Amazon.com Product Description

This is a package of three educational titles that teach important early-learning skills. In JumpStart Numbers kids play arcade-style gameswith Frankie the Dog as they learn about addition, subtraction, sequences,counting, and more. JumpStart Pre-Kindergarten enablesprekindergarten children to sharpen their abilities with letters, numbers,shapes, and colors. Eight interactive learning games and 10 songs engagechildren's attention while introducing social concepts such as manners,sharing, and safety. In JumpStart ABC's, children join EleanorElephant and friends on a fun-filled train adventure to deduce "who leftthe juice in the caboose?" As kids travel to different locations and playlearning games, they earn clues and use their deductive reasoning skills tosolve the mystery while learning letter recognition, letter sequencing, andletter sounds. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good activities but not well made software
I got this for my 4 year old daughter. Though the pack has 3 CDs it has less games then some of her single CD programs. Also the software is not well made. The complexity levels do not truly make the games more interesting for her. SHe was bored with them quite quickly.

This is a great learning game
I love the Jumpstart Preschool program my son currently has.He has spent a long time "playing" and I know he is also learning.There is a testing part that evaluates what your child knows and sets the difficulty rate accordingly.He loves doing the test as much as the rest.I was so impressed with the first one I purchased, that when asked, I requested Jumpstart programs for my son for Christmas.I know he will love them and so will his twin brother and sister when they get a little bigger.I recommend this product if you are looking for something educational and also fun for your child.

Lots of fun! (And they don't know they're learning...)
Our two year old really likes the activities!Some features are too advanced for him now - but that leaves room to grow.Only one draw back, the CD-ROM's are REQUIRED for the ABC's & Numbers programs.All three are engaging and the characters are great. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Yes, it's possible your baby may try to teethe on the mouse at first. And you can pretty much count on your child occasionally bringing her or his fists down on the keyboard with a smashing degree of force. Yet once your kid begins participating in the muppet-happy fun and learning opportunities packaged into Sesame Street Baby & Me, you'll surely risk a little wear and tear on your hardware. A joint project between the tech and design wizards at the Learning Company and the wise educators and artists at the Children's Television Network, this CD is an impressive example of what an adaptive medium the interactive CD can be.

Graciously hosted by popular Henson muppets such as Elmo, Zoe, and Big Bird, this parent-child program bubbles along gently and merrily from games of "Peek-a-Boo" to "Do What I Do" to "Silly Songs." Transitions from screen to screen and activity to activity are handled slowly and calmly, just as a baby needs. ("Are you saying bye bye?" Big Bird asks. "Okay, bye bye.") While the parent navigates, the child discovers the power of the mouse (to "rake up" screens full of autumn leaves, or "unwrap" presents) as well as the effects of the keyboard buttons (to make Elmo pop up in "Peek-a-Boo" or advance to new letter pictures in an alphabet game).

The only disappointment in this CD is the absence of any nod to urban culture or childhood emotional education that the Sesame Street television show handles so beautifully. Indoors and out, all the scenes have a rather bland and homogenized look. As well, there are only one or two moments that display CTW-style wit (Elmo's relationship to the doe-eyed Baby Natasha is the best). Here's hoping they crank up the playfulness, emotional sensitivity, and world culture references in version 2. (Ages 1 to 3). --Jean Lenihan ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Best Toddler Game for 12+ Months
My daughter loves this game and plays it almost every day. She started when she was about 12 months old and was able to do a lot of the activities.

The games are divided into mouse-based and keyboard-based games. What's nice about the mouse games is that she can wiggle the mouse around and get positive feedback. The mouse games consist of unwrapping presents and simple coloring games (just moving the mouse colors things in.)

All of the original Sesame Street characters and actors perform the voices in this great game. There are sing-along songs, letters shapes and numbers, and lots of other educational activities.

Unbelievable
I was astounded with watching my little 2 year old run the mouse, with such ease too! This program is great for getting little ones comfortable with the computer. The games are fun, especially, "Open the Present"! My daughter is ready to go on to more difficult programs thanks to "Baby and Me"!

too expensive by Reader Rabbit Toddler instead
My 20 month old son who really loves playing with his Reader Rabbit Toddler CD was not at all enthused by this one. I think it is really expensive and nothing outstandingly. You are better of buying Reader Rabbit Toddler, which has similar games like coloring, songs and animal sounds and also really cheap. Please try Reader Rabbit Toddler before you buy this one. I think it is not worth the investment.

