KIDS FIRST! CD Titles

KIDS FIRST! has endorsed 156 CD format titles

Below are up to 50 of them

KIDS FIRST! has linked to external websites through which you may order many of the KIDS FIRST! endorsed titles

A TO ZAP! - SUNBURST TECHNOLOGY/HOUGHTON MIFFLIN
Description - Teaches letters and words. Explores concepts such as over and under or quick versus slow. Offers 26 different activities.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Easy to use. Fun, interactive approach. Good characters. Kids liked the orchestra at the beginning and the variety of activities. It does require small-muscle coordination, making it somewhat difficult for the youngest users.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Really nice, especially the orchestra section at the beginning and the various activities throughout. Kids said they would play it at least once or twice.
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 3-7 Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-7805-0443-7

ACTIVE PARENTING TODAY - ACTIVE PARENTING PUBLISHERS
Description - Develop courage, responsibility and self-esteem in your child, using Active Parenting principles. Contains an hour of video illustrating styles of parenting, effective non-violent discipline skills and logical consequences.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Content is very good with realistic lessons that are valuable to any parent. The presentation lacks appeal. The video clips are only a few inches in diameter, the narrator is dull, and it lacks flexibility, forcing constant review of some segments.
Platform: WIN platform Juror Recommended Age: ADULT-ADULT Suggested Retail Price: $ 39.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-880283-23-9

ADIBOO: DISCOVER MUSIC, MELODY & RHYME - KNOWLEDGE ADVENTURE/VIVENDI-UNIVERSAL
Series: ADIBOO
Description - Children join Adiboo, their whimsical and inquisitive playmate, on an exciting journey to explore magical play and learning lands. Investigates music, melody and rhyme.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Good visuals, format, content. Music and endearing characters an added bonus. Provides good feedback but relies on the help icon too much. "Kids don't want to read help files and parents don't want to either."
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Liked it, easy to operate and follow. "It was fun, and had cool stuff to do." Liked composing music and printing their own artwork. Didn't like the aggressive monster. "We had trouble with the puzzles, but it tried to help us."
Platform: WIN/MAC platform Juror Recommended Age: 5-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 30 Media: CDROM

ALGEBRA WORLD - COGNITIVE TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
Description - Highly interactive math-building tools covering equations, ratios, percentages, variables, geometry and negative numbers. Kids solve a mystery while exploring these math challenges. Has three skill levels and a user-tracking feature.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Good teaching tool for difficult concepts. Program offers activities covering skills such as problem-solving and introduces algebraic concepts. Puzzles are difficult. Excellent 3-D graphics, great music.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Challenging and fun on different levels. Made kids think and come up with solutions. Kids enjoyed the graphics. "I like building my own shapes." "I didn't know algebra was fun." The different levels are really useful.
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 12-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ 39.95 Media: CDROM

ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN ACTIVITY CENTER - MGM HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Description - Teaches language skills, vocabulary and counting, using the characters from the movie and TV series as guides. Develops critical thinking skills, memory and hand/eye coordination. Features multiple skill levels.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Well organized, lots of variety, interactive and entertaining things to do and learn. Some educational benefits are well disguised as games. Visually inviting. Nice introduction to art. Very child-appropriate, kids should enjoy this.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Really fun. Kids enjoyed the different activities, particularly the chase game. Easy to install and play. The dog videos were particularly appealing. "It made me really think." "There are so many things to do. It's the best CD-ROM I have ever used."
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 5-11 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-7928-3677-4

ALPHABET ADVENTURE WITH DIGBY AND LYDIA - PANASONIC INTERACTIVE MEDIA
Series: LEARNING LADDER
Description - Teaches the alphabet through storytelling, music and animation. Using Quicktime movies, songs and interactive tests, kids find hidden letters, learn word association and the alphabet. Rewards spelling, reading and perception.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Simple presentation. Great characters, good developmental level. Comes with good adult handbook. Voice-overs are respectful, instructive and reassuring. "Click-and-point friendly." Minimal choice of levels.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Story held interest of five- and six-year-olds; three- and four-year-olds liked the games. Unless computer literate, help is needed to fully utilize the program. Kids liked the lively music and printing out the awards.
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 3-5 Suggested Retail Price: $ 34.95 Media: CDROM

