Amazon.com Review

Reader Rabbit takes a road trip, and kids who go along for the ride willlearn everything from homonyms to alphabetizing with this occasionally inspiredCD-ROM. Kids can follow the Road to Imagination to 15 different reading lands,or visit Wordville Station for straightforward access to word games. Both ofthese multilevel elements are designed for kids who already have a grasp of thealphabet.

Each stop along the Road to Imagination has a reading-related theme, such as anowl looking for words with long and short vowel sounds for the letter e.Animated hot spots reinforce the theme, as well as activities that involverhyming, syllabication, listening to letter sounds, and word recognition. Thereare also a couple of books to be found at each stop along the road (30 in all),with questions at the end that inspire both reading comprehension andimaginative flights of fancy. An easy-to-use recording program enables kids toread the books out loud and play back their words. Wordville Station has fourgames that teach compound words, vowel sounds, alphabetizing, and matchingopposites, homonyms, and rhyming words.

I Can Read has some bright moments: Reader Rabbit loosens up a bit andimitates Ed Sullivan, Dick Clark, and former president Clinton as he emcees analphabetization exercise called the Alphabet Dance. The vagaries of the Englishlanguage are exposed when a bird of paradise plant transforms into an exoticallyplumed bird of paradise, and then that same bird rolls a pair of dice. A tinybit of sophistication seems to have seeped into the wide-eyed world of ReaderRabbit, and it will probably be appreciated by kids who have cut theirpop-culture teeth on the rapid-fire fare provided by Nickelodeon and Nintendo.

Fear not, Reader Rabbit and Mat the Mouse still run a pretty straight-lacedestablishment, with plenty of opportunities for parents to check progress,control gameplay and levels, and educate themselves about educating their youngreaders. But there's a bit more sass here than in the Reader Rabbit programsdesigned for younger kids--an intelligent way for the series to adjust to itsincreasingly sophisticated audience. (Ages 5 to 8) --Anne Erickson ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Lots of fun
My five year old likes playing this game as much as video games. And that's saying a lot. The bonus, of course, is that he's working on reading skills too.

He does need help on some of the tasks, so I do have to help him occasionally.

Phonics and Fun All In One...
We were given the original Reader Rabbit (RR) Preschool a few years ago and wore it out. I thought all kids software was as great; they aren't. I just bought RR's I Can Read with Phonics and, as other early RR versions, the I can Read with Phonics has great, encouraging (non-irratating) voices, sounds, wonderful colors and lots of phonics, words, and sounding out of letters and words alike. My almost-4-year-old has a go at it each day, and my almost-6-year-old loves it and will play it for hours if I let her. I would recommend this product for anyone who has a child who is behind in reading or whom is bored by phonics or fustrated by learning to read; also for anyone trying to learn English as a second language it is great. Or just if you want your child to have an edge with reading. Sit with them while they play, don't just walk away -- tho, even if you do walk away and let them play they are bound to learn, no doubt at all. You'll be suprised how fast they learn. My almost-six-year-old played a few hours a day for three days in a row, then sat down on day four with a pen and paper and declared she wanted to write a story. Wow. If you sit with them and help them sound out the words (tho the computer does that too), you'll be doing something wonderful for your child. RR isn't boring, it can become quite engrossing and fun, even for the helping parent. Nothing is wasted in this program, altho, you follow a map in a car from one level to the next, instead of earning keys to a magical land like in the Preschool RR. So there is a lack of cohesiveness in the I Can Read with Phonics product, but it's miniumal and even forgivable when see how fast they learn and how much they love to play it. It'd call it a painless, fast, learning to read product. Highly Recommened. I also have the JumpStart Phonics CD, but it's not nearly as much fun as the RR I Can Read with Phonics CD.

Great Program for learning to read.
The best way to help your child learn to read is to teach them the sounds of the letters. This program helps by focusing in on one letter sound at a time, while teaching site words, that are difficult to sound out (for example the word: the). Through fun games, you work your way through the alphabet, in no particular order, and each time you "complete" a letter, you add that letter to a puzzle- which you then read at the end, or click on the words, and the program reads it to your child.
I recommend this program, takes many hours to go through entire program, can save progress, and can access areas that your child may need more work at.