Easy for ages 1-3 to use!
This is a great game for young toddlers. It is very easy for them to use. It helps ages 1-3 learn to use the mouse. The games talks to the children with a lot of encouragment. My 2 year old plays it all day. He just recently scratched up the disk...even though on a family of six budget, I am actually putting forth the money to get another one. It's that good.

Fun playing with Elmo and friends
My 2 year old LOVES this program and it has given her great confidence on the computer. She operates the whole game by herself and happily uses the mouse, keyboard and switches from one activity to the other. Highly recommended!!! ... Read more

Features

• Children enter a magical new world of learning
• Bold, bright images are combined with fun and catchy songs
• Encourages language development, curiosity, and confidence
• Stimulate your child's mind with beginning vocabulary
• Includes letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and visual differences

Reviews (2)

It COULD be good...
But this CD-ROM kept crashing my otherwise-stable machine. Anyone with small children knows that frustration is easily felt by little ones, and I finally had to stop using the game because my 2 year-old was getting too upset when the game crashed. Also, the suggested ages - 1 1/2 to 3 - may be incorrect. Only one game is well suited to little ones (Shapes & Colors) because the child can simply hit any key. The others require more sophisticated motor skills and understanding.

One of the cutest games you can
My granddaughter has grown playing this game from watching the screen on my lap, until she was 2 1/2 she learned how to actually pop in the CD and clicking on all the cute links herself. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Based on the School Zone workbook series, this program incorporates critical math skills with interactive exercises and fun games. A solid curriculum, audio guidance, and clear examples help your child master essential preschool skills, including problem solving, following directions, and hand-eye coordination. The program randomizes problems with each use, providing a different experience each session. Engaging games provide an important break. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Buckle up and join Jay Jay the Jet Plane and friends for an exciting ride where the sky's the limit on learning. Best of all, kids get to help Jay Jay pass his flight tests with flying colors. Designed for children ages 3 to 7, Jay Jay's tests consist of delightful games, stimulating lessons, enchanting stories, and fun songs. Along the way kids learn about numbers, patterns, measuring, sequences, and much more. Filled with songs and even a surprise ending, Jay Jay Earns His Wings will launch a love of learning.

Based on the award-winning PBS Kids TV series, kids will find a magical world where imagination takes flight. They'll build skills in addition, matching, critical thinking, estimating, following instructions, as well as using a mouse. As they help Jay Jay prepare for his first solo flight, kids get to enjoy nature videos, explore six interactive learning games, and extend the fun with printable coloring pages. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Jay Jay EARNS His Wings
What a wonderful word for a child to learn: EARN. With concerns about my nephew being given almost anything he reaches for I bought this for his birthday. At four he is starting to develop a concept about work equating reward. His favorite cartoon show Jay Jay has helped with this wonderful computer program where Jay Jay has several errands to run to EARN his new job. The math skills taught were presented in a way that my nephew was totally unaware that he was learning! I'm looking to buy more Jay Jay programs. this one has done the job and more.

BUY THIS!!
Jay Jay is one of my almost-3-year-old son's favorite TV characters. My son is fascinated with basic math right now. When I found that it taught simple math addition and measurement, etc., I decided to pick it up right away. After we ran it on my son's computer, we were pleasantly surprised by the vivid animation and the quality of the games it offerred. Usually the drawings of the characters in a computer do not look as good as what you would see on TV, but this one is just as good. It even plays the theme song in the beginning. BUY THIS ONE!! Your kids will learn a lot from it, even though he may think he is just playing an interesting computer game. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Saving San Francisco from a powerful shrink-ray is the order of the day for Owen, Joni, Santiago, and Leslie in Cluefinders: The Incredible Toystore Adventure, an educational role-playing game for third- and fourth-grade students. When two of the Cluefinders themselves are shrunk, they are beset by mice, spiders, and other suddenly giant monsters as they try to assemble the parts necessary to build a machine that will reverse the process. Meanwhile, the other members of the team must work out who built the malevolent device...and why?