ALPHABET BAND - PUBLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL,LTD.
Series: MY FIRST INTERACTIVE STORY BOOK
Description - See the jazzy jaguars jog the trails with jingle bells around their tails. Look at Piggy play piano songs while penguins lead the sing-along. Join Puppy in this interactive program and storybook that introduces letters of the alphabet.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Cute pictures and engaging rhymes. Installs easily. Does not hold player's place or offer multiple skill levels. Screen changes slowly. Jurors had some technical problems. Puppy gives positive praise such as, "terrific, you did that in a snap."
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Loved the music and the games. Stimulated interest in musical instruments. "I want to find the hidden music clues so I can sing along." "I want to play a tuba like the tiger does." "I like the puzzles and printing out the pictures I made."
Platform: WIN/MAC platform Juror Recommended Age: 2-5 Suggested Retail Price: $ 9.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-7853-3784-9

ARIEL'S STORY STUDIO - DISNEY INTERACTIVE
Description - Children create, learn and play with characters from "The Little Mermaid" while building skills in reading, vocabulary and critical thinking. Encourages creativity in music and writing in an enjoyable learning situation.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Program is very entertaining, educational and not at all didactic. Wholesome and life-affirming. Excellent tool for increasing vocabulary while building general reading skills. Allows children to be creative in an enjoyable manner.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids enjoyed making up stories and their own music, the animation and learning about sealife. They noticed the stereotypical nasty, bad guys and were frustrated because "you have to go through the same story each time you play." Appeals to girls.
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 5-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 35 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57350-125-5

ARTHUR'S COMPUTER ADVENTURE - LEARNING COMPANY
Series: ARTHUR
Description - Arthur wants to play "Deep Dark Sea" on the computer every chance he gets. When his mom leaves for work and asks him not to touch the computer, Arthur can't resist. Disobedience leads to disaster. Will Arthur be able to fix the computer?
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Colorful and child-friendly, though the characters seem stiff compared to those on TV. Offers lots of rewards and treasures. May open discussion about obedience to parents. The game never rises above drill and practice.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Easy to play except that kids had trouble getting out of some parts. Children could use it on their own. Great graphics, color and special effects. Much variety. "I want to try all the page activities. There are lots of hidden surprises."
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 4-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57135-387-9

ARTHUR'S READING RACE - LEARNING COMPANY
Description - Takes children on a walk around town with Arthur and his little sister, D.W. Children are encouraged to learn words throughout the story and through three additional activities.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Slick, high-quality production. Excellent graphics, fun games. Develops word recognition, increases vocabulary, reading comprehension, computer literacy. "Great early-learning title." Jurors thought Arthur and D.W. were at times rude to each other.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids enjoyed playing the "let me write" games, because they make nonsense sentences. They also like the clickable window, ice cream section and enjoyed playing it with their friends. Works best in a situation where kids can play repeatedly.
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 3-6 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57135-263-5

ASL SIGN LANGUAGE, VOLUME ONE: VOCABULARY, GRAMMAR AND SENTENCES - SIGN ENHANCERS, INC.
Series: AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE CD-ROM SERIES
Description - Designed to teach American Sign Language skills, this program is simple to use and has all the features of state-of-the-art multimedia software.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Impressive. A superior instructional program, exceptionally informative. Adults thought children would need to have some motivation to learn sign language in order to enjoy this. Responsive, gives constant positive feedback. Installation difficult.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Children were intrigued and kept going back to this. The video section can be slowed down to see the hand movements clearly. A great tool that could be used in conjunction with live instruction.
Platform: WIN platform Juror Recommended Age: 12-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ 95 Media: CDROM

ASTRO ALGEBRA - EDMARK
Series: MIGHTY MATH
Description - Covers major algebraic topics in a game format. Includes negative integers, equivalent expressions, ratio and proportions, exponential notation, and inverse operations.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Awesome. Outer space setting is very imaginative and visually stimulating. Great graphics and sound. Presents algebra painlessly, with positive reinforcement. Challenging content. Excellent teaching tool. Particularly helpful for slow learners.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Much fun with this program. They were challenged, motivated and thought it was fantastic! "I liked solving the problems at the space station." "If you like math, you'll love this." "It was cool, fun and taught me stuff."
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 10-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-56926-380-9

BABES IN TOYLAND: AN INTERACTIVE ADVENTURE - MGM HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Description - Offers an enchanting magical world inspired by animated, musical film. Join Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill and favorite nursery-rhyme characters for action-filled music, games and puzzles that entertain while teaching valuable early-learning skills.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Child-friendly but not very imaginative. Good variety of animals, music, different cultures. Everything was very clear and colorful. Allows child time to think. Develops coordination skills. Reviews nursery-rhyme characters..
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Good graphics but a little too simple. Most kids didn't want to play it again. "The music was putting me to sleep." Children really liked Humpty Dumpty and the puzzles. "I think it's the best CD-ROM for little kids and its okay for me (eleven)."
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 3-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-7928-3676-6

