Amazon.com Product Description

These three titles deliver a variety of skill-building challenges for curious kids ages 8 to 12. Filled with colorful characters, exotic locations, and engaging story lines, each title is designed to stimulate curious young minds. The package includes The ClueFinders Reading Adventures, Carmen Sandiego's ThinkQuick Challenge, and Super Solvers Mission: T.H.I.N.K. These titles will build important fourth- through sixth-grade skills in reading comprehension, geography, math, problem solving, and more. Kids will help the ClueFinders solve an intergalactic mystery, travel the globe in pursuit of crafty wordsmith Carmen Sandiego and her cohorts, and tackle hundreds of mind-bending puzzles to help save a game factory in Mission: T.H.I.N.K. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

couldn't ask for more
we just got this title this over the weekend and the very first day my daughter was on the computer for at least 3 or 4 hours. she loves this, 3 software titles in one,what a great price,she is learning disabled and has already related to us that cluefinders has taught her about verbs and adjectives and she has even said she doesn't mind not watching tv afterschool so that she can hop on the computer. thank cluefinders ... Read more

Features

• Your child will have fun at Camp Happy Tails, with Reader Rabbit and Mat the Mouse. Together they'll go on a learning adventure where they'll save the campfire celebration.
• They'll use their thinking and puzzle solving skills to locate important supplies across the island
• Great games help kids think mathematically, learn spatial relationships, and build language skills
• Also includes lots of songs, ghost stories and poems, for creative interactive fun

Reviews (5)

Not the best, not the worst
I bought this game for my son who is almost two. He enjoyed it to a point, some of the games are a little hard for him, but he can play most of them. My biggest disappointment is that I will be taking it back this evening because the packaging says it will run on Windows XP, well this is partly true. It will run, but not correctly. I have run into this problem before with trying to find an educational game for my son that will actually run correctly. Overall, though, if it would actually work on my computer, these games would be pretty good.

Disappointing
My son began playing on the computer with BabyWow. After counless hours of learning with BabyWow! he advanced to Reader Rabbit Toddler. Both of these are quality games. Compared to these, Disney Learning Toddler was disappointing.

Fantastic Starting Software
My son started playing this at 16 months. You can hit any key on the keyboard to make something happen or progress to point-and-click. Thanks to the Mickey and Minnie games my son learned his letters and shapes by 20 months. He also amazed us by learning how to point-and-click at 18 months. He's now 29 months and still enjoys playing some of these games but has progressed to Putt-Putt Saves The Zoo.

I have to say that this is one of the best purchases we made for him and it's helped him stay ahead of his playmates when it comes to counting, the alphabet, and his computer skills. Within the coming months we'll probably give the Disney preschool software pack a try.

Bored 4 yr old.
Both programs lack any variation within the games. There is one task and one way to do it. There is far too much explanation for each game on the Winnie the Pooh game. My grandson who will spent hours, if allowed, on the computer was bored in minutes.

Learn ABCs, 123s and much more with Disney Friends!
I bough this CD-ROM 3-pack mainly for the Pooh and Mickey discs (the Rolie Polie Olie disk is not part of thiw review as I was unable to unstall it at the time of the review...an error with the disk, perhaps?). My daughter, who is 27 months old, LOVES both Pooh and Mickey and I thought this would be an excellent way to introduce her to the computer while using interactive methods to teach ABCs, 123s, and much more.

First, the Mickey CD specifics:

* learn letters with Mickey by playing hide-and-seek with six different letters at a time (Mickey says each letter)
* learn numbers (1-10) with Pluto by instructing him to bark at the gophers who pop out of holes holding numbers (Mickey says each number)
* learn shapes with Minnie by helping her find things that are of a certain shape. Shapes included are circle, square, triangle, diamond, and heart.
* explore music concepts with Donald by dragging the mouse over different items in his backyard to make noises
* there are coloring pages that you can print out which focus on the concepts addressed throughout the CD, and more

Pooh CD specifics:

* learn opposites with Pooh as you drag the mouse over different thigns in his house
* learn shapes, colors, letters, and numbers with all of Pooh's friends as you pop balloons containing these things
* help build your memory with Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Roo as you try to remember what each character likes (they give you clues and you must guess accordingly)
* explore music concepts with Christopher Robin and Pooh ans 4 of his friends by dragging your mouse over different instruments to make music as well as dragging your mouse over the characters to sing songs
* explore different languages (French and Spanish) with Owl and Roo by helping Pooh choose items from behind a stage and hearing the word in both English and another language.
* there are coloring pages and other printing options based upon the concepts addressed throughout the CD

Rolie Polie Olie CD (some details as shown on box):

* help Olie clean his room and search for Spot
* make music with Oilie in his kitchen
* go scuba diving in Olie's tub
* make "Tellys" out of household items
* mix and match colors in Olie's room