Fantastic game
My 6 year daughter absolutely loved playing this game. She would play it for hours at a time. I believed that it has helped her learn to read. I wish that the people from Reader Rabbit would make another version.

Best Education Game for Young Kids
Wow! My little brother never stops playing this game. It's really a great educational game for ages 3-6. It helps with phonics,grammer and reading. If your looking for a great game if it's for either your little brother or for your son. It's a game worth having. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Spelling's what it says, and spelling's what you get from thisstraightforward CD-ROM. Kids visit three sites in this underwater scenario:a cave, a giant clamshell, and a sunken pirate ship. A visit to the caveprovides kids with a list of eight words to spell. They can click on aword, hear it read, and then hear it spelled. After studying the spellinglist (it's even arranged vertically, in classic spelling-list style), kidscan begin the game. During the game, the spelling word appears and a voicereads and spells it, then the word vanishes. The spellers either click onletters or use the keyboard to spell the word themselves. If all eightwords are spelled correctly, a captive fish is set free. Now, there'snothing wrong with this game, except for the fact that visiting theclamshell and the sunken ship yields the exact same game. The scenery andthe spelling words are the only things that change. Heck, even the fishbeing freed begin to look recycled after awhile.

The box boasts over 1,700 spelling words, and that's about the extent of thevariety in Spelling. We encountered where, seat, andnothing while cycling through the spelling words at the program'sbeginning, and after successfully getting though all three of the areas, we wereworking on compounds like shortstop and grandfather. The programautomatically adjusts to the player's ability, yet there is no way to save aspelling session or register individual users, so if your child worked his orher way up to offhand on one day, the next day it's back to seat.Customizing the spelling list isn't an option here; spellers must take whateverwords these denizens of the deep float their way. This program could supplementan early spelling education, and wouldbe a decent match for kids who love undersea themes, but there are otherprograms out there that provide more fun, variety, and control. (Ages 6 to8) --Anne Erickson ... Read more

Reviews (1)

First Grade Teacher's Opinion
Each day my students have "center time" which is structured independent study time through different activities. One of the choices is use of the computers. Spelling 1st and 2nd Grade is by far the best program that I have used. The children love playing it and it concentrates more on the subject of spelling and phonics than on the games. Too many educational software titles I have used are more game oriented than educational. I am always happy when the kids have a game that uses the skills that they are learning, but too many titles have some type of joystick game with very few subject questions to even win or proceed to the next level. ... Read more

Features

• Fun games teach children about counting and numbers
• Puzzles give children stronger thinking abilities
• Expand your child's creative skills with Coloring & Creativity

Reviews (1)

Multiple Problems
I got Caillou's Kindergarten for my daughter who will start kindergarten in the fall. There were multiple problems with the product. First, when you start the CD, the voice says "Welcome to Caillou's Preschool" (instead of Kindergarten) and then vocally gives options to select games about the alphabet, colors/shapes, and coloring. Yet, the actual options (the ones written on the screen) are for Caillou's Counting, Thinking Skills, and Coloring & Creativity Part 2. Nowhere on the CD can you select the options that were given vocally. I contacted the company and they said they will not fix the problem because it doesn't effect the game play. Yet it completely confuses the consumers since they can't choose the options mentioned. My daughter wanted to play the colors/shapes games, and no such games existed on the CD! I actually returned the product to get a replacement, thinking it was a bad disk, but the next CD had the exact same problems.

Additionally, the written menu said "Coloring & Creativity Part 2". There is no Part 1 on the CD, yet another confusing aspect. Also, there is only one game in that section, whereas the other two sections had numerous games to choose from, leaving the parent wondering if there were supposed to be more.

Only the Dad's voice is heard in the English version, a disappointment to those hoping to hear one of the many other characters speak. The designers of the software could have done so much more with this product but chose not to.