The Incredible Toystore Adventure has a better mix of story and educational content than most games of its type, offering smart, resourceful characters and a mystery engaging enough to make the study component worthwhile. And make no mistake--this game drives young players hard. Wide-ranging drills in math, language arts, science, and other academic subjects are presented in a cheerful and interesting fashion. Drills come with four levels of difficulty and, if players want to build the anti-shrinking device, cannot be skipped.

This game also comes with a bonus CD containing an entirely separate game: Mystery of the Missing Amulet. This game carries the detectives across the galaxy on a quest to save a dying planet. Where The Incredible Toystore Adventure has a generalized focus on many areas of academic development, this second game is more narrowly focused, offering a tough workout for a child's language skills.

All in all, Cluefinders: The Incredible Toystore Adventure is a pleasant surprise--an educational game that can meet the high expectations of both parents and young players. (Ages 7 to 10) --Alyx Dellamonica ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Seems to be a good game..
I bought this game as a part of a three pack for Cluefinders. AFterwards I read a review where a person had trouble installing this on an XP system. That was one reason why I bought this game as the box states "Now Featuring XP compatibility.". With a bit of trepidation, I installed it in my computer, and then let my 8 year old have at it. I must say installation on the XP system went fine and after only about 3 hours of play we haven't noticed any strange glitches. This is definitely more of a learning game as opposed to a more fun style of game like Pajama Sam or Spy Fox. I saw that my child had to fill in the blanks of sentences, using words provided, and then arrange those sentences into a sensible paragraph. That provided a bit of frustration, and even the proper arrangement wasn't obvious to me. Still, by randomly moving the sentences around, you can eventually get the answer they are looking for. Same with the math questions. You will get an equation to solve and about 25 different answers are on the screen, and you click on the right one. I have no doubt my child just clicks till she gets the right one if she doesn't know how to do the equation. For less then ten dollars I got 3 Cluefinders games, and with only trying this one game, I am satisfied with the purchase. It seems perfect for this age group of 7-12 years where Reader Rabbit and cutesy games are too easy for them, and they want to feel like they are solving a mystery but also practicing school skills.

Disappointed again
I bought this software specifically because it said it would run on Windows XP. I had tried other Cluefinders on an older computer and was very happy with it. But since buying the XP, it's been a nightmare to get them to work. Despite it's claim that it's compatible with XP, (my system more than meets the system requirements), there were still technical errors. I tried the Program Compatibility Wizard and changing resolutions to no avail. Trying to contact their email support system has been unsuccessful so far - something about no being able to access it at this time. All in all, frustrating and discouraging. Cluefinders is off my list of educational games for now.

works right, and my daughter likes it
This is the first "edutainment" software that I've been able to install without a hitch on our Windows 2000 system. We don't give normal accounts "Administrator" or "Power User" privileges, and it worked fine. Kudos to The Learning Company for finally updating their game engines to work cleanly (and securely) on operating systems newer than Windows 3.1!

It also properly adjusts and restores screen resolution, and with far more than VGA resolution.

My daughter enjoys it, and has played each disk several times.

I'll agree with the other review that the map section required some help at first. But she's been able to stretch her mind to understand all aspects of it, which is great.

A 9 yr. old
This game is totally cheap (price wise) because you get one regular game and one bounus game... It is very educational and also is fun. This is a really, really great game!!!

Education vs. Fun
As I sat down with my niece to "play" this game I was struck by how interesting it was that software manufacturers could actually use games that are fun to help teach kids (and I dare say adults) and add to the education that children are receiving. This game was fun for us both because it helped my niece to recognize patterns, follow sentence structure, taught general mathematics in the elevator and showed that in the end you can have fun while learning.

I would definitely recommend this game to anyone who has a child in the 2nd, 3rd or 4th grade. However, you will need to sit down with them to help them figure out what exactly they need to do. The only reason I gave this product a 4 star rating instead of a 5 is that in one part of the game, the player is required to map out routes on a computer screen and it was very difficult for my niece to grasp. I believe that they set out to teach the player something they hadn't covered in school and it went above my niece's knowledge level.

