|  The
following is our (long!) list of software favorites released in 2001. Long, because the year was,
happily, excellent for
children's software.
We've
organized what we consider the year's best children's software
releases into the following categories: General Learning, which
includes edutainment titles that incorporate a variety of learning
concepts; Math; Science; Geography; Reading; Typing; Foreign
Language; Encyclopedias/Reference; Print Program; Fun &
Learning, which includes titles meant mainly for fun, but that
require some thinking skills; and Adventure.
Top General
Learning Software Picks of 2001
 Alphabet
by Tivola Interactive is a wonderfully unique program
that allows kids to "play" with letters of the alphabet.
Best shared with parent and young child, this CD-ROM gets high
marks for originality--this is not traditional alphabet learning
software, but it makes an exciting addition to any preschool
software library. Children discover letters by tapping keys on the
keyboard and watching highly imaginative vignettes. [Buy Alphabet
at Amazon for approximately $19.95 US]
I Spy
Treasure Hunt is based on the
exceptional I Spy books, and takes kids on three spectacular treasure
hunts. First, young learners collect pieces of a
map by solving 20 I Spy riddle screens. Once complete,
kids assemble the map, and then
follow a pirate's directions in order to find the hidden treasure.
The program is exceptionally designed and really quite
educational. Appropriate for children approximately 5-9 years old.
[Buy I
Spy Treasure Hunt at Amazon.com]
 Disney's
Winnie the Pooh Preschool Deluxe is an updated program
for preschoolers featuring an engaging story line that will
capture the attention of both kids and their parents. Children
follow the bewildered bear through Hundred Acre Wood as he informs
all of his friends that they need to prepare for Eeyore's surprise
birthday party. Each friend needs some help in the preparations --
Piglet needs help with his pictures, and Kanga needs to make
alphabet soup for the party, for example. Children lend a hand,
and engage in early-learning activities as they do. Some
activities are a little challenging for a typical preschooler to
master. However, with a little help from parents or older
siblings, kids will learn and develop some important skills. Both
lower- and uppercase letters are featured in one activity, and
sorting skills are required for another. An all-new activity
introduces children to some basic foreign language (French or
Spanish) vocabulary. [See full review.
Now available in a value-added bundle, Disney Preschool Bundle (Pooh Pre-School, Mickey Pre-School, and Stanley Wild for Sharks), at Amazon]
Reader
Rabbit Kindergarten: Bounce Down in Balloon Town! draws kids
in with vivid visuals and a story line that kids simply cannot
resist. Through the adventure, children strengthen phonics
skills, work with patterns, and identify rhymes, amongst other
things. [Buy Reader Rabbit Kindergarten at Amazon for approximately
$19.99 US]
 Reader
Rabbit 1st Grade: Capers on Cloud Nine! has a dazzling adventure
story line that involves children in an adventure and mission. The
educational activities that kids need to complete in order to
progress in the story are of excellent quality. Kids, for example,
balance a tree's branches with equivalent equations, complete
sentences, and work with frames in order to create simple
animations. Though the
software is very easy to navigate, the educational activities are
more advanced then those found in most titles designed for first
grade. Parents might need to pull up a chair and give kids a hand,
but the experience will be a rewarding one for children.
Certainly, the graphics, songs, and story all combine to create a
very entertaining game. Kids will want to persevere to the end. In
fact, those that do will have worked through all activities and
subjects enough to come away from the game with an educational
advantage. This title is our
top pick for advanced first-graders. [See full review.
Buy Reader Rabbit 1st Grade at Amazon for approximately
$19.99 US]
Reader
Rabbit 2nd Grade: Mis-cheese-ious Dreamship Adventure! is
goofy and fun, and challenging too. Reader Rabbit and friends'
Dreamship has been ambushed and they finds himself on a cheesy
mountain. They are faced with plenty of challenges as they climb
the mountain in an attempt to win back his ship from the nasty
Pie-rats. Kids practice spelling, build math equations, and follow
directions all the way to the top of the mountain, where even more
learning challenges await. One of the best activities provides
cross-curricular skills practice through a series of puzzles to
decode. Here, kids work with telling time, sentence building, and
geometric shape recognition. [Buy Reader Rabbit 2nd Grade 2002 at Amazon]
Young learners
who enjoy relaxed, slower-paced programs with simple animations will
take well to Caillou's Birthday Party. Featuring a pleasing
variety of activities that help kids exercise pre-reading,
pre-math, and creativity skills, this CD-ROM is unlikely to
disappoint Caillou fans. [Buy
Calliou
- Birthday Party at
Amazon.com]
ClueFinders:
The Incredible Toy Store Adventure is the latest
edutainment title in a truly wonderful series. Children practice a
variety of skills from third and fourth grade curriculum as they
take part in an exciting adventure. [Buy Cluefinders: Incredible Toy Store...
at Amazon}
Top Math
Software Picks of 2001
 Math Grade
1, Math Grade 2, and Math Grade
3 - SchoolZone are electronic workbook CD-ROMs with
high replay value. It is amazing how easy it is to get kids to
practice math facts with these colorful and fun programs! Each
is packaged with a SchoolZone workbook for off-computer use. [See
full review of Math Grade 2.
