-8 to play.
Click on dinosaur and other items to learn important facts that help you learn and progress in the game.
The game is non-violent. The T-Rex pops up and growls every now and then, but that's the extent anything "scary." There is NO BLOOD SHED.
I can not go on enough about how great this game is. It is educational and fun! A definite must for your dinosaur fan! Of all the computer games we have, this one get the most use, and was clearly the best buy!

Our best software purchase to date!
I am constantly looking for quality software for a 3 year old and this is AMAZING! My son can play almost every game on level one and when his 6 year old cousin comes to vist he plays the games on level 3. We love to play the games, collect the crystals and hatch the eggs ... we take turns guessing what kind of baby dino we are going to hatch! There is even a cinima section where your child can just click on pics of Dinosaurs and hear info on them. As if all of this were not enough it revolves around a volcano that erupts lava ... we all know any true dino game should include a volcano!!! One more plus is that a 3 year old can play this with littel or no help from a parent ... I use it when making dinner. I am unable to do this with any of the big name pre-school software. I am so pleased with this purchase! Buy this ... you will love it!

Missng some of the old stuff.
I always enjoyed this game. I had the original, (MS-DOS Based Version. It had some great games in it, such as "Save the Dinosaurs!, in which you were given a time limit in which to save 15 Dinosaurs, from 3 different time periods, before a Giant comet hit the earth, making it impossible for dinosaurs ot stay alive. There was also an encyclopedia area, in which you could look up the various dinosaur facts. There was an puzzle where you had to guess which Dino you were looking at. And another one, where you had to work out the answer to the question, "Which reptile is this a part of?", where it showed you a Dinosaur, and some pictures of dinosaur parts. There were many more

A windows 95/98 based version of this game came out, that was exactly the same, exept that it needs Windows, and won't run on MS-DOS. This one that I have now, is more animated than the original, and does not have my favourite puzzles. I preferred the original version, because it gave facts in a more realistic way. Kids aged 4-8 may like the latest version, but the original, though much scarier for that age group, is still the best.

Is there a new game out, that has all the features mentioned above? It doesn't have to be from Knowledge Adventure.

Other than that, it's cool.

Fun, educational, probably ok on XP
This game was written for Windows 95 and slighly updated for Windows 98. I installed it under Windows 2000 (recent version of DirectX) with excellent results, so I'd expect it would be fine under XP.

Some of the images are dark and muddy, but overall it's a fun game with some reasonable educational content. We haven't run into any major bugs, and it doesn't demand much in the way of drive space or CPU/video performance.

It appears to be out of "print", in fact I think the entire Knowledge Adventure line is probably in limbo. A real shame, it's hard to find good software like this any more. Not only are there no equivalent "modern" competitors, if they existed they'd be very demanding of machine resources.

I've not tested the Mac version.

Kids love this game
My kids have had this software for a couple of years, and they keep going back to it. Of all the computer software I have bought (and there have been many!!) this game has the most lasting power. And the nice thing is that it keeps the interest of both my 8 year old AND my 6 year old. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

A diaper-clad rhinoceros, a troupe of Incredible Performing Hamsters,and a mambo-dancing moose are just a handful of the many light-hearted elementsthat make Reader Rabbit: Learn to Read with Phonics an engrossingearly-reading program that puts some much needed fun in phonics.

The program starts with Mat the Mouse singing a complaining song because shecan't read well enough to take full advantage of the carnival she wants toattend. This alone is a stroke of genius: it's easier for kids to relate to poorconfused Mat than some know-it-all character who already knows how to read (thatwould be Reader Rabbit, but he serves a purpose as Mat's guide). When her wishfor "no more words to read" comes true, Mat realizes a world with no wordssimply won't work, and sets out on a journey to decode a message that will allowher to make a counterwish and get words back.

The occasionally flat animation is remedied by the volume and variety ofearly-reading activities. Two approaches to the program help customize it to yourchild's learning style: Road to Reading is the more structured approach, wherekids lead Mat on a path to 26 different lands associated with each letter of thealphabet, and help decode her counterwish. Pick and Play is a nonstructuredmethod of exploring the program that allows kids to directly access the variousactivities found along the alphabet path. Word Factory is another programelement that has nothing to do with Mat's quest, but introduces four moreword-building and memorization activities to an already brimming program.

