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children's software review
reader rabbit toddler
 Rating: 
Product Review
This software opens with a pretty bird flying towards a tree where the
familiar Reader Rabbit makes his home. Once there, we discover that Mat the
Mouse has come to call. Reader Rabbit helps Mat hop into a magical book that
takes her to an even more magical land filled with surprises.
There are a number of fun activities in this sharp software
program designed especially for the youngest of children:
- Sky Shapers: Kids pick up shapes with their mouse and plop
them into the correct geometric slots. When the shape puzzle is
complete, it transforms into pleasing items (like castles and
ducks) that animate with accompaniment by short but sweet little
songs.
- Peek-a-Boo Zoo: Everything is dark, but some eyes start to
blink and an animal sound is then heard. Swipe your mouse over
the area with your flashlight cursor and you can uncover the
animal you suspect is hiding there!
In Rainbow Rock, kids need only swipe the mouse to be rewarded
with a trail of color, filling in the many coloring book pages
that, of course, come to life when they are complete! Your
child's name in big letters will appear in one of the coloring
book screens.
- Follow-Me-Theater provides a chance for kids to watch Reader
Rabbit do fingerplays as familiar songs like Two Little
Bluebirds, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Twinkle Twinkle Little
Star are sung. Chances are, your toddler will want to join in on
the fun!
- Baby Basket Bingo is sweet. Kids return the baby animals to
their parents (moms OR dads -- not just moms). The babies are
hiding in a basket and the only clue is the sound the baby
animal makes!
- In Musical Meadow, kids can listen to tunes (instrumental
only) and turn on and off various parts of the songs by moving
the mouse over the flower "instruments". I find this activity
invaluable -- kids learn to discriminate the different elements
that combine to make a song. In the upgraded 98 version, they
can toggle between musical flowers and musical birds to vary the
songs.
- A friendly dragon blows bubbles in the courtyard of Bubble
Castle, and some of them contain adorable animals! It is your
toddler's job to pop them and free the animals. Once 5 are
freed, they are all counted and the dragon returns to blow more
bubbles.
- Play jack-in-the-box with Pop & Play Animals. Try to match 3
of the same animal, and they will sing for you!
- Alphabet Express is only available in 1998 versions and
later, and helps with letter recognition. Kids must match
letters on the keys with ones on the train box cars so that it
will open and reveal an item that begins with that letter.
 Kids
place colorful shapes into the correct outline in Sky Shapers,
and match mystery baby animals with their parent in Baby Basket
Bingo. Sky Shapers is even easier than it looks because the
shape is pulled into the correct slot from a farther distance
than with most software. This means kids don't require
pinpoint accuracy to be successful.
In the original version (from 1997) kids barely have to click
the mouse -- just swipe -- but the 98 versions and later are
totally "click-free". One activity in particular stands out as
one that actually teaches a child to "swipe" the mouse
deliberately is Rainbow Rock. There is an instant reward for
their swiping in the form of a magical color trail. They learn
to connect that if they move the mouse to the right, the cursor
goes there too.
 I don't think I have ever been so totally delighted with a
software before. This is beautifully designed and totally
charming. Don't forget to the play the beautifully-sung songs on
your audio CD player as well. They are sung by children, adding
to their charm. I used to mix
these little songs into my special recordings I made for car
rides. I could only imagine how doing this was a wonderful
exercise for the brain: my daughter would listen to the songs
and likely recall the visual scenes from her memory while doing
so.
Parents can press Ctrl-P to access POP (Program Options Pad) to
personalize it with their child's name, access print activities,
and view a skills matrix. Content is developmentally
appropriate.
Skills covered:
mouse "swiping" skills, shapes, colors, counting, alphabet.
Technically Speaking:
Minimum requirements for PCs: Win 3.1, 486/66, 8 Mb RAM, 2X CD
ROM. Mac users need Power Mac, 8 Mb RAM, System 7.5.1 or higher,
2X CD drive.
The graphics are wonderful, with simple and colorful characters
and scenes.
Education:
This software has the most effective mouse skills activities
that I have seen to date. Not only that, it's got lots of
age-appropriate content, and rewarding activities.
Entertainment:
The characters are magical and totally engaging. Kids of all
ages are attracted to this software, even though older kids
won't learn from it academically.
Design:
Tremendous thought has gone into creating this software, there's
no mistaking it. The Learning Company is paying attention to
recent brain research. The interface couldn't be easier. Mat the
Mouse is a very encouraging and helpful host.
Replayability:
Toddlers will come back to this time and time again. When they
acquire mouse skills, they can still use the software.
Value:
This is THE most valuable toddler software that we have seen.
The Bottom Line:
Outstanding toddler program with magical activities and
excellent orientation to the mouse. A must-have program for your
toddler.
Reviewed:
1998
Notes and Purchasing Info: This is certainly an older title
that has been re-released over the years, but that remains an
outstanding program for children who are making acquaintance with
the computer and the computer mouse. You can buy the program here:
Reader Rabbit® Toddler
 from
Broderbund, at major savings (for only $4.95) at Family Savings Outlet, or
you might find it in a bargain bin in a local software store.
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Educational Software
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