BABY MATTERS - PARENTING SOLUTIONS INC.
Series: PARENTING SOLUTIONS
Description - Good resource for parents to track prenatal care, medical data, child's developmental process, milestones, family tree, histories and photos of their child's life from prenatal to babyhood.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Knowledgeable, beneficial program. Provides links to authoritative web sites. Presented in an easy-to-understand format that allows structured and unstructured data entry. "A wonderful way to document the growth and development of your child."
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Designed for adult use.
Platform: WIN platform Juror Recommended Age: adult-adult Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-96799-9943-0-6

BABY WOW! - BOW WOW HOUSE
Description - Interactive software to be used with child and parent. Includes photographs and vocabulary in eight different languages.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Easy to use. Pictures and sounds are bright and appealing. "A parent can use this like a picture book to reinforce concepts and vocabulary." "I'd like to see various skill levels offered for the different activities." "The peak-a-boo game was tedious."
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids younger than age two lost interest quickly, but enjoyed playing with the keyboard. Music and photos were a hit with the older children.
Juror Recommended Age: 2-4 Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.99 Media: CDROM

BACKYARD BASEBALL - HUMONGOUS ENTERTAINMENT Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: JUNIOR SPORTS
Description - Sports designed for kids. Features 30 of the funniest boys and girls from the neighborhood, each with a unique personality. Choose your team and pick your players for non-stop thrills and action-packed games.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Entertaining and well produced. Great animation and sound. Teaches a variety of life skills in a variety of ways. Multi-cultural and special-needs diversity. Can be troublesome to install.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Loved this game. Offers "stealth learning" such as studying statistics for the best pitcher and learning to bat and catch. Fun for all ages, girls and boys, even adults. "I liked choosing my team, then taking our picture. Cool characters."
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 6-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-56893-462-2

BE ALERT, BE PREPARED, BE SAFE - CHILD PROTECTION EDUCATION OF AMERICA
Description - Interactive training tool for children on the dangers of abduction. Uses dramatic situations, worksheets and coloring sheets.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Professional program that can be useful to parents and children alike. Starts up immediately. Presents important safety information in a positive way. Video clips get issues across quickly. Internet safety particularly useful. "Good for the classroom."
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Appreciated it for what it is. "I knew most of this stuff but it was interesting to see." "Your parents tell you about it, but this kind of makes it real." "You don't have to install anything, just wait for it to work." "It had technical difficulties."
Platform: WIN/MAC platform Juror Recommended Age: 8-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ 12 Media: CDROM

BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE: BEARS SENSE OF ADVENTURE - KNOWLEDGE ADVENTURE/VIVENDI-UNIVERSAL
Series: PLAYZONE
Description - Features Bear and his friends from the TV show with twenty activities, five adventures and lots of songs. Teaches problem solving, creativity, sharing, self-awareness and imagination. Storybooks are printable.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Easy to use. Great sound and graphics. Five missions are provided to introduce the five senses. Other activities address concentration skills, creativity, and problem solving. Offers different levels for different age and skill level.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Younger children had some difficulties; older kids loved the whole thing. They enjoyed playing together and helping one other. They loved searching for things the program asks for. Having the Bear showing up after each game became annoying.
Platform: WIN platform Juror Recommended Age: 2-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 30 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-56997-494-2

BLUE'S CLUES: 1, 2, 3 TIME ACTIVITIES - HUMONGOUS ENTERTAINMENT Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: BLUE'S CLUES
Description - Practice pre-math and problem-solving skills with multi-level learning games. Teaches logical thinking, deductive reasoning skills and recognition of complete patterns. Strengthens early math skills as kids help Blue win.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Easy to use. Emphasizes good manners. Instills pride in achievement. Accurate facts and information. Reinforces counting skills. Characters are cute and colorful. Has areas for different age groups. Difficulty increases automatically. Good diversity.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Enjoyed it. Most kids wanted to play it again...tomorrow. "Do I have to stop? When is it my turn again?" Difficult for some. "They are happy." "Blue is my friend." "It was fun. I won a lot but it's okay to lose, you still get money."
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 3-6 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-56893-751-2