Otherwise, this game is a very good educational tool and yes, we "both" had fun playing it. ... Read more

Features

• It's Thomas & Friends to the rescue in this exciting adventure
• 8 engaging activities with rich, 3-D graphics and animations
• Print certificates and pictures of all the engines
• 8 jigsaw puzzles to print and cut out
• For 1 player; ages 3 and up

Reviews (1)

Super fun for Thomas's Fans
My 3 year old grandson enjoyed this game and was able to do all the activities. The only thing missing was being able to drive Thomas on the railroad with him as the engineer. At the end of the game, it would have been wonderful for the designers of the game to let Thomas ride around railways with the child being able to make stops and choices where to drive the train on the island of Sodor. It is a game he comes back to play with many times. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Exotic animals disappear. A world-famous scientist vanishes. Something fishy is afoot! Join the ClueFinders on a clue-searching trek into the depths of the rain forest. From reading maps to building bridges, every activity brings kids closer to unraveling this astounding mystery, while mastering essential third grade skills.

Explore 30 interactive games and exercises designed for kids, ages 7 to 9 and older. Build more than 75 key third grade skills in math, language, science, geography, and problem solving. Four levels of difficulty and a variety of tricky challenges keep ClueFinders 3rd Grade Adventures 2002: Mystery of Mathra fun and fresh. Detailed help features guide kids throughout, and built-in progress reports help parents navigate their child's learning fun.

In addition, an all-new for 2002 bonus CD-ROM doubles the mystery and clue-finding fun. In ClueFinders: Mystery Mansion Arcade, our adventurers are lured into a spooky mansion by an ingenious mastermind and his four villainous henchmen. Kids help the ClueFinders escape by choosing the best ClueFinder for each arcade-style hazard. Speed through the Ultimate Deep-Dish Pizza Skate Park, stay cool through the High-Voltage Circuit Zone, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Clue to Making Learning Fun
I purchased Cluefindes 3rd Grade Adventures about 6 weeks ago, and since have watched my child use it to completion. She has played it 4 times and will probably play it again in the future. In the meantime, she has moved onto the 4th grade game.

Setting up the game is pretty easy, and the directions are clear. Starting up is a cinch as well. You have the options of taking the test drive which is a placement test. It is not as much fun as the actual game, but it is not too boring either and it gets the child started at a challenging level. The first time my child "played" it she started at the beginners level, and finished it in two days. The second time, I set it to level two and it took her a week to complete. The third time I had her do the test drive. This is where the real value came in.

When she started the game on the lowest levels she was basically reviewing what she had learned the previous year, which is a good thing. But, when she played the game after the placement test, she was truly challenged to learn more. I never imagined in a million years that a child would follow me around begging to be taught long division. She could not cross a bridge in the game without being able to divide. So I taught her and she practiced and cemented the skill by playing the game.

As a homeschooler leaning towards self directed learning, I found this game to be invaluable. It gives me the freedom to wait for a child to be ready to learn a skill while at the same time ensuring that such comes quickly through constant challenges. After all, the best time to teach a child a skill is when they want to learn it. This game provided that want for me.

This game does not teach skills your child must know, but provides challenges. The way I use it is to wait for a challenge to be presented, and then teach that child whatever they need to succeed and overcome that challenge.

The only problems I had with this software is that each time the child finished the game, they had to start again with a new member name, it would not let us back into the game as the same person. This did allow me to compare the membernames records to check for progress which was evident.

If you purchase the 2 cdrom version of this game, with the personalized learning center, you will be able to print worksheets according to your childs strengths and weaknesses and to see where the child needs more practice. You will also be able to spot where your child may be gifted.

The personalized learning center disc, however is not formulated to give a child a "grade" based on how well the child did in the program, but to show progress over time. Therefore, If you are a homeschooler and grades are important to you, you will want to "test" the child separately perhaps using the worksheets or making up your own exams.