I think this is a wonderful CD-rom set (without reference to the Olie CD, of course)! My daughter LOVES playing the different games on each CD-ROM and frequently asks for "Mickey" and "Pooh" games. she really likes to pop the balloons on the Pooh CD, and likes the shapes with Minnie on the Mickey CD. The best feature is that this game is truly made for young children who don't have the hand-eye coordination to fully operate a computer and mouse. The mouse activates functions on teh CD-ROM not by clicking, but by rolling over things (during play) and keeping the mouse on an item to change between tasks. There are special larger cursors throughout the game as well, so it's easier for littler ones to see what they are moving. And if they can't yet operate a mouse (my daughter just knows how to click the mouse, but hasn't figured out how to make it move yet), tehy can press keys on the keyboard and it will activate different parts in each "game".

I wish I could have reviewed the Olie game, but I will definitely edit my review once I am able to install the Olie game (still haven't figured out why it isn't installing correctly - get an install error each time).

I would definitely recommend this product, in particular if your toddler is already fond of the particular characters in teh game. My daughter was very familiar with (and in love with) Pooh and Mickey prior to purchasing this game, so it's possible that she enjoys it so much because many of her favorite cartoon characters are the "stars" of the game. But as a parent, I think this software is definitely an invaluable learning tool - the familiar characters are an added bonus. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Playing 3rd Grade Adventures is a lot like falling intothe middle of a Saturday morning cartoon adventure. On the first CD- ROM, "The Mystery of Mathra," Uncle Horace is lost in a South Americanrain forest said to be the home of Mathra, an evil mythical bird. Youhave to join with a team of young rescuers to find Horace and learnwhat's destroying the jungle. But get ready to practice a lot of math,reading, science, geography, and problem-solving skills along theway.

Following this long and twisted tale takes players through "The MonkeyKingdom and the Goo Forest," where problems are presented by a colorfulcast of apes, spiders, and even a quartet of talking flowers that sounda bit like the Beatles. Each problem solved earns you whimsical itemsfor bartering--sneezeberries, goo beetles, or snagnets--that laterbecome your ticket to the keys to the Lost City, where Mathra resides.

Solving "The Mystery of Mathra" takes a lot of perseverance. Althoughthe game is rated for children aged 7 to 9, and is equipped with asystem that adjusts the program to different ability levels, it'sreally too difficult for 7- and 8-year-olds to play alone. But 3rdGrade Adventures' games are clever, and kids will love playingalong with the animated characters. The package also offers a secondCD-ROM full of printable workbooks and activity sheets--just in caseparents feel their kids are having too much fun. (Ages 7 to 9) -- Sharon Griggins ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Few Math problems that can be solved by trial and error
In this game the two characters travel down a trail that takes them to places where they have to solve "ONE" math problem. Therefore, children playing this game don't get much practice and do not learn anything. Even worse, you can solve this multple choice problem by trial and error and then proceed down the trail to the next math problem. My four year old that does not know any math is able to complete the game just by trying every answer at every math station. My two daughters do like this game, but it does not teach them any math. The Jump Start Math for Second Graders is actually much more challenging. There at every stage chidren have to solve many problems and sometimes they have little time to do this.

Excellent and challenging for a 3rd grader
Cluefinders 3rd grade is terrific. It has provided hours of fun for my daughter and her friends. I like to play it with her, too. I'd highly recommend it.

Cluefinders 3rd Grade
I've played a lot of different educational games and this one is the best so far! I'm seven and love it. I especially like the geography. I like the story and the graphics too. It's easy to understand and also challenging.

Getting Better
Even though I'm getting a little too old,my like of this game is high.It gets scarier and better the farther you go,and it is very fun.I suggest that it is a good way to learn and have fun at the same time.

My son loves it!
My son loves this game. His approval means a lot, because he has practically every educational game for his skill level and can really compare. He is now asking me to buy him the 4th, 5th and 6th grade version of Clue Finders, so that when he is ready he could start playing them right away. ... Read more

Features

• Children gain: Confidence, Creativity, Inspiration

Features

• As they travel through the space circus & see event from all over the galaxy, they'll learn all sorts of vital math skills
• Learn about number patterns, fractions, logic, problem solving and more
• Over 50 math skills are exercised
• As kids learn they earn SmartPoints, which they can trade in online for prizes
• Also includes trial version of Virtual Classroom