CAPTAIN KANGAROO: LIFE'S FIRST LESSONS - KNOWLEDGE ADVENTURE/VIVENDI-UNIVERSAL
Series: MAGICFRANK'S LESSONS IN MAGIC
Description - On a treasure hunt with Captain Kangaroo, children find out how much fun helping a friend can be. Discover hidden objects, learn the responsibilities of taking care of pets and plants and be treated to Captain Kangaroo's story.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Great animation and songs. Easy to run. Allows kids to select how the story evolves. Shows positive role models good rhyming for preschoolers. Printer option had glitches. Only four game choices. Little diversity.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - It's cute; it's simple; it's not that varied. Kids sang and bobbed along with the music. Lively enough to keep children's attention while allowing them to control the pace. "I like it a lot. Can I play it again?"
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 4-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 20 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-56997-403-9

This title is in the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival - it may not be a regular, endorsed title

CARE BEARS: NUTCRACKER - LIONSGATE FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT Click to purchase directly from the producer
Series: CARE BEARS
Description - Get ready to enjoy your favorite holiday treat, only sweeter. Join the Care Bears as they bring to life the classic tale of the nutcracker, as only these bears can. You'll make friends with Anna, her brother Peter, and even the Nutcracker himself. But when the Evil Vizier threatens, you and your new sugar plum friends must band together to save Toyland. Don't miss this heartwarming confection the whole family will enjoy even more than candy itself. English and Spanish.
Juror Recommended Age: 2-5 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.98 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1/15/2007

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG: ADVENTURES IN TINKERTOWN - MGM HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Description - Kids can put the pedal to the metal on a delightful journey in a fantasy world with oversized appliances and household items in need of repair. Refrigerators and telephones magically come to life, as children learn how they work.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - No apparent logic, which is frustrating and irritating. Promotes concepts about space and time. Enhances memory and counting skills. Good pace, aesthetically pleasing, engages children's interest, but instructions didn't answer kids' questions.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - They had a good time with this. "I did well and repaired everyone in Tinkertown." "I liked Louie (screwdriver) best." Program froze at one point. "It was hard at first but I learned the difference between many tools."
Platform: WIN platform Juror Recommended Age: 5-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-7928-3272-8

CLIFFORD LEARNING ACTIVITIES - SCHOLASTIC ENTERTAINMENT
Series: CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG
Description - Children explore and learn with Clifford, Cleo, and T-Bone as they travel around Birdwell Island helping their neighbors and playing ten skill-building activities.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Excellent, strong software program. No glitches; runs smoothly with minimal parental help and little frustration for kids. Great graphics and music, darling animation. Multi-leveled. Reinforces kindergarten and preschool lessons. "I can't say enough."
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Enjoyed it immensely. "I really like it. Can I take it home with me?" "It was so much fun." "I just love Clifford, he is funny and so nice to his friends." "I get to add and sing too!" "I practiced my letters." "It's the BEST!"/
Platform: WIN/MAC platform Juror Recommended Age: 3-7 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-439-34397-6

DEAR AMERICA: FRIEND TO FRIEND - KNOWLEDGE ADVENTURE/VIVENDI-UNIVERSAL
Series: DEAR AMERICA
Description - Based on the book series, offers an opportunity for girls to form friendships with fictional young women from American history via non-online chatting technology. Interactions include Circle of Friends game, Player's Diary and Instant Message Window.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Easy to use, though doesn't allow user to save a spot for later return. Provides opportunities to practice interpersonal skills through hypothetical situations. Having historical background on each character provides an interesting catch.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Girls loved it, particularly the secret diary of each character. "I liked making the characters do different things and solve their problems." "It was really awesome learning about these girls. We really seemed to have conversations with them"
Platform: WIN platform Juror Recommended Age: 8-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ 30 Media: CDROM ISBN # 6/15/2001

DEVILS CANYON: A DINAMATION ADVENTURE - PARAGON MEDIA
Series: TIME BLAZER
Description - Cyberaptor, a mechanical creature that interfaces with a time-travel device malfunctions and strands its creator, Dr. Cope, in a prehistoric jungle. Your mission is to rescue Dr. Cope from the past after you take a training program.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Interesting approach that is engaging, entertaining and educational. Supplementary materials include membership card and website information. Requires patience on the part of the player.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Challenging. Kids enjoyed it, particularly activities similar to "real-life" undertakings, such as the time and the patience needed to pick out a fossil. Some children were frustrated initially but went back to play the game later.
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 8-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ 39.95 Media: CDROM

DIGITAL FIELD TRIP TO THE RAINFOREST, THE - DIGITAL FROG INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Series: DIGITAL FIELD TRIPS, THE
Description - Explore the Blue Creek Rain Forest Reserve in Belize, Central America with hundreds of photos, videos and interactive activities. Learn about the world's rain forests, the diversity of plants and animals and the importance of vital ecosystems.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Excellent learning tool, kid-friendly, easy to use. Contains good reference material that is educational and entertaining. Information on vegetation, strata, water cycles using diagrams, charts and graphs. A superior program.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Lots of good information. Kids enjoyed learning the geography lessons, especially when video was used. They liked the monkeys and other animals, but eating bugs was their favorite part."The more games the better, because they make me think."
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 11-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ 49 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-9681551-5-4