Designers paid attention to details that are important for learning: charactersmeticulously pronounce words and sound out letters in clear children's voices.Each activity can be played on five different levels, and kids can check theirprogress and print study words. The program introduces sight words formemorization as well as words that must be constructed by sounding out. Some ofthe virtual books in this program are more entertaining and engaging than actualphonics texts we've seen. Even the Parent's Guide information was useful, andtaught us a thing or two about how kids learn to read. Perhaps most importantly,this CD-ROM's clever wordplay and constant comedic surprises will keep kidsinterested as they develop the nuts-and-bolts skills that will lead to alifetime of enthusiastic reading. (Ages 3 to 6) --Anne Erickson ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Learning to Read with Reader Rabbit
I ordered this software for my almost 4 year old who loved the Reader Rabbit Toddler software, but had outgrown it. To get the most out of it, your child should have the ability to hold and click a mouse, and should already have basic recognition of capital and lower-case letters. The lowest level is perfect for my child but would have been too difficult at ages 3 - 3 1/2. The software teaches both letter and word recognition as well as phonics. The games are cute and when your child gets tired of learning to read there are fun songs and graphics to listen to with "reading propaganda" lyrics about how fun and important it is to learn to read.

The best reading and phonics game
I own several phonics and reading games, and there's no doubt in my mind that the Reader Rabbit games are head and shoulders above the rest. The three main reading games: Learn to Read with Phonics, I Can Read With Phonics (also called Reading 6-9) and Reading 4-6 are absolutely a must for kids learning to read. No matter who the child is, if there's the ability to read in him/her, these games will get it out!

Learn to Read with Phonics is fantastic in that it such an incredible amount of stuff to do. Every letter has a land, and the child explores each land by going through phonics drills and reading two books. The books and the drills are divided into 5 levels, and each land requires finishing some phonics practice before the child can move on to the next. Alternatively, the parents can also elect to go to each land or each activity if they choose, so there is great flexibility here. Every word in the books is individually clickable, so the child can be certain to learn how to say each word. The drills are not particularly demanding, so even if the child doesn't know much, as long as he goes through the drills he can move on to the next level. He is not stuck there until he gets it all right, but even this can be adjusted by the parent.

Learn to Read with Phonics is a game, but not in the normal sense. There's phonics drilling here, meaning that this is actually glorified homework. If you just let your child do it on his own, he will do it for a while, like my 5 year old son did, but he will probably get tired of it after a few hours and will not go through the entire journey. (Girls are probably better at this than boys.) I got the games to homeschool my kid. I require that he finishes 5 letterland a day, and I make sure that reads out each letter in the books by individually clicking on them. This takes him an hour (longer when he gets to the end of the journey when the levels get harder and the books get longer.) When he's done, I let him have a small bag of chips. He seems to find the deal acceptable. When he is all the way through, I make him start from the beginning again.

Repetition isn't necessarily fun, but that's how people learn. I find the computer invaluable at teaching little kids. At their stage, there's more repetition than anything else, and as a formal college teacher, I don't look forward to teaching little kids stuff to my kids. The computer is perfect for the job because it never gets bored, tired, impatient, or a sore throat from saying "See Jane run" too many times.

The difference between Learn to Read with Phonics and I Can Read with Phonics is their levels: one is for ages 4-6, and the other one is for 6-9, but the age group is really arbitrary. If your child has trouble reading, he/she can benefit from both CDs. They are two totally different games, and together with Reader Rabbit Reading 4-6, which is still a different reading game, makes a perfect package as a computer reading teacher.

I highly recommend this product to anyone.

Note: another reviewer here says that this game may not run on XP. Not true. I have XP and all three Reader Rabbit reading games run just fine on it.

It doesn't work with w2k
I'm an A+ network Engineer. This sw doesn't work with w2k, and probably not with xp. I spent hours on their website and am still searching the web for a fix, no luck. Consider this before you buy from this company.

Road to reading is superb.
Once my daughter strated on Road to Reading, she was not ready to stop. After coming back from the daycare, she would play it for at least two hours everyday. She reached the end of the road after 5 days and what a sense of achievement she had. She did learn quite a bit while playing this game.

Recomend this program for pre-schoolers
Excellent program for children who know their letters and are begining to understand the sounds those letters make. Parental assistance needed to get started, then child is able to run with program. Great progress reports, show which words the child needs help with. Used these to make "drill cards" on index cards for long rides, to practice difficult words, and "sight" words, which the progress reports separate out from words that can be sounded out. Program matches childs ability. Highly recomend as a tool to assist a child to learn to read. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Don your tiara and pick up your wand, for only true, good princesses can enter the enchanted world of Barbie as Rapunzel.

Rapunzel and Prince Stefan have organised a masked ball, but they didn't invite the local wicked witch, Gothel. When Gothel finds out, she is furious and promptly casts an evil spell over the castle and its inhabitants. The prince is turned to stone, the jewels from his crown are scattered around, and the enchanted castle is immersed in darkness. When Rapunzel and her trusty purple--and very cute--dragon friend enter the doomed castle, they are challenged by the witch to find the jewels in order to rescue the prince and restore the castle to its former glory.

One of the most magical, creative packages on the market, this interactive adventure really is superlative. The graphics are fantastic and pixels do not stick between screens. The movement is fluid and controlled and the sound is excellent.