Amazon.com Product Description

It's time for an exciting neighborhood adventure with Blue and friends from Blue's Clues. Miss Marigold has a long checklist of places for kids, ages 3 to 5, to visit. Adventure with Blue to the grocery, gift, and music stores, as well as to the bakery and the library. Each venue offers something special for Blue and kids to bring back to Circle Time. Use listening, memory, and sequencing skills to help Blue play back Purple Kangaroo's tune at the music store. Help Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper select the right groceries by listening closely for size, colors, and spatial relationships. Recognize, identify, and match letters to help Blue and Orange Kitten sort and shelve books in the library, and much more. In Blue's Clues: Preschool kids learn essential preschool skills and build confidence while playing with Blue and friends. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Lots of learning fun
My son started playing this game when he turned three. He loved it then, and still loves playing it at age four. I should say, however, that I believe the optimum age for this game to be between 2-4 years. Handily, there are different level settings, so children who are more advanced or less advanced in activities can still enjoy the fun. For example, my son does well in mathematics and reading, so the library and the play store are high level activities. On the other hand, hearing sounds and repeating them (the triangle goes 'ting', so you must then hit the triangle) is harder for him, so we use the easiest setting for the music store.

He has spent up to two hours playing in just the present store, picking out presents for friends within the money limit allowed. He loves choosing the wrapping paper and matching bows, as well.

As the game features many different activities (reading, mathematics, sound repetition, vocabulary, shape-sorting), it is a win for parents interested in educating their children in a fun way. I'm planning on purchasing it for my nephew, as well, and if I had more relatives with children, they'd be getting it for Christmas, too.

The main down side would be Joe, as compared to the beloved Steve, but he plays a very minor role, and is only seen when the child is switching between activity centers (library, grocery store, music store, bakery, present store). The other would be the lack of actual reading in the library. As my son can read, it would be more fun on the highest level if he could sort the books according to title, instead of just with the beginning letter. However, he still has a lot of fun with it, and the mathematics in the present store are great.

Pass, unless you really love shelves.
This Blue's Clues game looks like it was rushed through development. With the show's old host Steve gone, they now have to quickly replace Blue's old computer games so that the new host, Joe, is in them. Most of the simplistic activities have a recurring theme: taking and putting things off and on shelves. Here's a list of what to expect:

Activity 1: Go to the bakery and pick items off shelves.

Activity 2: Go to the library and put books where they're supposed to go, by matching the book with the letter on the shelf.

Activity 3: Go to the Toy Store and help customers buy presents by picking from a shelf full of items.

Activity 4: Go to the grocery store, and help Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper select groceries by taking food items off of ... you guessed it, shelves.

The only activity that is different, is a mediocre music activity, where you match what Purple Kangaroo does. Eh.

Sounds pretty exciting, doesn't it! Well, not really. The only reason this game will sell like crazy is because it has Blue in it. If it wasn't for that, no one would pay attention to it. The activities are simplistic and rapidly become boring due to the recurring and unimaginitive "shelf" theme. Worse, the program doesn't really explain anything to your child. It just jumps right in and says "Match the letter on the book, to the letter on the shelf." Your child may likely ask, "What's a letter?"

The show is good, but this game isn't. Pass, unless you really love shelves.

LALALALALALALALA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
La la land is a place I have been to many times in my life time. They have ponys you can sit on. And they dance! And sing! And poop! And giant slugs slither on you until you get really, really, really, really, really ,really ,really, really, really, really, really, really ,really ,really, really, really, really, sticky.And you can fly with dragons that speak Italian...And warrior bunnies attack with feathers made of soap.And Green Bay Packers fans wear cheese on there heads. Which bring flying monkeys that only eat cheese! And gwakamoli rains from the heavens.And you can grow a beard that climbs all the way around the earth and chokes zombies to death!!!(...) And sticky mummies walk around in circles until they burn holes in the floor!!! I JUST LOVE THIS BLUES CLUES GAME!!! IT'S THE BEST GAME I'VE EVER PLAYED!!!!!!!!!!!! THE END THE END THE END THE END THE END THE END THE END THE END THE END THE END THE END!

It was ok
I played with my almost four year old nephew with this and I found it very hard for him to follow. First of all, was he supposed to know when to click? I could hardly tell when the arrows were slighted changed.

Good, but not great
We've had this disc since my son was 3. Other reviewers have expressed the thought that the game is more suitable for toddlers. I don't entirely agree, particularly given that there are three distinct levels for each task.

The Grocery Store - level 1 directs children to put specific items in the basket. Higher levels direct children to items based on their relative position (e.g. the item below, or to the right of, bananas).

The Music Store - I admit that I find this one tiresome. The player repeats a pattern of beats on a variety of instruments. Each level increases the number of beats and instruments used.

The Bakery - Children choose items that are specific shapes. Level 1 uses only the most common shapes. Level 2 introduces lesser known shapes, like the crescent. Level 3 has the child look for objects that combine shapes - the task may be to find an item containing 1 circle, 1 triangle and 2 rectangles, which the child will find arranged as a cookie shaped like a little girl.