Buy Math 1,
Math 2,
Math 3
at Amazon for approximately $14.99-19.99 US each]
Mia's Math
Adventure: Just in
Time offers a fun, though sometimes slow-moving,
adventure in which children direct Mia the Mouse on a mission to
travel back in time and put a stop to a nasty fire in her
grandma's house. The math activities she encounters along the way
are multi-level and of high quality, and problem-solving skills
are needed. [Buy Mia's Math Adventure: Just In Time at Amazon]
Zoombinis
Logical Journey is an updated
reissue of a software classic. Though the basic game is the
same, this upgrade boasts an interesting enhancement for Windows
users--tactile feedback--and a few add-ons. This
fabulous adventure stars unusual and endearing little blue
creatures called Zoombinis. Players need to lead bands of Zoombinis to freedom.
Along the perilous path, challenges in the form of logic puzzles
must be overcome. All center around the Zoombinis' four
features--hair, eyes, "feet", and noses--which vary from
Zoombini to Zoombini. The puzzles are exciting and exercise kids'
logic and mathematical thinking without dealing with numbers. The
beauty of this title is its equal balance of education and
entertainment, with both factors sky-high in value. The puzzles
are enormously addictive, and the range in difficulty makes the
title appealing to children as young as 7 and as old as 77. This
title is a must-have software program. [See full review. Buy
Logical
Journey of the Zoombinis
or the bundle (which includes both Zoombinis Logical Journey and
Zoombinis Mountain Rescue, below) Zoombinis Mini 2 Pack
]
 Zoombinis
Mountain Rescue is a sequel to The Logical Journey
of the Zoombinis. It features updated graphics and a whole new set of logic puzzles.
The educational value of these puzzles is excellent, and most
testers find them more challenging than the ones in the original.
All in all, this is a very worthwhile program. [See full review.
Buy Zoombinis
Mountain Rescue
or the bundle (which includes both Zoombinis Mountain Rescue and Zoombinis Logical Journey,
above) Zoombinis Mini 2 Pack
]
Top Science
Software Picks of 2001
Math and
Science Excelerator: Grades 3-6 is a bundle of older
titles that have exceptional learning value. The
programs allow kids to investigate and truly learn math and
science concepts. This package is heavy on education and makes a
wonderful home supplement to school learning. The 2 science
titles in this 4-CD-ROM set are especially excellent. [Buy Math
And Science Excelerator Grades 3-6 at Amazon for approximately
$19.99 US]
 The
Incredible Machine: Even More Contraptions features
250 new puzzles, taking the form of mind-bending contraption
challenges. It is an addictive game of trial-and-error as players
work through zany puzzles that become progressively more involving
as levels advance. With pleasing graphics, and the option to play
head-to-head, this title is a must-buy for puzzle lovers ages 9
through adult. It is especially appropriate for kids
who love to take things apart and learn how things work. [Buy The Incredible Machine: Even More...
at
Amazon.com for approximately $29.99 US]
Top Reading
Software Pick of 2001
Equally
appropriate for kids who need practice with letter
identification and letter sounds, and those who are ready to start
reading, Reader
Rabbit Learn to Read with Phonics features two ways to learn
early language arts skills. Kids can either embark on a
learn-to-read adventure in which they learn phonics and sight
words in a step-by-step manner, or play reading games in a
free-play fashion. This is our favorite learn-to-read title. [See
full review. Buy Reader
Rabbit Learn to Read With Phonics at
Amazon.com for approximately $19.99 US]
Top
Geography Software Picks of 2001
 Where in
the World is Carmen SanDiego? is best for kids ages 9-10 and
up. This title is a totally updated version and is absolutely
fantastic, earning a rating of A+ from EdutainingKids.com. Players
go globetrotting in pursuit of Carmen Sandiego and her henchmen,
who steal various "treasures of knowledge"--rare and
expensive books. Kids learn an enormous amount of facts about
geographical locations and world cultures as they solve
mini-missions. [Buy Where
in the World is Carmen Sandiego at Amazon for approximately
$19.99 US]
Top Typing
Software Pick of 2001
Mavis Beacon Teaches
Typing Deluxe 12.0 is the latest edition of a powerful and
effective typing tutor software program. It's probably best for
children about 10 and up, and perfectly suitable for adults as
well. Personalized lessons and games are featured. Excellent both
for improving typing accuracy and speed, and for learning to type
from the ground up. [Buy Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 12.0 Deluxe
at Amazon for approximately $19.99 US]
Top Foreign
Language Software Pick of 2001
 French For
Dummies is an affordable, valuable, and especially
user-friendly foreign language program. It is ideal for casual
learners of the language and for use to reinforce lessons learned
in a formal French language course. Spanish for Dummies is
also available. It's easy to use and appeals to all types of
learning styles. Best for people from age 10. [Buy French for Dummies
at Amazon for approximately $15-20 US]
Top
Encyclopedia/Reference Software Picks of 2001
Microsoft
Encarta Reference Suite Deluxe 2002 is the latest edition of
an already excellent reference suite, and it is better than ever.