This package also develops basic PC skills, creativity, and imagination, and encourages colour recognition, shape matching, hand-to-eye coordination, and cause-and-effect recognition skills. The accompanying music completes the magical experience.

Barbie as Rapunzel is accompanied by a clear, comprehensive instruction booklet that should probably be read by a parent before commencing. That said, instructions are given throughout the quest in a clear, slow voice and objects flash onscreen to reinforce the message. The help section can also be accessed at any time. The manufacturer recommends this package for children ages 5 and older, and though help may be required to begin with, a computer-literate 5- or 6-year-old will soon get the hang of things and be able to play alone. All in all, a superb package that kids, Barbie fans or not, will just love. --Susan Naylor, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (26)

very entertaining and worth the money
I bought this software for my 5-year old daughter for Christmas. She and her twin sister, along with their 4-year old sister, LOVE this game!!! They love everything about it, from the theme song at the beginning, to finding Prince Stefan in the maze at the end. I will admit, it's not super educational, but it does keep them entertained and it's nice to have a "fun" game once in awhile that doesn't require them to think too hard! It's also nice because they can leave the game midway, and return back to where they left off by clicking on their name. The names can also be deleted so that they can start a fresh game. They can restore the castle over and over again and have it be different every time. I think it was totally worth the money.

A fun game for younger Barbie fans
My three year old adores this game. The game only takes 2-3 hours to complete in one sitting, but my child has played it over and over, and still loves it. The box recommends this game for ages 5 and older, but my daughter can play this game by herself with ease, except for the maze (which is fairly easy, but she needs help working the arrow keys). This game is mostly a "paint" type game, where you decorate different rooms in a castle in order to save Prince Stephan and the castle. You paint and place different decorations about the castle, as well as "build" a planter and a mosaic tile. The game and the decorations are quite cute, and easy for young Barbie fans to do independently. I feel it does have some educational value as well, in that my daughter seems to have improved her mouse skills from playing this game, has grasped concepts like clicking a "done" button when she has completed a task, and seems to have become better at listening to directions. My one and only complaint is that I wish there had been just a couple more rooms in the castle to decorate. Still, for a fairly short game, it has lots of replay value in it, and the length is just right for a young attention span. I would recommend this game to people with young children who are Barbie fans, especially if their kids aren't quite ready for the more advanced thinking that games geared for older kids have. Don't get me wrong, I think older Barbie fans will like this game, too, if they want to play a game that mostly centered on decorating. I've had problems finding games that my daughter can play independently at her age, plus she's a huge Barbie fan, so this game was perfect for us.

Awesome computer game for a 5 year old
Just bought this for my daughter she loved it so much she played the game twice in a row.
She loved decorating the castle and saving the Prince.
Don't hesitate to buy this Barbie game she'll love it too

Rich and great for ADD girls
I bought this very rich program for my bright 4 year-old who has significant problems with patience and focus/attention. She likes the video very much. This video has been very helpful in rewarding her for working patiently and methodically. At the same time it is great for teaching shapes, use of color, and fine motor control.

Definitely enjoyed!
This was a gift for my 6 yr old daughter. She is a big Barbie fan as well as loves to use the computer. She is still enjoying this game. She completed it in a few hours which worried me at first, but she loves to do it over and over again. The music is enjoyable and the colors are vibrant. It seems to be very user friendly also....my daughter has not really needed my help to use it once she started it the first time. ... Read more

Features

• Grade-based software that covers essential kindergarten skills
• Combines an exciting world of fun and lively games with lovable characters
• Teaches math, literacy, thinking, and creative skills
• 3 difficulty levels to choose from; play as either the boy or girl character
• For kids ages 4 to 6

Amazon.com Review

The Tonka Dig'n Rigs Playset is one of those very rare products thatreally does educate and entertain on a parallel level. As much toy as it is apiece of software, the digger controls (steering wheel, ignition key, horn, andthree control levers) will amuse little hands for hours, while the CD-ROM worksby presenting children with a number of "jobs" or activities, and getting themto complete tasks and interact with the onscreen action. This not onlyencourages youngsters to react to instructions, but also enhances hand-to-eyecoordination and fosters an understanding of cause and effect.

It is also a superb way of introducing youngsters to the PC and keyboard. Chunky, imaginative, and, more importantly, possessing ultimate play appeal forchildren (what child ever tires of pushing buttons, turning wheels, and pullingand pushing levers?), it is a fantastic way of refining gross motor skills tothe finer level required for mice and keys.