DIGITAL FIELD TRIP TO THE WETLANDS, THE - DIGITAL FROG INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Series: DIGITAL FIELD TRIPS, THE
Description - Virtual reality technology allows users to visit the wetlands in Algonquin Park, Canada. Hundreds of photos, videos, animations and engaging interactivities make it perfect for nature enthusiasts, students or anyone interested in nature.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Easy to use, no glitches, covers many different disciplines. Well produced with excellent learning and reference tools. Useful information through reading, visuals and memorization.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Enjoyed the web game, field trip and vacation. "I liked finding animals in the bog, looking around at the scenery and playing the game." A resourceful, informative program with good graphics, video and audio. "Makes learning fun."
Platform: MAC platform Juror Recommended Age: 10-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ 49 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-9681551-2-x

DIGITAL FROG 2, THE - DIGITAL FROG INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Description - Teaches frog dissection, anatomy and ecology with full-color photographs, full-motion video, narration, and detailed animations - including 3-D. Interactive map, context-sensitive help and definitions make it fun and easy to use.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Interesting alternative to a real dissection, with good graphics. "It helped me understand what we were doing in my biology class." It doesn't tell what the user did wrong.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Very easy. "It was great." "I could go up to the menus at any time to change areas." "I liked how it showed a heart and then a smaller section and a smaller section and then the pumps for the heart." "Helped me understand my biology class."
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 12-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ 85 Media: CDROM

DISNEY'S ACTIVE PLAY, THE LION KING II - DISNEY INTERACTIVE
Series: DISNEY'S ACTIVE PLAY
Description - Kids join Kiara and Kovu and a jungle filled with playful activities, arts and crafts, sing-alongs and more.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - One of the best CD-ROMs we've seen for young children. Graphics are dazzling and ultra-contemporary. Sing-alongs are ideal for preschool and kindergarten ages. Contains a state-of-the-art paint box with more flexibility than most. Appropriate humor.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Most kids needed help getting started. "Colorful and I can change the pictures." "Animals are funny. I like the music." "I learned how to print the pictures out." It sometimes takes a few clicks to move from place to place.
Platform: WIN platform Juror Recommended Age: 4-7 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57350-135-0

DISNEY'S ADVENTURES IN TYPING WITH TIMON & PUMBAA - DISNEY INTERACTIVE
Series: DISNEY'S LEARNING SERIES
Description - Kids build essential typing skills, including finger placement, speed and letter recognition, while getting plenty of laughs from Timon and Pumbaa in this wild and wacky adventure.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Wonderful and entertaining way to introduce keyboard and typing skills. "What better way than through this amusing yet educational method?" One parent asked to take it home so she could learn to type herself.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Some kids liked the characters but not the typing. If they stick with it, they can learn a lot. "It taught me where to put my fingers." "It's dumb, it says 'let's work on posture.'" Kids loved getting the certificates. Some thought it was boring.
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 8-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57350-140-6

DISNEY'S ANIMATED STORYBOOK, MULAN - DISNEY INTERACTIVE
Series: DISNEY'S ANIMATED STORYBOOK
Description - A legendary reading adventure packed with games and activities. Mulan's amazing story unfolds as kids play learning games and discover the power of the mind.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Beautifully designed with strong entertainment value and challenging games. Supports girls' independent thinking. Mulan's decisions result in disobedience to family and breaking the law. The outcome justifies these actions, but some may object.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - A big hit. Those who saw the movie will enjoy the video. "I liked it but I needed help five times." "If you liked the movie you will like this." Very colorful. Sometimes frustrating. "You don't get bored easily. There are a lot of things to do."
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 6-10 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57350-148-4

DISNEY'S ANIMATED STORYBOOK, POCAHONTAS - DISNEY INTERACTIVE
Series: DISNEY'S ANIMATED STORYBOOK
Description - Enter Pocahontas' world and share her adventures as she romps through the woods with Meeko and Flit. Lively storytelling, exciting activities and games, rich animation and music from the film make interactive magic with the click of the mouse.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Fun, easy to use. Cute games develop eye-hand coordination and matching skills. Shallow and predictable in content area; "Tastes great, but leaves you hungry." Although it's good entertainment the vocabulary is limited.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Fun and challenging. They liked the archery and storytelling. New readers enjoyed the reading skills practice section. Several boys did not want to try it, but once they started playing, couldn't stop.
Platform: WIN platform Juror Recommended Age: 4-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 34.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57350-021-6

