Timmy Climbs the Walls

Description:

As a child I remember staring into pictures hanging on the wall of my bedroom, wondering what kind of an adventure I could have if I could just jump into the picture. In Timmy Climbs The Walls that is exactly what children get to do. This title, based on an original story by David Grossman, tells the tale of a little boy named Timmy who climbs the walls of his bedroom, and crosses over a picture frame taking him on an adventure. The title is laid out in a storybook format with colorful pictures, text that lights up as phrases are read, and a bookmark that allows for custom programing.

Timmy Climbs The Walls is an interactive storybook filled with clickables and nine different activities/games. The story is furthered, beyond the written text, by a Papa and Mama lion who interact with Timmy as they search for their missing lion cub. Timmy helps recover the lost cub by borrowing Silly Sally's kite from a neighboring picture. Timmy flys the kite across the room to a picture of a train, where the cub has been taking a ride, and then floats the cub back to his parents.

The activities/games within the story are found by clicking on various objects. Page two allows the player to paint a picture of a train if you click the paint brush on Timmy's desk. Click on Papa lion in page four and the screen shatters creating a puzzle with six to fifteen pieces. Page five becomes musically fun when the xylophone lying on the floor gets clicked on. Numbered bars light up the correct sequence to play the songs, or tap the keys and make up your own little tune.

Page nine contains a musical memory activity accessed by clicking the boulder the three pixies sit upon. On page eleven Mama lion's tears flood the screen with another picture to paint. A mole eats up the screen with a maze on page thirteen when the little rock, in front of the boulder, is clicked on. Help Timmy find his way back to the lions and the screen returns to normal. More twists and turns are added as you increase the difficulty of the level. Page fifteen becomes a fast paced memory game when the player clicks on the train driver. The driver will ask you to click on the car holding a certain colored elephant. The shutters on the cars go up and down faster and faster as the levels increase.

Want to listen to the text again? Click on the star that precedes the text, the storyteller will repeat it. Want to jump into a favorite page? Do it from the main menu. Have a question as to how to play a game? Click on the telephone, it will ring, and the storyteller will give verbal directions.

Features:

• Nine different activities/games.
• Multiple levels of play for some activities.
• Sound may be turned on or off.
• Three languages.

Technical Aspects:

Report and Conclusions:

Timmy Climbs The Walls is a darling story, even my little one understood the message, "Don't ever leave the house without permission". The animation is wonderful and the background music is delightfully relaxing.

This program is meant for 3 to 8 years of age, but it really is more suited for 2 to 6. Silly Sally's kite coloring activity is not challenging for a child who knows his colors, but the musical xylophone activity may leave a 3 year old baffled. On the flip side, the maze and memory games can be quite challenging, and the paint activities are very detailed. Even mom has fun painting them! My three and a half year old puts the puzzle together at level three, though the picture is the same every time, he seems to really like doing it.

Increase the longevity of the game by not telling your child where the activities/games are. The screen gives you no clues as to what to click on to pull up a game. Kids will search for hours/days before finding them, how excited they will be when an activity all of a sudden pops up on the screen!!! Have further fun by allowing your child the opportunity of listening and interacting with the story in another language. Timmy Climbs The Walls is great for a beginners first program, and wonderful for a quick story (with a few games) before bedtime.