But probably the best thing about this set, from a parental point of view, isits ease of installation and portability. Just place it over the keyboard and itslots into place. A belt then straps around the keyboard to hold it in placewhen your toddler inevitably gets excited. And, when it becomes the favorite toyof the moment, it is easy to pop in a bag and take to Grandma's (whether she hasa PC or not!). It is a superb toy and developmental aid that kids will love andparents will feel good about. --Lucie Naylor ... Read more

Reviews (83)

Great Game for Kids
My son is almost 3 1/2 and he loves this toy. We had to return the first one because when you turned the wheel to the right the button that touches the keyboard didn't come down far enough but it was exchanged without a problem. Overall it's pretty sturdy, has some great games and is very easy to use. It teaches directional words like up/down, left/right, etc. and colors and really is a lot of fun. The only problem is trying to limit his time using it because he likes it so much. My 20 month old like it too even though he doesn't understand it he can "drive" the truck when it's on an open road. I'm sure this will get easier for him in no time as well.

A real pleaser for your little trucker
My almost 5 year old has loved this since he was 3. The controls are easy to use, and as long as you tighten the strap attached to the controller base securely to the keyboard,it remains in place with no problems. My son just loves tonka Joe and he still sings to the theme song every time it comes on. He especially likes being able to choose which truck he's going to drive each time, whether it's the excavator, dump truck or one of the others. We did have a little problem with the disc being scratched after the first year of play, but you can just go to the infrogrames website download their address, send in a check for a nominal amount for a replacement disc and within 2 weeks he was back to truckin'. Or you could just make a copy of the original disc as a back up before you begin play, which is what we did after receiving the replacement disc. I can't wait from my next little one to have lots of fun with this game as well!

One of the best PC games for little kids!
We bought this game for my son when he was 3 1/2 years old. He'll be 6 next month, and he still loves to play it. You must have a desktop PC with keyboard...can't play it on a laptop. Once you clip the dashboard onto the keyboard, Tonka Joe is ready to go! My son could play this for hours if we didn't limit his computer time so that he'll do other things rather than just sit in front of the computer. I can't say enough good things about this PC game. Little boys (and girls!) will absolutely love it! Very, very durable!!

Dig a hole and bury it
Not 5 minutes after setting this up for my son, the control lever inside the steering compartment broke. On receiving a replacement, it broke as well. I have a very heart-broken 4 year old.

The best toy ever!
My son who is 2.5 loves this game, and it is excellent in developing hand and eye coordination. He also has learn skills that involve left and right movement! Far better than watching TeleTubbies. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Arthur's Computer Adventure helps children (ages 3 to 7) to develop reading, math, vocabulary, and other important skills. Through following Arthur through his interactive world, get hooked on his favorite computer game. Arthur's Computer Adventure lets you play to learn important facts and skills. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Lasting entertainment
My two boys (currently 6 and 4) have enjoyed this game for 2 years now....and still do! It's the only good "deep dark sea" adventure I've found that captivates them. Plus, the other little games are good and educational too.

My daughter LOVES this game!
My 9 year-old son and my 3 year-old daughter both love this game. They play it together taking turns with different parts of it. My daughter still needs help in the store making change to buy the different clothes and some times will get frustrated when adding ingredients to make the recipes, but luckily her big brother helps her with this part. It isn't difficult, but you need to be able to count things out. The recipes ask for 3 eggs, etc so all you need to do is find the group of eggs (and there is exactly the amount the recipe asks for) and drag them into the mixing bowl. This game has several different things to do in it, both fun and educational. It is also set up like a story book so you go through different pages and click on certain objects and they do funny things. The kids LOVE that!

Quality Learning and Laughing With Grandchild
My Grandchild has this marvelous game. While visiting we spent several hours playing and interacting. I was impressed with the amount of information and most of all, the fun she enjoyed while using this computer game. The characters are cute and have enough naughtiness to entertain a child. There is positive reinforcement as each level is reached. Oh, how I wish that I had been able to have the wonderful tools to use when my own children were growing up. I must add.....How important it is to have the parent's interest and interaction, as well as the toys. So very important..! gramma Char

Top-quality game
We've looked at most of the popular software for our four-year old daughter. For the most part, the selection and quality has been disappointing. "Arthur's Computer Adventure" was a welcome departure from the poorly produced Macromedia Director numbers that other companies are selling out there. The entire product was enjoyable from start to finish. The best feature is the play while you read portion of the software that allows the kids to follow-along while the book is read, then interact with the many amusing clickable areas of the pages. Captivating, well-designed, and at the top of my recommended list. ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Jumpstart Advanced toddler
We bought this as a Christmas present for our son that just turned 2. We were looking for an educational computer game for him and we already had Reader Rabbit Toddler (which he loves). When I first started Jumpstart Adv. Toddler I thought it was way too simple, then I discovered that most activities have 2 levels. Level 1 is pretty basic and doesn't require the kids to do a whole lot...my son was very bored with this. Level 2 is much better...in fact it is more advanced than Reader Rabbit. Most of the activities do not require toddlers to click on the mouse, but if you can click it goes faster. I was surprised by how fast my son figured out the activities. He can do most everything by himself, but he still needs me to help him navigate some. This package comes with 3 cd's - school time, song time and art time. THe song time cd has several fun songs that he just loves. Overall I really like this game and have found it to be very educational. As soon as my son has mastered clicking the mouse we will be getting the preschool version.