DISNEY'S ANIMATED STORYBOOK, WINNIE THE POOH AND THE HONEY TREE - DISNEY INTERACTIVE
Series: DISNEY'S ANIMATED STORYBOOK
Description - Read, sing and play along with Winnie the Pooh. A friendly bear and a familiar story offer a jump into Pooh's world for exciting adventures. Pooh, Piglet, Tigger and the gang make reading lively and fun.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Makes an excellent first CD-ROM for children. It is well organized, easy to use and encourages independence. Familiarity with characters and art add to its appeal. Content and material are age-appropriate though they lack depth.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids enjoyed the characters. They liked hearing the book in Spanish as well as English. Games section is perfect for preschoolers. Kids weren't interested in playing the storybook section more than once.
Platform: WIN platform Juror Recommended Age: 2-6 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57350-014-3

DISNEY'S MAGIC ARTIST - DISNEY INTERACTIVE
Description - Transform your computer into the ultimate art studio. Create works of art with realistic tools like paints that smear and crayons that look waxy. Spray your drawings with special effects. Includes 300 Disney characters, props and backgrounds.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Sophisticated program. Superior, appealing, excellent production. Entertaining, easy drawing lessons. The Minnie Mouse section is great. Children can produce their own high-quality work. Younger ages may need some help.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Appeals to most, not just game players. Suitable for various ages. Very popular in the classroom. "Easy." "I loved it." "I'm going to ask my Mom for this because it is really fun." "Can I skip recess to do this?"
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 5-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ 35 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57350-118-2

DISNEY'S MATH QUEST WITH ALADDIN - DISNEY INTERACTIVE
Series: DISNEY'S LEARNING SERIES
Description - Uses math skills in a challenging adventure to save Agrabah from Bizarrah, an evil genie. Features eighteen activities designed with leading math educator Marilyn Burns. Addresses standards set by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - The activities are very creative. Most kids do not notice that most of the activities are math. Well done with good music. May require good math and patterning skills. Does not offer a lot of interactivity. Considerable talking.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - The games were fun, helpful in learning basic mathematical concepts. Enjoyable and entertaining but "it took almost 20 minutes to get to the first math problem." Advancing in program may be difficult and frustrating for some children.
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 5-9 Suggested Retail Price: $ 39.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57350-134-4

DISNEY'S READING QUEST WITH ALADDIN - DISNEY INTERACTIVE
Series: DISNEY'S LEARNING SERIES
Description - Teaches essential reading skills including phonics, vocabulary and reading comprehension with the help of Genie, Jasmine and Iago. Presents twelve activities in which players help free Aladdin, along with three skill-level options.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Easy to use, though pace is too advanced for the audience. Even the lowest level had words too difficult for six- and seven-year-olds. Production quality high, helps initiate and build on reading skills. Excellent use of multiple play levels.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - "It was fun." Some words in the program were too difficult for children. Kids didn't like that they had to complete the activity before they could move on. Some directions are difficult for kids to understand, required an adult.
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 6-9 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57350-152-2

DISNEY'S READY FOR MATH WITH POOH - DISNEY INTERACTIVE
Series: DISNEY'S LEARNING SERIES
Description - In the heart of the 100 Acre Wood, math is an adventure. Pooh and friends guide children through activities that reinforce beginning math skills. Fun rewards are used to build their own gardens. Counting, sorting, adding and subtracting are covered.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Excellent production quality. Quite creative and fun to do. Adorable use of characters in imaginative setting. Reinforces problem solving, critical thinking and visual and motor skills. Holds place when play is interrupted.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Very easy for child to operate. Kids loved this. Easy to use without much assistance. "The characters were awfully polite to each other." "Rabbit wasn't so grumpy today." Praises the children - definitely a confidence booster.
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 3-7 Suggested Retail Price: $ 39.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57350-131-X

DISNEY'S READY TO READ WITH POOH - DISNEY INTERACTIVE
Series: DISNEY'S LEARNING SERIES
Description - Pooh and friends guide children through activities that stimulate imagination and reinforce critical skills. Offers lots of surprises as kids learn to read through play and collecting fun rewards. Includes alphabet, phonics, spelling and rhyming.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Adorable. Excellent graphics, good variety of characters, imaginative setting, flows easily. Reinforces pre-writing skills. Sometimes difficult. A loving, polite group of animals help provide good role models for self-esteem and friendship.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - "It's magic." Characters and music help hold kids' interest. They can navigate without much help. Kids wanted to play over and over again. They stayed in at lunch, recess and after school to play.
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 3-7 Suggested Retail Price: $ 39.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57350-121-2