Finally, the product was way too easy for my daughter, who has not yet started kindergarten. This CD is much more appropriate for preschoolers. Overall, it is a poorly created, overpriced CD that I would not recommend to others. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Achieve! Writing & Language Arts brings four award-winning educational titles in one to your child's desktop. Designed for younger learners, a combination of memorable music, appealing characters, intriguing environments, and clever word games build language and grammar skills. Tackle sentence structure, learn about synonyms and antonyms, explore language concepts, and more. Featured titles include: Word Munchers Deluxe, Schoolhouse Rock! Grammar Rock, The Writing Trek, and Strategy Challenges 2: In the Wild. When grammar and vocabulary are made this much fun, young learners achieve at learning. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wonderful resource for the serious homeschooler!!
We have been proud owners of this package for two years and have used it diligently to supplement skills and concepts introduced throughout the year for first and second grade. It has been a WONDERFUL supplemental resource. Unlike a lot other educational software packages that claim to cover a wide range of ages, this one means it when they say "First through Third grade". It is simple to use: After a concept (example: 2 digit addition) has been introduced to the student, you specifically set up games to reinforce those particular skills. After those skills have been mastered you then go back in (with a simple click of the mouse and check-mark skills you want to reinforce from a large pre-set list) It is honestly very simple to do. Explaining the process actually takes far more time that it does to actually do it. Although the games are very "friendly", with engaging characters and settings, the software is not meant to "entertain" as much as it is to teach. I would not at all be surprised to find this package in a lot of school computer rooms for kids to reinforce their skills on. If you are looking for a true educational software package that would be appropriate for (no younger than)first through third grade, this would be perfect for you and your child.

I would give it ZERO stars if I could!
I completely agree with what everyone else has said. This was a total waste of money. The other reviewer was right when he said the extra software included (for us it was Star Flyers) was the ONLY good thing!

How can they market programs that were designed for 3-5 year olds for Grades 1-3? Its ludicrous!

DO NOT waste your money! The whole thing is unprofessional. There are no guides and even the paper inside the CD looks like it was BADLY photocopied.

Again, if I could give it ZERO stars I would!

This is going back
I was looking for some software to help my fourth grader with math facts, computations, etc. (He's an Everyday Math victim.) The activites, even at the most advanced level, are much too easy for him. Pointing and clicking at different piles of cookies is not division. This is a complete waste.

This is being returned to The Learning Company
I just purchased this today, and it is extremely disappointing. I was looking for a software package that would help my 2nd grader learn his math facts, and this certainly isn't it, as far as I can tell. There is zero documentation included, so there is no way to steer your child towards games that would help his or her weak areas. I couldn't find a game that drilled them on anything, just a lot of pointless point and click activities.

Product is not very good
I got this product for my 5 year old, and it is about right,
any 3-6th grade would not like it at all. The best thing in the game is the free cluefinders monkey adventure in my costco box.
Most of the games look like they were designed for windows 95.

I liked the clips from grammar rock, I remember these as a kid, but you could by the DVD of Schoolhouse rock and get better versions of those. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must have
The games are so much fun.I am making better grades at school on my spelling test.The arcade games are my favorite.I enjoy reading the fun stories.I hope you have your parents go buy it for you. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

School Zone does it again!
School Zone's Spelling Puzzles CD-Rom is an excellent home teaching aid. It features 30 different spelling worksheets. The program grades the child's work, tracks the child's progress and allows the child to correct answers. The worksheets are interspersed with humorous cartoons of 'cheerleaders' doing victory dances and making encouraging comments. In between worksheets, the child plays one of three computer games. My child became very excited about this program and completed the worksheets at a single sitting. I am duly impressed -- this CD is very well done. School Zone should be proud of itself. The worksheets themselves are very similar to the printed paper worksheets used in first grade classrooms. My son shows almost no interest in the paper worksheets handed out at his school but eagerly attacks School Zone's electronic version. This proves, once again, that inspired packaging and presentation make a difference.

Fun program
This game is really fun. It's not particularly deep, but it gets kids practising spelling and reading in a very exciting (not overstimulating) environment. The game contains sets of 30 worksheets that kids fill in, and they get rewarded with games (that are hard to master, but the challenge is actually motivating). Good, especially for the price, and there's a workbook included with the CD-ROM. ... Read more

Features

• Kids will enjoy Garfield -It's All About Math Readiness -- great number and counting games help children to face math problems
• With Garfield -It's All About Thinking Skills they'll play 15 thinking games to develop matching, pairing and ordering activities
• In Garfield -It's All About Phonics they'll enjoy 15 activities that teach the basics of phonics, vowels and consonants, while promoting memory and concentration
• Ages 4-5

Amazon.com Review

As Alistair Cookie (Cookie Monster wearing a robe and cravat) welcomesguests to Monsterpiece Theater, he launches a reading adventure thatcontains the warmth and wit we've come to expect from anything bearing the name Sesame Street.