Great teaching game
We are a homeschooling family. I bought this game along with the fourth grade and fifth grade versions for my nine year old. She sailed through the other two, but found this one challenging. It is great for reinforcing math, introduces chemistry, addresses the pollution problem, history, spelling, vocabulary and reading comprehension. There is a level selection area in which you can choose how hard or easy the game is, but this is also handy for letting parents know where your child may need some help in or where they excel. It has a practice mode where the child can just do the activities without having to play the game. I found this great for reinforcing some of those areas my daughter needed more help in.
Even though my daughter has finished all three games, she still plays these.

Never Too Old To Play!!
It's great I'm 14 going on 15 in a month but I don't care
because that doesn't stop me from having fun. It's the greatest game. I've only played the 3rd and 4th grade one but they're still and always be my favorite software. If you've never played any of these games and you love computer games; buy this then even if you're older then me. Who cares? Just remember HAVE FUN!!! You won't regret it!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Could you make one for 10th graders or do you already?

Thank You

Cluefinders 6th Grade Adventures
This product provides an excellent source for preparation or reinforcement of what a 6th grader is expected to know. Players are put into a mystery situation where they have to solve clues in order to figure out the answers. Various aspects of the 6th grade curriculum are covered, and the computer adjusts for the skill level of the player, making the games increasingly more challenging. Areas covered include logical thinking, mathematics, science, geography, social science, and language arts. The games are fun, and since they get progressively harder as the student masters a skill, they do not get boring. At times the transition time from one activity to the next can be a bit long, and instructions are repetitive, but this seemed to bother adults more than children; this should not deter the buyer, however, as the positive aspects of this game far outweigh the negatives. Graphics and sound are excellent, and help includes a map and a reference section. Levels can be set manually, or the program can be adjusted to automatically determine when to advance to the next level as a skill is mastered. On the whole this is an excellent product, and a great way to make learning fun. Highly Recommended. Reviewer is a teacher and a librarian.

Cool
This game is fun and VERY educational... I even forgot I was
learning while playing it! The games are fun and have different levels, so if one level is too easy you may make is
harder and more challenging. It explains the mini-game
and how to play. The charactors are click-able and they seem to talk and help you throughout the whole game.
You meet cool alien type things, and in order to survive, you must figure out the answer to the mini-games.
The backround music is pretty cool, but it may get annoying
you can turn off the music, too! before you begin the game, it shows a mini movie of what's happening and it tells about
your mission.I love this game! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great combination of fun and learning!
Both of my children have thoroughly enjoyed the Cluefinder Series, especially this 3rd Grade Edition. I have tried many similar products but have found them to be either to heavy on the education, thereby losing the kids interest, or too heavy on the fun and they don't really learn much. In this product, the children get to work with a small group of kids (whom they may know already from other Cluefinders adventures)as they seek to solve the story/mysteries. I love the way the kids get rewarded for progress during their journey, providing even more incentive to continue. And the best part of all: they really do learn! During dinner one evening, my daughter showed off some of the math skills she had learned quite far in advance of her school classmates. And it wasn't just rote memorization. She had really learned the concepts. My hat is off to The Learning Company!

You're the ClueFinder in this game
The ClueFinders' are four kids who as a team gather clues and solve a mystery. They solve fractions, solve English problems, and many more educational games. It is a fun way of learning, and it is intresting, easy, and awsome. I highly recommend any ClueFinder's game there is, because they teach you and let you have fun at the same time. This product is defienitly worth its' money.

Highly Recommended
Probably most important with any educational software is finding something you're child really likes. My son loves to play this game!

He especially likes playing geography and maps. He loves choosing were in the world to send one of the characters. If he sends the character to the correct place, then he wins a "crypt tile". Crypt tiles are important because they are used to solve the games overall puzzle.

The math section makes doing fractions fun. Cylindrical tubes are aligned on the ocean floor by putting fractions in their proper place. If all the tubes are correct, then a "tube worm" coughs up a "crypt tile."

Navigation in the game is easy. Playing is fun - yet challenging. We recommend this one highly. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

In Busytown, children meet all their favorite characters from the Richard Scarry books, television programs, and videos. Together with Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm, Mr. Frumble, Dr. Diane, Mr. Fixit, and many others, they explore 11 playgrounds rich with real-life experiences.