DISNEY/PIXAR'S ACTIVE PLAY, A BUG'S LIFE - DISNEY INTERACTIVE
Series: ACTIVE PLAY
Description - Kids discover the world from a bug's-eye view. Explore and create with Flik and the gang through activities, adventures and printable board games and puppet shows.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Entertaining program that provides occasions for good thinking. Easy for kindergarten to grade-two students to use on their own, though portions will require adult assistance. We experienced some technical problems.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - They liked to play this together, taking turns. "Everyone would like this game. It's fun." "The graphics looked cool." "The good thing about this program is that you get to play different things and you learn from them."
Platform: WIN platform Juror Recommended Age: 5-8 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-22222222273

DR. SEUSS KINDERGARTEN - LEARNING COMPANY
Series: DR. SEUSS
Description - Offers a year's worth of math, reading and other essential kindergarten skills. Gerald McGrew is building a zoo in Seussville. As children help him find exotic animals, they learn math and reading skills. Moral: Kids who laugh more, learn more.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Superb. Fantasyland draws child in, offers breaks and playtime. Learn, participate, watch, listen and sing along. Gets progressively harder. "I wish all CD-ROMs were as entertaining, educational and engaging." Creative, well planned.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids loved this. They enjoyed checking their progress throughout the game. They didn't want to stop playing and were inspired to read the books. "Dr. Seuss put me in the mood to do math. It's like solving a puzzle. I felt good when I got it right."
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 3-7 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57135-401-8

DR. SEUSS PRESCHOOL - LEARNING COMPANY
Series: DR. SEUSS
Description - Pairs learning activities with a guided adventure. Offers a year's worth of important preschool skills. While helping baby Elma Sue look for her mother, Horton the faithful elephant leads children on a delightful learning adventure.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Appealing. Keeps with the spirit of Dr. Seuss' stories with classic characters, great content and good reinforcement for number, letter and color recognition. Appropriately challenging. "I have played many kids' CD-ROMs and this is one of the best."
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Definitely a hit. A three-year-old could do it with little assistance. "The kids were spellbound from the beginning." Children remained involved with the characters and enjoyed learning material. Great value for home learning. "They're funny."
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 3-5 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-57135-400-X

DR. SEUSS'S ABC - LEARNING COMPANY
Description - The magic of Dr. Seuss' books comes to life in this introduction to reading.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Very cute and a pleasure to play. Requires high-level vocabulary for alphabet learning. Has limited educational value. Jurors weren't crazy about "alphabet" programming but using the Dr. Seuss characters, a perennial favorite, made it palatable.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Some children adored it, particularly those who are Seuss fans. Humor is catchy. Did not hold most children's interest through to the end.
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 2-5 Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.95 Media: CDROM

EASY BOOK DELUXE - SUNBURST TECHNOLOGY/HOUGHTON MIFFLIN
Description - Draws children into the world of creative storytelling by printing out double-sided books in four sizes - from mini to poster size. Includes spell-checker, thesaurus, text-to-speech and sound.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Installs easily. Straightforward and simple to operate, fun and creative. Content is determined by the child. Motivated kid jurors to write a book and gain design experience. Best for kids comfortable with the computer.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Kids thought it was a lot of fun. Several kids made a book of their own using this. "This is awesome." Their favorite part was making a finished book. Some parts were hard to access. Kids liked the science fiction, fairytale and comic book format.
Platform: WIN platform Juror Recommended Age: 8-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ 14.95 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-7805-0651-0

ELITE DARTS - PATCH PRODUCTS, INC.
Description - Features cricket, baseball and ten other games. The player may choose from four different boards in a basement, sports bar, English pub or pool hall.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Challenging with multiple levels of difficulty. "Stimulating, requires fine motor skills and good problem-solving skills." "A 'ghost' hand holds the dart allows the player to gauge how to point and throw it." "It's really fun."
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Mixed reviews. Too easy for some, challenging for others. Has limited sound effects and choice of wallpapers. "Rooms look like something adults would like, not kids." "The best part is the competition." It was difficult to navigate with the mouse.
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 12-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ 19.99 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-890323-18-7