Cookie directs kids to choose one of two stories to read: "Grover's Travels" or "The Three Grouchketeers." Grover's story is a wide-eyed adventureduring which our hero learns about his feelings. "The Three Grouchketeers" isabout cooperation, and has a tad more attitude, since it involves Oscar theGrouch. After deciding on a story (younger kids will lean towards "Grover'sTravels," while the top of the age range will probably like "The ThreeGrouchketeers"), kids can either read it straight through, or read a versionwhere activities must be completed to progress. Both stories contain sixactivities based on early learning fundamentals, and a choice of two levels ofplay. The tasks are simple and educational: counting in sequence will untieGrover, following Oscar the Grouch's directions arms the Grouchketeers withenough "royal junk" for their mission, and helping Big Bird complete a rhymemakes Grover's getaway balloon inflate.

Text appears above each page, and words light up as a clear-voiced narratorreads the story. Once kids have read through the story, they can use an indexfunction to go directly back to their favorite page or activity without havingto sit through the whole "book" again. There are some musical interludes thatrange from awful (Grover is no Pavarotti) to cute ("Oh I love triangles! They'repointy and pokey and stable!"), and the animation is bright and busy. Our onlygripe is that the producers didn't follow the rule of threes--one more storywould have given this CD-ROM real staying power.

One of this program's great strengths is its capacity to surprise. "I've got tarin a jar, an iron bar, a fast car, and a Mylar sitar!" intones Big Bird duringthe rhyming game. On another page, the word "minuscule" crops up, alongside aclickable thesaurus that recites every other word for "small" imaginable. Dozensof cleverly animated hotspots adorn both stories. In true Sesame Streetstyle, Reading Games teaches kids, yet never talks down to them. (Ages 3to 5) --Anne Erickson ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fun Game for Kids
My Kindergartener really enjoyed this game. He was having problems with rhyming and this really helped him. I would recommend this game to everyone with kids between 3 and 7. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

With brain-teasing graphics and puzzling riddles to solve, this spooky addition to the I Spy series will keep elementary-agestudents occupied for hours at a time. A skeleton host rewards players with a secret message puzzle piece upon successful completion of each riddle. Those clever enough to collect all the pieces can solve the bigger fun house mystery.

With ten different rooms ranging from an inventor's laboratory to a library--and text that is written entirely in rhyme--the world created here is utterly absorbing. No matter how many times you explore a room, there's always new details and creepy clickables you hadn't seen before. Particularly well done is the attic, where you can explore in the dark with only a flashlight to light your way.In the study, you can even create your own riddles to send to your printer!

This software concentrates on critical-thinking skills,problem-solving abilities, and acute observational techniques that are centered around a mansion. This software takes a well-loved series to a whole new level--it's perfect for the die-hard fan or as the first member of what we're sure will become a large I Spy collection. --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (33)

A Family Favorite
My son is only three and a half, so my husband bought the game with the intention of saving it until our son was older. I got it out for him, and even though it is rated for ages 6-10, it is one of our son's favorites. Given that he can't read, I had to help him at first, but once I showed him where to click to get the riddles read to him, he could play independently (for hours on end). I keep two different user files -- one of a completed game so that he can make all seven ghosts (which requires completing the game); and one uncompleted, so when he completes puzzles the skeleton gives him new puzzle pieces. Other reviewers said that the game was not interesting once played through, but we have not found that to be the case. Our son was _more_ interested in the repetition once he'd got the hang of it. Also, of all the games we have, this is the most pleasant and interesting for the adult helping the child.