Give your child the thrill of learning by doing, across a wide range of early-cognitive skills. Busytown meets the guidelines set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, guidelines that emphasize learning through play. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great Idea But Full of Programming Bugs
My three yr old loves Richard Scarry's Busytown so it was a natural choice for him. However, he was very disapointed to find one of the games (the garage) did not work at all and several of the others have programming quirks. If the cursor isn't positioned just right the game doesn't work. My advice is to select something else or wait for another imporved version.

disappointing
I brought this because I loved richard scary as a child but was totally disappointed with the game. There is no replayabilty with the only variation in the game being in the gas station and the parcel delivery. But the children soon got bored. The best part is playing with the wind. The mouse control is very poor ending up with frustrated children. The only way to get into the gas station was to put the whole game onto the hard drive.

Bustown 2000 CD-ROM
I started with Busytown Software back in 1995 with our first son when it ran on DOS and barely on Win95. The program worked well. After reading about BT 2000, I was reluctant to buy it. I did buy it this past week, had the same problem with the gas station and within 24 hours, SSI Tech support emailed the file to copy from the CD to the Hard Drive. About a 30 second fix and the game functions flawlessly. If your child loves Richard Scarry books and videos, this is a must have to compliment what they read and view to give them hands on interaction that is unlike any other application that I have seen. My first son is now almost 7 and is teaching his 3 year old brother how to play the game.

My son loves it.
The Busy Town CD-ROM is educational and fun. There are a lot of different activities and for a 3-4 year-old to play with on his own. But you do have to have a fast computer. One of our computers was too slow and it was impossible to play the program on it. Our other computer was fast enough. We had problems getting into the gas station game. I sent an email to technical support and received a message explaining how to copy a file from the CD-ROM to my hard drive and now it works great! We are very satisfied with it. It was definitely worth the price.

Great if you can get it to work
I understand the complaints of the previous reviewers. I could not get this program to run on the PowerMac and it also had a lot of problems when I ran it on the iMac while networked to the PowerMac. But once the iMac stood alone, I only had minor problems with this program. It is a big memory hog.

It's a really super program if you can get it to run. I'd pay special attention to the system requirements before buying.

There are 12 different activities which teach your child all kinds of things. It's great for pretend role play also. Pump gas, serve customers in a deli, build a house, get a ship ready for sea, etc.

It's too bad this title has compatibility problems with so many systems, because it really is a beautifully done program. ... Read more

Features

• Experience the excitement of being a real firefighter
• Unique 1st-person view that puts kids in the driver¿s seat
• Control a pumper truck, ladder truck, fire dozer, and fire copter
• 12 important rescue jobs, each with 3 levels of difficulty
• Missions vary each time game is played; for kids 3 to 6

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

Get ready to travel the world, encounter exotic sights and sounds, meet unusual people--and arrest them! Carmen Sandiego's international crime ring is furiously filching world treasures ordinary thieves wouldn't dare tackle. We're counting on you, Gumshoe. So, when you think you've got the goods on the bad guys, submit your evidence, make the collar, and go to court. But beware! Your evidence must be airtight or your suspect will go free! (Ages 9 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?
This is a good game that will teach children about world geography but younger children may get frustrated with this game. It is really geared toward pre-teens and you have to listen closely to the clues in order to determine where is the world is Carmen. This game will work with Windows XP Home Edition but you have to run it in compatibility mode.

Warning: It¿s not an easy game.
This game is a little frustrating for any child who cannot yet associate a continent with the following clues: kroner, Ho Chi Minh trail, outback, Sahara. I had to help out more than either of us would have liked. On the other hand, it's fun, so she is motivated to try. And she is learning a lot!

Carmen has made my child a geography whiz!
I have a 10 year old daughter who I have seen spend, literally, multiple hours on our PC engaged in what I call "virtual globe- trotting" in an effort to find Carmen and her partners in crime.

Players use the Digiketch to piece together a composite image of the suspect as they unlock clues describing his/her appearance.(Once you get a complete image, you can issue an arrest warrant!)

There is a World Wiz Database that helps players learn more about the countries that the suspect may have visited. This game introduces foreign phrases, international travel, and problem solving skills in a way that no other medium could.

I highly recommend this game as a means by which a child's horizons can be greatly broadened.