ENCARTA ENCYCLOPEDIA 98 DELUXE - MICROSOFT
Description - State-of-the-art multimedia encyclopedia provides top-quality information with current and authoritative content, dynamic multimedia features and links to the Internet.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - A wealth of information. Excellent tool for researchers. Easy to use. Cross-referencing makes it appropriate for older kids. Excellent resource with great graphics. Includes Web site links. Lightning-fast.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Marvelous virtual tours of ruins and hieroglyphics, collages, time lines, and the links to the Internet. Highlights included the maze game and the interactive world languages. Perfect tool for junior researchers.
Platform: WIN platform Juror Recommended Age: 8-ADULT Suggested Retail Price: $ 69.95 Media: CDROM

ENCARTA ENCYCLOPEDIA DELUXE 99 - MICROSOFT
Series: ENCARTA
Description - A powerful learning resource helps users find more information through an interface to the Internet. Engaging multimedia features and content. Comes with a research organizer that's useful for research, writing and homework.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Very good. Extremely easy to use. Excellent reference resource. "A lot more fun than looking it up in the library." Great maps, graphics and sound. Ability to go on-line provides cutting-edge opportunities for student research.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Unbelievable, awesome. Kids were clamoring to use it. Makes research painless and fun. Very few topics they could not find. Information is clear and concise. "Unbelievable, how could we live without it?"
Platform: WIN platform Juror Recommended Age: 8-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ 69 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-7356-0025-2

ENCARTA VIRTUAL GLOBE - MICROSOFT
Description - Comprehensive world atlas offers an excellent geographic reference guide for home or school use. Delivers the highest-quality detailed maps, up-to-date statistical data and the richest cultural information of any atlas in any medium.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Outstanding atlas/encyclopedia with fantastic links to the Internet. Great for social studies use. The "name that place" game increases map skills. Fabulous geography resource.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Loved the animal sounds, the "flying views" music and the videos. Biggest drawback: lacks sound with geographical descriptions. Kids under ten needed help to play.
Platform: WIN platform Juror Recommended Age: 10-18 Suggested Retail Price: $ 54.95 Media: CDROM

EVERGLADES JOURNEY 2.0 - T. I. MULTIMEDIA
Series: TREKINTERACTIVE YOUNG NATURALIST SERIES
Description - Explores the Everglades National Park and its ecosystem. Filled with vivid photographs and field-guide facts about the wetlands, hiking and canoeing of this spectacular park. Quick Time 2.1 is required.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Easy to load and play. Child tour guides are appealing. Supports environmental responsibility. "It's just like a resource book on a CD-ROM." Photos and sound quality are okay, not great. Offers no verbal or audio instruction.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Liked the sounds and songs of the animals, bugs and snakes. Child can move at his or her own pace. Written factual information suitable for older children, while camping and canoeing sections are more appropriate for younger ones.
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 8-12 Suggested Retail Price: $ 24.95 Media: CDROM

EXCEL@ MIDDLE SCHOOL - KNOWLEDGE ADVENTURE/VIVENDI-UNIVERSAL
Series: EXCEL@
Description - A personalized study system with lesson plans, tutors and a study planner designed to help middle school students master core academic subjects. Includes algebra, science, history, geography and English.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Fabulous, well-produced. Great visuals and good music. Simple format, lots of nifty plug-ins. Challenging content. Contains an attached encyclopedia and access to the Internet. Great for self-motivated students.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Easy to use. Report writing, grammar, vocabulary and speed reader especially useful. A learning tool that most thought they'd use often. "It made it fun to learn." "Makes doing schoolwork easier." Visual images in the study section are outstanding.
Platform: WIN/MAC platform Juror Recommended Age: 11-16 Suggested Retail Price: $ 40 Media: CDROM ISBN # 1-58189-460-0

FISHER-PRICE READY FOR SCHOOL - TODDLER - KNOWLEDGE ADVENTURE/VIVENDI-UNIVERSAL
Description - Join the Little People characters on a magical journey of learning and discovery created just for toddlers. Disk One includes 20 activities, carefully planned to help toddlers discover the world around them. Disc Two is a parenting guide.
KIDS FIRST!® Adult Jurors say - Positive, clear linear presentation, child-centered, encourages self-esteem. Variety of music, cultures and experiences. Animated flash cards and worksheets offer minimal educational fare. Information on nutrition and breast feeding are excellent.
KIDS FIRST!® Kid Jurors say - Quite enchanting. Wanted to play again. Easy, though child still needs adult help. Has two levels of difficulty. Requires direct parent involvement.
Platform: DUAL platform Juror Recommended Age: 3-6 Suggested Retail Price: $ 20 Media: CDROM ISBN # 0-7849-1203-3

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