Great education and entertainment value
My son had loved the "I Spy Junior" game so I thought he might enjoy trying this challenge, recommended for ages 6-10. He's 5 but a very strong visual learner with great memory skills. The beauty of this game is it not only plays to his strengths but encourages building lesser skills with words on many levels. My favorite aspects: beautifully detailed graphics, a fun laboratory animation with 7 ghost experiments, and the concentration games which are a challenge at many levels. You get the sense that the creators enjoyed making this product. I find the best children's computer games (eg. Learning Company's Cat in the Hat series) reach parents as well making shared learning opportunities a joy!

My students enjoy it!
I am a pediatric occupational therapist who used this game as a fun way to develop eye-hand coordination, visual perception, thinking, and reading skills. They were so motivated! Unfortunately after you "win" the game that is all there is; not another more challenging level to explore.

Spooky Mansion...unrevisited!
Santa brought this game for my 6 yr. old for Christmas. She and I and her 3 1/2yr. old brother opened it the day after Christmas. It is very interesting with 10 rooms to explore and 26 riddles to decipher. After completing each riddle, you're given a piece to the final puzzle which in turn instructs you how to finally get out of the mansion. My daughter stuck with it for the first 13 riddles, and suprisingly my 3yr. old wanted to keep playing until the end. We received the "certificate of completion" that very day. When we signed back on to play a "new game", we were soooo disappointed - there isn't any new game. Same 26 riddles to solve. We'll have to wait a year or so, in the hopes that we'll forget where everything is. (Or just give it to all our neighbors, family, shool chums etc.). Obviously, the I Spy books have limitations, but the software could and should give many additional games/levels.

Very clever
Purchased for my grandson's 5th birthday. Incredibly clever, well designed, plays without a hitch on iMac. He played for over 2 hours the first time out of the box and is still loving it. The adults are fighting over a turn. ... Read more

Features

• In Ready To Read, kids will explore word activities while exploring the Hundred Acre Wood
• Skills practiced include -Rhyming, sentence construction, word recognition, problem solving, and deductive reasoning
• In Ready for Math, kids will enjoy seven activities
• Counting, number tracing, arrange sequences and more
• Kids will be rewarded by getting seeds and watching them grow -- they'll love it!

Amazon.com Product Description

In JumpStart Learning Games: ABC's, the JumpStart gang has a mystery on its hands. Someone spilled juice in the JumpStart train's caboose and didn't clean it up. Children join Eleanor Elephant and friends on a fun-filled train adventure to deduce "Who left the juice in the caboose?" As kids travel to different locations and play learning games, they earn clues and use their deductive reasoning skills to solve the mystery. Along the way, kids can also listen to six fun songs, which reinforce letter recognition, letter sequencing, and letter sounds. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Jump Start ABC's
My son really enjoys this software. He loves the cartoon characters and the fun songs that they sing and dance to. I like the way each word lights up while the characters are singing songs. That way you can follow along. He learned to recognize his letters by playing this CD. It's a good way for a young child to develop listening skills and to follow directions. My son really likes playing the sled race while finding words that begin with the same letter. I like the fact that there are three levels of play. (easy, medium, hard). When you master the easy level you can go on to the next level. I would recommend this CD to anyone with young children ages 3-5, because they will learn pre-reading skills in a fun and motivating way.

Very Average
The music was nice, but the dialogue was too long.... My three and 1/2 year old became easily bored. He was only interested in the sled game. Its good for kids who can keep focused on something for a long time.

Great for learning ABC's!
My 3 1/2 year old loves this software. It has helped him learn abc's, upper/lower case, matching, finding, letter sounds, etc. I was very happy with this. The only disappointment was that after he'd mastered the 3 different activities, there wasn't another level with new activities. Still fun, though!

Jumpstart ABC's
My 4 year old son loves this game and I don't even think he realizes that he is learning as he plays. It is exactly what I was looking for. This gives him the ABC recognizition that his preschool teacher told me to work on with him. Another wonderful thing about it is that it was easy enough for him to comprehend and figure out what to do and now he plays on it all by himself.

A delightful learning experience
This software delivers great bang for the buck. My son is almost three and he loves this program, which is designed to help children learn the alphabet. He calls it Juice Caboose. It has numerous characters that are fun and the music is charming. The exercises are challenging, but not impossible.