The Present Store - Here the child is asked to find one item that cost a specific number of "blue dollars". The number of dollars is displayed on the gift table and each item's price is displayed beneath it. The child places the item on the table and then counts out the appropriate number of dollars. In the higher levels, the child is given an amount, but they must find a combination of 2 or more objects that equal that total (probably the most complex activity in the game).

The Library - ok, I can't defend this one. It is ridiculously easy on any level.

All in all, it's not a bad game. It does move a little slowly and you do have to adjust the difficulty of each activity to the appropriate level for your child, but holds appeal for kids a variety of ages and gives them a chance to play with a favorite character. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Created in response to newly enacted standardized test requirements for grade school students, Newton's Quest 6th Grade brings traditionally dry material to 3-D life with interactive tools that help stimulate kids' curiosity about science, space, nature, geography, music, and art. Over 4,000 questions and 400 exercises, covering a full year of curriculum, are incorporated into the colorful space fantasy world of Newton, the affable alien youth who serves as your eager escort. While the material covered is thorough, grade-appropriate, and sure to boost knowledge in key areas, we found the programming to be a bit sloppy in places and overall user experience less than intuitive, leading us to wonder whether navigating through the game was itself a test of conceptual thinking and logic skills.

Things start out promising enough. Installation is easy and the graphics had the accessible look and feel of a Saturday morning cartoon. The 3-D environment and 360-degree views lent themselves well to interactivity, and the teen-next-door persona of the pointy-eared Newton engaged our attention without seeming condescending or sappy. However, as we began to follow Newton through his spaceship classroom to create our own player character, we began to notice a few disjoints that disenchanted and even frustrated us. For example, we were asked questions by Newton without any indication of how to respond with a yes or no. He occasionally stopped after greeting us or explaining something, presumably waiting for some type of input from our end--even whistling or humming as we kept him waiting. He even adopted a different accent on occasion, inexplicably and distractingly. Add to this unclear paths of navigation, instances of screen views changing for no apparent reason, and slow transition times, and we were left feeling a bit cheated out of what could have been a playfully effective interface.

Once a bit more familiar with the quirks of this program, however, we began to make use of its extensive educational resources. We conducted scientific simulations, enjoyed interactive displays and games, and eventually tackled the activity areas dedicated to standardized test practice. In these, a five-step learning method was presented, including warmup activities, and then lessons, practice problems, advanced problems and, finally, testing. In essence, these activities are drills, but drills made more worthwhile by a reward system and immediate assessment results. Overall, and despite the awkward and unwieldy interface that plagues the program throughout, Newton's Quest 6th Grade can be a valuable tool to grade schoolers eager to improve their testing skills and performance. --Ed Noble ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Experience a thrilling Egyptian adventure with this award-winning software featuring A.D.A.P.T. Learning Technology! Join The ClueFinders on an archaeological dig and uncover a sinister plot to unleash an ancient force upon the world. Decipher ancient scrolls, collect clues, and rescue lost relics. The ClueFinders need your clever sleuthing and creative problem solving to stop the evil archaeologist's diabolical plan! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great in the classroom
I teach special education classes in a jr. high school. This program (and the 5th Grade Adventure) is terrific for my students who are 6th to 8th graders reading at 3rd to 5th grade level. they have the same interest as every other Jr. High student, but not the ability to process at the same level. My students play this game all the time -- It is not patronizing to the students like a Reader Rabbit game would be. I have purchased several copies so that more than one student can play at a time. I HIGHLY reccommend it.

Fun and challenging - my son loved it!
My son loves this game, and solving the exercises and problems was fun to earn clues to the mystery. It seemed the appropriate level of challenge, as he will be entering 4th grade in the fall, and he needed help with some of the exercises, especially fractions. That was a good opportunity to introduce him to the subject. With the ADAPT feature, if they get stuck, the software keeps the level easy enough so they don't get too frustrated, and hard enough that it is still challenging. I highly recommend this software.

Great fun! and Learning Too!
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 son showed off some of the math skills he had learned quite far in advance of his school classmates. And it wasn't just rote memorization. He had really learned the concepts. My hat is off to The Learning Company!

Kids love it
My daughter doesn't really like doing math and english, but when she plays this game, she forgets that she's practicing her school skills. My son loves the games too, even though he is a year behind her.

Most of the tasks start out easy, then get harder. The kids just seem to take it in stride, and by the end, they are doing difficult fraction-conversions (1/2 => 3/6 or vice versa), or unscrambling words, or playing "memory" with math facts!

IT BOMBS OUT!
I was very surprised to get this program home and find that it seems to have some major bugs. The concept seems great, the problem is the program keeps crashing if you play it too long.

The tech people say it has to do with the on-line registration, they report some people can register and some can not.

It is very frustrating to spend good money on a program and have it not work.

I hope they get the kinks worked out of an otherwise excellent game. ... Read more