Beautiful to look at, filled with multimedia and helpful content,
and easy to use, this reference library will help make any
family's research efforts easier. The search feature is excellent,
with content from all titles in the suite seamlessly integrated
together. New streaming live media and easy updates contribute to
an exceptional product. For children over approximately 12 years
of age, this program will prove invaluable. The
dictionary/thesaurus/almanac is superior and contemporary, the
"extras" (such as games, curriculum guides,
report-writing feature, 3D virtual tours, etc.) are fabulous, and
the integration between the handpicked web links and the
encyclopedia itself is smooth. [Buy Microsoft
Encarta Reference Library 2002 at Amazon for approximately $14.95 US]
World Book
2002 Deluxe is a super choice for kids only just beginning to
need an encyclopedia. This program is easier to read than Encarta,
though it doesn't have as much depth. Kids will find this
electronic encyclopedia easy to use and inviting.
Top Print
Program Software Pick of 2001
 Print Shop
Deluxe 11 is an easy to use and versatile general
purpose print program that can be enjoyed by both kids and parents
alike. Users can make stationery, greeting cards, invitations,
party supplies, banners, and even supplies for a small business
with this family-friendly program. A fair number of templates are
available for the program's many projects. [Buy The
Print Shop Deluxe 12.0 at Amazon for approximately $14.95 US]
Top Fun & Learning Software Picks of
2001
 Backyard Basketball
is the latest entry in the Backyard Sports series of
sports sims designed especially for elementary-age kids. Children
can play at the level their abilities and preferences demand, be
it a simple pick-up game or involved tournament play. The program
features an assorted group of animated kids to choose from, and
even stars mini versions of pro basketball players. Kids draft
players for their team, choose team colors and a team name, and
they're off to the courts to shoot hoops! If you want your child
to learn the importance of the team and the rules of the game all
while he/she has a great time, this is the game to get. Very cute! [Buy Backyard Basketball
at Amazon for approximately $19.99 US]
The Hoyle Games line of software is
fabulous for family fun on the PC. These well-designed programs
offer a variety of games with multiple difficulty levels and
settings to appeal to people of almost any age. New to the 2002
editions are PDA-ready games. Multiplayer options also include
Internet play, and the games' 3D characters add spunk to the
programs:
- Hoyle Word Games 2002 compiles
word game favorites like Crosswords and Word Searches along
with more involving strategy games like Wordox. There are nine
games altogether, and all are fun and educational too. [ Buy
Hoyle
Word Games 2002 for
approximately $29.99 US at Amazon.com]
- Hoyle Board Games 2002
features 16 computer board games, including Battling Ships,
Checkers, Backgammon, Chess, Snakes & Ladders, and more. [Buy
Hoyle
Board Games 2002 for
approximately $29.99 US at Amazon.com]
 Thomas and Friends: Railway Adventures
CD-ROM Playset is a very cute program that features a
colorful playset designed to fit atop most Windows keyboards.
Young children use the playset to steer Thomas along virtual
railway tracks onscreen. The playset features a working throttle,
switch, and whistle, as well as a large Thomas button. There are
four fun activities to play that involve kids with filling
"work orders". Be aware that this program is
rather challenging, but note that it is more educational than most
for-fun programs. [Buy Thomas and Friends Railway Adventures...
at Amazon]
 Monsters Inc. Scream Team Training
is a cleverly humorous and
graphically dazzling activity center software program based on the
hit movie Monsters Inc. Tons of fun activities that exercise kids'
logical and strategic thinking skills are featured.
Players become employees of the
Monsters, Inc. company and start off in the mail room.
Opportunities for advancement at this company, where "We
Scare Because We Care" is the motto, are plentiful. In fact,
if kids have "what it takes", they can work through all
the departments, earning key cards one by one, and moving up the
ranks. [Buy
Disney/Pixar's
Monsters Inc. Scream Team... at Amazon]
Top Adventure Software Picks of 2001
Nancy Drew Treasure in the Royal Tower combines
a challenging problem-solving adventure with puzzles to solve.
Children take on the role of junior detective, Nancy Drew, as they
explore an old castle, interrogate people, and uncover clues. [Buy
Nancy Drew Treasure In The Royal Tower
at Amazon]
Spy Fox 3: Operation Ozone is
the latest in the excellent spy series adventure games starring
the "suave" and entertaining Spy Fox. This game is
simply fabulous, with its humor, intrigue, and exciting game-play.
Logical thinking is required. [Buy Spy Fox: Operation Ozone
at Amazon]
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