Reader Rabbit's Toddler, V2.0 (1998)

PC version requires:
486-66, 15M hard drive, 8M RAM, CDx2

Mac version requires:
PowerPC, System 7.5.1, 15MB hd, 8MB RAM, 2X CD

Description:

Reader Rabbit's Toddler Version 2.0 is an upgraded version of the original released in 1997. It features the same magical playland and all of the same activities of the original version, but one new activity has been added and some minor but important changes have been made in some of the activities. As with version 1.0, children can pop bubbles to help animals return to their castle home, color cute images simply by swiping the mouse back and forth (or banging the keyboard), and help mystery baby animals in a basket find their parent by associating the baby's sound with the animal. Toddlers can move the mouse to pick up shapes to complete simple shape puzzles in Sky Shapers, and watch Reader Rabbit do finger-plays in Follow-Me-Theater. In Musical Meadow, children can control the different musical components of each song by turning them off and on, and in the upgraded version, now have a choice of music as they can toggle between musical flowers and musical birds.

The new activity added in version 2.0 is Alphabet Express, in which children must match letters of the alphabet on boxcars, and is designed to help with alphabet recognition and vocabulary. Each time a child makes a match, an object that starts with that letter is revealed and spoken. The Learning Company has made this title totally "click-free" so that navigation is even easier - swiping with the mouse or tapping the keyboard will suffice. Version 2.0 has some added printing options that are a welcome addition - now children can color pictures on and off the computer, and there are song lyrics and a certificate to print as well. In addition, printouts can be personalized with your child's name (although this may mean little to most children in the targeted age range).

Features:

• Counting and alphabet
• Shape recognition and early puzzles
• Colors
• Early vocabulary
• Songs and finger-plays
• Matching and patterns
• Adorable characters and guides
• Lots of very pleasing and catchy music throughout
• Learn necessary eye-hand coordination skills for using the mouse
• Personalize with your child's name

Technical Aspects:

Report and Conclusions:

The updated version lays to rest each of the minor criticisms I did have with the original. For example, instead of just naming the colors of the shapes in Shape Sorters, Mat the Mouse now will identify the color AND shape (something that may not seem too important, but to a young child, labeling a purple circle "purple" often may be confusing). The new alphabet activity is nice and fills in a little gap that was present in the first version. Two of the activities are easier to play and less frustrating due to simple improvements. The changes may not be big enough to warrant purchase of the new version if you already own the original, but they are certainly welcome and improve an already excellent program!

Before this game, I had never come across a title in which all of the activities were my child's favorites. There always seem to be one or two activities that get played a few times and then are abandoned. Not so with this game! This software is appealing to the eyes and ears in every way. It entertains, educates, and delights over and over again. It is clear that The Learning Company is current on the latest research on the brain concerning how young children learn, and has incorporated these findings into this title. Not only that, they have designed a game that makes it easy for toddlers to be successful and that is filled with delightful rewards for their earliest efforts on the computer.