JumpStart Study Helpers Math Booster
Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster... is another real winner for all children in grades 1st-5th - like is partner - Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - this program has cute, fast paced, great music and sound three styles of arcade-like games to teach your children their math facts - no more boring math flash cards - learn math on a fast paced pinball machine, or arrange math facts for the the "burpers" or "smack" space ships and and space rocks to get correct answers to math problems - fast and fun - even for an old Grandma, me - all games are controled using the arrow keys and space bar excep to the outer space game where you shoot with a mouse - like the Spelling Bee it has over 800 pre-programmed math problems - all basic subjects are covered - addition, subtraction, muliplication, division, decimals and percentages in SIX different leveals - will auto advance at your child's own speed - on screen instructions for everything - also, like its partner, Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - you can program your child's "real" weekly math problems in to this program so they can learn their "real" weekly school math lessons in a fun arcade style of learning - you will love it for the small price tag - your children will love it for all of the fun they will have - and you will love it even more when your child brings home a A+ grade on their report card in Math. The [low price] is "right" - please buy it - once again this old Grandma is happy to be able to send my first grader, and my second grader back to school this year with this GREAT study tool. Knowledge Adventure can be very proud of these two programs ther Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster and their Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - buy them both and enjoy!
A very pleased Grandmother,
Jacqueline Lee Wilson

JumpStart Spanish a winner
My 5 year old loves her new JumpStart Spanish program. She has learned to count in spanish and her colors so far. Very fun games and rewards. She is really picking things up fast. We have not had any real computer problems, it has locked up once, but that has happened on other software as well. The sound works well. For the price I would recommend this as a beginning spanish program.

My daughter simply loves it!!!!
My 2 year old loves this set of CDs. I found that it reinforces all the things we are teaching her.... shapes, colors, numbers the ABC. The duck that sings is very sweet to their ear. I found it sooo great I am buying it for my daughter's school so the other kids can benefit as well.

Jump Start 4TH GRADE ADVANCED
I rented this software from the Library. It is a 3 disc program. My 3rd grader (almost 4th grader) loves the Ultimate Field Trips and Mystery Club volume 3. The fundamentals disc is a little too hard for her right now, so it is challenging. I played it because it looked fun and it was fun for me to play. I love the "mystery" tone of the software. I like these programs because there are fun games that do not get boring, and while your kids are playing the games, they are also learning a lot. I am going to purchase this software and the 3rd grade ADVANCED program so my child can review through the summer. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

You've probably heard that children have a much higher propensity and retention rate for language learning than adults. Some studies say that if you learn multiple languages at a very young age, you have a much better chance of remembering them over the long term. Programs like JumpStart Spanish are designed especially for children in preschool, kindergarten, and the first grade to make the most of this aptitude.

JumpStart Spanish is easy to install, and it installs Apple QuickTime for the animation features of the program. As JumpStart Spanish can also be used for learning English, learners choose the language they want to learn and the language in which they want their lessons conducted. Once finished, JumpStart Spanish starts itself and students are introduced to the spunky animated rabbit who serves as guide through the lessons.

The main page of this program is a "clubhouse" that includes doorways into the fun, colorful, and musical lessons contained in the program. Kids can click on different rooms in a dollhouse, for example, and then learn the words for all the articles inside. Children can also click on the television and watch different conversational videotapes that teach them how to say "What time is it?" and other useful phrases.

JumpStart Spanish will teach this vocabulary and these phrases in both English and Spanish, helping children recognize words they already know and what they sound like in this new language. Children can learn at their own pace and, when ready, increase the difficulty level of the lessons.

JumpStart Spanish uses music, friendly cartoon characters, and familiar items and situations to relate to small children and teach them a new language. Moreover, if you're not happy with JumpStart Spanish, Knowledge Adventure offers a 90-day 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. So, if you're looking to turn your child on to foreign language and make it fun and alive, JumpStart Spanish is an excellent choice. --Kendra Hayden ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Great Spanish learning program
My son has been using Spanish Jumpstart from 2 1/2 until 3 1/4 and likes it a lot. It has captured his attention for many hours of fun and learning. I like the diversity,as there are many different activities. His favorite part changed over the months, and he especially loved the mouse that dances with the De Colores song and the monster that has funny things happen to its body parts. I wish there were a sequel or it were even more diverse, as he has gotten bored with it now. It would be nice if there were more than three songs, more conversations between characters to watch, and more interactive games. It is a well designed program, and very user friendly.