I believe that interactive learning software is a much better way for children to spend time than watching TV or videos. This is a good program because it holds the child's attention and creates a fun learning experience. I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Kids travel to the strange and exciting Reading Lands with Reader Rabbit and his friend Sam the Lion. In Reader Rabbit Reading, kids ages 6 to 9 embark on an adventurous learning quest filled with engaging reading, thinking, and writing activities. Along the way, they'll increase their vocabulary, practice rhyming, learn about compound words and multiple syllables, expand their imagination, and much more. ... Read more

Features

• Create your own digital diary including your very own digital photo album
• Categorize your life into different sections: relationships, family, school, vacations, and more
• 2 customizable sections and over 100 ways to customize your diary--with fonts, colors, and more
• Easily add digital photos, audio and video files, and even a love note you've scanned
• Quickly locate all your entries with the Cool Search button

Reviews (1)

Gotta Get It!!
What rocks about this??? EVERYTHING!!!

I used to keep stuff in a bunch of files and now I can keep everything organized. Everyday I write (ok, type) and insert all sorts of pics and vids. Just way cool, you'll see! Or maybe you won't because you don't know my password!!! hehe ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Can't run software on a computer with 1GB memory
I have the same problem on a computer running Windows 2000 with 1GB memory. The software won't start and gives me the error message "Director Player 6.0 - This program requires at least 3MB of free virtual memory to run". I know there is more than 3MB of free virtual memory on my computer. I tried different virtual memory setting and found that setting virtual memory to 128MB would cause the software to run. It is obvious that the software has mis-calculated the available virtual memory. It interprets virtual memory > 1GB as less than 3MB virtual memory. I have sent email to the technical support at Encore and are waiting for their reply. I share the previous reader's opinion that setting the virtual memory to a lower setting is not an acceptable solution.

However, after I started the program, I like the interface and graphic. The software is better than "Mind Power Math Middle School" from the Learning Company. I also like that it has a game where you can test your skill.

I will write an update after I receive a reply from Encore.

Way around memory problem
Haven't tried this software but had same problem with some other software, the error message: "Director Player 6.0 - This program requires at least 3MB of free virtual memory to run". The only fix is to change your virtual memory settings to something below 500mb or to exactly 4000mb. Of course, I chose 4000mb since I have a large hard drive and almost 1 gig of memory on this pc.

So the full fix is:
From the Windows XP desktop, select the Start button, right-click on the My Computer icon, and select Properties from the resulting menu.

Click on the Advanced tab to bring it forward, and then select the Settings button within the Performance section.

In the Performance Options window, click on the Advanced tab to bring it forward, and then select the Change button in the Virtual Memory section.

Click the Custom size button...
Change the Initial size (MB) setting to 4000
Change the Maximum size (MB) setting to 4000

Select SET to accept the change, which will close the Virtual Memory window. Select OK to close the Performance Options window. And select OK to exit the System Properties window.

$40 + junk = angry customer
This is a faulty and buggy piece of software. It will not run on my PC (XP Home)without me changing my Virtual Memory from 1000 mb to 200 mb...what an absurdity! The developer offers no solution other than to change my VM everytime I want to use their software.

Well, forget it. They're not the only game in town.

It's Great!!
I have the Elementary Advantage, and I'm about to go into Middle School Advantage. I find these programs are excellent. I am a homeschooling parent, and the Elementary Advantage suite have done a great job in assisting me with teaching my child. I've learned a lot myself. My son is about to enter middle school grades, and as I explore the the Middle School Advantage suite, I marvel at how well its put together. I have not run into answers that are wrong as was the claim of one reviewer. But, that does not bother me because you will find wrong answers in educational books written by the best educators. I focus on the how well I am taught the subject. If I can catch the wrong answers then I was taught well. I paid only $24.99 for each suite. I also have a Dell Dimension 4600, and the programs run fine. For all those having a problem running the program. You better get a Dell, Dude! For the money, IT'S GREAT!

Not Recommended
If this program can confuse X and Y intercepts I can only imagine what else may be wrong with it. I just purchased this for my son today, but will be returning it tomorrow. He has a placement test in 2 weeks and I don't want him to blow it because of this faulty software. ... 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