A first-class program.
I love this game. While chasing Carmen and her gang around the world, you come across funny characters, puzzling clues, interesting locations, and you learn a lot about geography and history at the same time! They did a magnificent job on this game - I wish I could find that missing last disk so I could install it again on my new computer!

Educational And Fun!
This is simply a brilliant,but yet educational,game.It challenges childrens' (& adults') geographical knowledge,while incorporating strategical planning as well. ... Read more

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

With Disney's Winnie the Pooh Preschool, young children can gain an early understanding of letter and number recognition, phonics, sequencing, and more. Preschoolers help Pooh throw a birthday party and attend Christopher Robin's friendship celebration, while learning lessons about sharing and friendship. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A great CD game for kids to cut their teeth on
Who doesn't love Pooh bear? Every kid I know does, and this Pooh software is a great game for kids to get themselves ready for preschool and kindergarten. Pooh visits Piglet, Kanga and Roo, Tiger, Owl, and Rabbit at their homes, as well as takes a nap at his. Each place has an assignment for your child (e.g. at Piglet's, you have to look at a picture Piglet painted and color it exactly the same way; at Kanga's, you help her and Roo make alphabet soup by adding the specific letters they ask for, etc.). Each assignment has 3 levels of difficulty, so as your child progresses, you can make the game a bit more chllanging for them. My kids are 3 and 2, and using this game has already helped them manuever the computer mouse and use their powers of discernment to make correct decisions. Each child can enter his/her name and has a chart to monitor their progress (which is fun to print out and put on the fridge). Brilliant!

One of the best in the Preschool software category
If there were Emmys handed out for educational software, this one would be a strong contender. This software game really helped my 3-year old son learn his colors, numbers, sound recognition, matching, and letters. The best part is that the game is easy to understand and very fun. He plays this game often. Pooh visits each of his friends' house to notify them of Eeyore's birthday. In the process, the child "helps" the characters provide a gift for Eeyore. Once the chore is accomplished, the gift is waiting for Eeyore. When the child has collected all the gifts, let the birthday party begin! The software has three difficulty levels. The software requires use of a mouse.

Pooh is the man.
I received this from my parents for my son thinking that I would just sell it on-line and then I realized it actually worked with our system and it's been installed since. My son started playing this when he was 3 and he loves going through all of the different houses and doing the multiple tasks and going on to the advanced stages. It keeps track of your childs progress and it also gives you printable pages for a workbook. I just printed out a set to take on our trip so he'll have something to do on the plane ride. My daughter who is 2 also would enjoy it if her big brother would ever give her a chance to sit and play with the computer. I highly recommend this because it's very easy for them to catch on to what they have to do to complete the levels. Boring? It can be, but kids thrive on repetition, so I just leave the room if I get too bored watching it.

Not so crazy about this one!
I purchased this game for the PS2 for my son who is 4 and I find it rather boring. The only thing he even likes to do is the coloring and even then there are only like 2 or 3 pictures to choose from. It seems to go slow and take forever to do anything. You have to listen to all the characters talk and you cant just get right to the game. After reading some other reviews though it seems to have worked for many, but neither myself or my son were too impressed with this one!

My 3-year-old's favorite
My 3-year-old son loves the Winnie-the-Pooh games; this was his first in the series and is by FAR his favorite. It's very entertaining and educational, teaching a variety of skills such as number and letter recognition, reasoning (i.e. cause-and-effect), matching, etc. After we helped him out with the basics, he figured out how to navigate through the centers with ease, and really learned to use the mouse. Any of the Pooh titles would be a good buy, but this stands out if you're looking for a great all-around buy for your toddler/pre-schooler. ... Read more

Features

• Over 70 challenging activities cover a two-year curriculum for 3rd and 4th grades
• Have fun developing skills in math, grammar, language arts, geography, science, and history
• Learning Buddies technology adjusts the program continuously to the right level of difficulty
• Get report cards, printable activities, Schoolhouse Rock videos, guides, and more
• Real-life learning includes critical thinking, creativity, vocabulary, and logic

Reviews (1)

Well Made Educational CD Rom
This set had all the bases covered. It includes 4 area of study. Math , Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies. Fun and well rounded. ... Read more