Good beginner game
My daughter has this software and she loves it. It basically teaches the names of objects we see and use each day. It also teaches some basic phrases like, "My name is...., and What time is it...etc.". It doesn't get into any type of grammer or sentence structures. You can set it so the directions are given in English or other different languages. You can also switch the game and have it all play in English first, then switch it to SPanish. My daughter is 3-1/2 and she can do this herself, so that should say how easy it is for a preschooler to use. It uses songs and music to learn the days of the week, months of the year, numbers, etc. I would definitely recommend this for both English-speaking children who want to learn Spanish, and for Spanish-speaking children whose parents want a good learning game in their own language to help speech development and learning the basics in their own language.

Very Effective Program
We bought this as an introduction to spanish for our 3yr. old son. I loved the price and was relieved to find such a good program cheaper than the programs advertised on T.V. It teaches vocabulary, games, and cultural information as well. The progress report helps me to know what area he needs help with. I also love how you can earn fish for the fish tank by completing activities. The only down side it that is it too easy for my son to change the levels therefore he'll play the game before learning the vocabulary. I love this product and think it is wonderful!!A must have for all preschool parents and homeschoolers.

My kids love it!
I have three kids, ages 2,3 and 8 that literally fight over who gets to play this game. My 2 year old boy would sit and play this game for hours if I would let him, it really captures his attention with the bright, colorful graphics, and catchy songs. My daughter who is 8, gets ready for school extra early just so she and her 3 year old sister will have time to play this game. Not only is it fun for them, they have really picked up alot of Spanish words from playing it. I only wish they would make a Spanish 2!

Learning Spanish
My daughter is really enjoying learning Spanish in a very kid friendly way. Since I don't speak Spanish, I am glad she is increasing her vocabulary while having fun at the same time. ... Read more

Features

• Solve real-world math challenges to make uniquely entertaining stores successful again
• 15 math activities and 10 math missions; 3 complete grades of math
• Arcade with 7 games to play; earn money to open your own arcade
• 3 levels of play automatically adjust according to your child¿s progress
• Automated personal education tutor; progress report

Reviews (2)

Great software
I bought this for my 8-year-old to spend more time practicing math. My son likes math and he likes playing this software. He asks to play it rather than needing to be prodded, as he was with the Math & Science Excelerator I bought for the same purpose. Even the neighborhood kids come to play it with him. I would also recommend it for kids having trouble with math as it puts the concepts into visual perspective, rather than just repeating equations.

Fantastic math software
Our family loves this program! It has a lot of content, bright graphics, and even a simulation game when kids do enough activities, which means they can open up their own arcade, buy games for the arcade, and manage it. This software has tons of activities that are all quite good. In terms of education, there are so many math concepts that the program explores. Very kid friendly software. A+ all the way. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

If you've ever cooked under the heat of a 50-watt light bulb and struggled to cut the resulting tiny "cake" into six servings, you might be skeptical about Hasbro Interactive's ability to deliver a CD-ROM that could match the culinary experience of an actual Easy Bake Oven. Yet what this virtual bakery lacks in edible results, it remedies with a surprising, imaginative approach.

The most unique aspect of this playset is the strap-on kitchen. Once the white counter with pink and green appliances is installed over the keyboard, rookie cooks can crack eggs, whir the blender, and roll dough to initiate action onscreen. There's nothing to plug in here; it's all mechanical. You can't use your keyboard for anything but "cooking" while the kitchen is in place, but setup and takedown is only a matter of seconds. If you don't want a plastic kitchen sitting on your expensive keyboard, it's possible to "cook" using the mouse, but that method isn't nearly as fun.

Kitchen in place and disc installed, chefs visit the recipe box, and with help from a baking pal, whip up everything from banana bread to layer cakes. A game area includes a baking contest and a hide-and-seek that pits players against demonically giggling gingerbread men.

This virtual kitchen is at its best when the cook strays from the recipe. Overcook a cake and smoke curls up from the onscreen door, then your baking pal reassures you as a charred lump emerges from the oven. In one kitchen, anything goes; keep tipping the egg into the bowl and eventually a dinosaur egg goes in, then one with a purple yolk, then in goes Humpty Dumpty. Extra points go to the designers for creating a diverse cast of baking buddies. Boys who feel like baking might prefer to roll dough with Billy Batter instead of Sally Sprinkles.

Still prefer the textures and smells of real baking? Your kids can print recipes for what they've made onscreen. The 12 recipes range from decadent brownies to more Spartan fare, such as soft pretzels. Once they've practiced in the virtual kitchen, they can mess up your real kitchen cooking real goodies. --Anne Erickson ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Join the Kelly Club bunch and use your imagination to magically bring their cutest plush pets to life with a pet parade. Kids ages 4 and older help Kelly and pals--Keeya, Chelsie, and Tommy--get their plush pets ready for the pageant. Teach each furry friend new tricks for the show, then groom them for the special parade. Choose parade costumes for Kelly and her friends. Design and decorate parade floats with dancing sparkles, flowers, and fireworks. Then, watch the parade come to life as the crowd cheers for the Kelly Club and their posh pets--Pokey Polar Bear, PJ Pony, Emi Elephant, and Butterscotch the Dog. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great Game!!
I recently purchased this for my 3 year old daughter. She LOVES this game! The games are great. They get more challenging as you improve. Also dressing up Kelly and her friends is great fun. My daughter especially loves grooming the animals and getting them ready for the parade. You can decorate the floats, and you have many decorations to choose from. Although not that educational, it does help them improve on their hand/eye coordination. Very fun for a little girl! Definately a must have!

I was voted "favorite aunt" by my 3-year-old niece!
Apparently this is about the best $... I have spent lately (aside from the Gameboy game I sent my nephew). My niece is mesmorized by this game, and it is keeping my sister busy building parades. My niece is a little too young to run this program by herself, but she has definitely figured out what button needs to be pushed to make the parade start! My sister also told me that she likes the fact that you can save multiple parades for those days when she just doesn't have time to help create a new one. This seems to be a winner!

Cute computer game!
I recently got this game for my 2 girls, ages 5 and 3, and it is one of their absolute favorites! They love the "Strike up the band" song at the beginning and have it memorized. They love choosing outfits, grooming the animals, and decorating the floats. They ask to play this game all the time! I highly recommend this game for any girl!

Both my kids love this game!
I got this for my 3 1/2 yr old for Christmas, and both her and her 7 yr old sister LOVE it! They have played it for hours. The graphics are very good and it has lots of cute and entertaining games! I highly recommend this one! It's worth the money!

Kelly Club Review
I think this is a great product.I just got it yesterday,it's so much fun.If you like to play with pets,you should buy this game. ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Jumpstart Advanced toddler
We bought this as a Christmas present for our son that just turned 2. We were looking for an educational computer game for him and we already had Reader Rabbit Toddler (which he loves). When I first started Jumpstart Adv. Toddler I thought it was way too simple, then I discovered that most activities have 2 levels. Level 1 is pretty basic and doesn't require the kids to do a whole lot...my son was very bored with this. Level 2 is much better...in fact it is more advanced than Reader Rabbit. Most of the activities do not require toddlers to click on the mouse, but if you can click it goes faster. I was surprised by how fast my son figured out the activities. He can do most everything by himself, but he still needs me to help him navigate some. This package comes with 3 cd's - school time, song time and art time. THe song time cd has several fun songs that he just loves. Overall I really like this game and have found it to be very educational. As soon as my son has mastered clicking the mouse we will be getting the preschool version.

JumpStart Study Helpers Math Booster
Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster... is another real winner for all children in grades 1st-5th - like is partner - Knowledge Adventure's Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - this program has cute, fast paced, great music and sound three styles of arcade-like games to teach your children their math facts - no more boring math flash cards - learn math on a fast paced pinball machine, or arrange math facts for the the "burpers" or "smack" space ships and and space rocks to get correct answers to math problems - fast and fun - even for an old Grandma, me - all games are controled using the arrow keys and space bar excep to the outer space game where you shoot with a mouse - like the Spelling Bee it has over 800 pre-programmed math problems - all basic subjects are covered - addition, subtraction, muliplication, division, decimals and percentages in SIX different leveals - will auto advance at your child's own speed - on screen instructions for everything - also, like its partner, Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - you can program your child's "real" weekly math problems in to this program so they can learn their "real" weekly school math lessons in a fun arcade style of learning - you will love it for the small price tag - your children will love it for all of the fun they will have - and you will love it even more when your child brings home a A+ grade on their report card in Math. The [low price] is "right" - please buy it - once again this old Grandma is happy to be able to send my first grader, and my second grader back to school this year with this GREAT study tool. Knowledge Adventure can be very proud of these two programs ther Jump Start Study Helpers Math Booster and their Jump Start Study Helpers Spelling Bee - buy them both and enjoy!
A very pleased Grandmother,
Jacqueline Lee Wilson

JumpStart Spanish a winner
My 5 year old loves her new JumpStart Spanish program. She has learned to count in spanish and her colors so far. Very fun games and rewards. She is really picking things up fast. We have not had any real computer problems, it has locked up once, but that has happened on other software as well. The sound works well. For the price I would recommend this as a beginning spanish program.

My daughter simply loves it!!!!
My 2 year old loves this set of CDs. I found that it reinforces all the things we are teaching her.... shapes, colors, numbers the ABC. The duck that sings is very sweet to their ear. I found it sooo great I am buying it for my daughter's school so the other kids can benefit as well.

Jump Start 4TH GRADE ADVANCED
I rented this software from the Library. It is a 3 disc program. My 3rd grader (almost 4th grader) loves the Ultimate Field Trips and Mystery Club volume 3. The fundamentals disc is a little too hard for her right now, so it is challenging. I played it because it looked fun and it was fun for me to play. I love the "mystery" tone of the software. I like these programs because there are fun games that do not get boring, and while your kids are playing the games, they are also learning a lot. I am going to purchase this software and the 3rd grade ADVANCED program so my child can review through the summer. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

In the Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron game, kids play as the fast and fearless horse, Spirit; his love, Rain; and other characters from the animated children's movie. Kids search for Rain and the Homeland herd across five sweeping levels. Battle evil horse rustlers, and try to jump over challenging obstacles. Along the way, kids can collect special items or race with other horses to reveal the secrets of Spirit and his friends. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Pretty good game
My 7 year old daughter loves the movie and was thrilled to see the game in the store. Setup of the game was easy and although she was new to adventure games of this type (pick up items, complete tasks, solve puzzles) she picked up on it very quickly. Graphics and sound are very well done, although the music can get annoying but it can be shut off. As mentioned before, Spirit needs to take care of Rain and in a short time, my daughter who felt sorry for Rain at the beginning was now saying "Oh geez, Rain needs more water, Rain needs more food...", but fortunately, this only lasts for the first quarter of the game. Once Rain is healed and feeling better she doesn't require any more help for the rest of the game. The goal of the game is to rescue fellow horses in the herd and the game can be completed in about 6-8 hours of play time. Sadly, there is nothing more to the game, no other adventures or variations if the game is replayed. Overall the game is well designed and fun to play, but could use a little more.

Fun game!
This game is interesting, fun, and sometimes challenging. I beat it in about a week, but it was still a great game. You have to think to figure things out. It gets anoying when Rain is thirsty or hungry when you're in the middle of doing something, but it's worth it. I recommend this game to anyone looking for a good game you'd like to play over and over again.

Not for the younger child
My 4 yr old daughter loves Spirit and anything to do with horses. We bought this game early 2003 and was very frustrated how hard it is to play for a young child. This game is for the 8+ range defenitly. I had to play it while my daughter watched and I finished the game and now she can roam around Spirit's homeland free. If you are looking for a game for the avid younger (toddler) horse lover, I suggest Barbie Horse Adventures. My daughter would rather play that than the Spirit game. It is a good game to play and it is quite fun....however, for a much older child.

Great Game For us 10-Year-Olds!!!!!!!!!!!
it is,but when I am ABOUT to free a horse,like Fuego,Rain wants something,like a sugar cube,when im about to grab things for that minigame,its kinda confusin'

Great movie--great game!
Thoroughly enjoyable! My daughter loved the movie and has owned the software for over a year and still plays it. Never a dull moment with this. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

My 8 yr old loves I spy!
For those who say this is boring, maybe your kids should just stick to video games. My son is loving the books and the computer games. He conquers them pretty quickly and we have to buy more but hey, it's getting his mind working looking for hidden items. We went for an open house at his school a few months ago and the teacher picked up an I Spy book and said that it was the main thing all the kids fought over in class. We love all the books, computer games and the gameboy game that is out. Good investment for little thinkers out there!

Can't find 12th ladybug!
I really like this game but I am annoyed that I can't find the last ladybug in the find me game. I can find no game hint support sites either. Has anyone else had this problem? Is it a bug (ha ha) in the program? I have spent weeks looking but always find the ones I've already found. Can anyone out there help me? I am not a child, but my daughter can't find it either. Apparantly the game will not finish until all bugs are found because I have found all the treasures. Does this game not have more than one complete game to play? I thought it had 3 like treasure hunt.
Thanks,

Will Keep You Thinking....
My 6 year old daughter loves this game. It is not easy and keeps her thinking. I some times find some of the items hard to find but with persistance you will find them. It is never boring. The whole family enjoys this software.

Elementary Kids Love It!
I am a computer lab teacher in an elementary school. Last year, I used this software for quite a few weeks when my Kindergarten through Grade 3 students came in for activity period. Students in grades 4-6 would beg to get a chance to use the software when their assignment for the day was completed.

It was a stretch for Kindergarten to find some of the items, because they did not recognize some of the items in the riddles, but I made sure to point these out in lessons and then circulated to help them more.

It was exciting to watch as students became absorbed in this activity, and most of them grew in their visual and verbal awareness. Children in grades 1-3 could either click to hear the descriptions or read for themselves.

Yes, it is on the shelf this year, but will taken out to be used in two years. This year I bought I Spy Spooky Mansion for use, and next year hope to get the Î Spy Treasure software if I can find the funding.

I Spy School Days-big bore
My six year old great nephew completed all of the activities within two hours. He was moderately interested in the beginning and bored by the time he finished. I watched as he played, and thought they were boring, too. ... Read more