"The Reveiw Zone" by: Tina Velgos

Double the fun and entertainment with Big Thinkers!

Kindergarten in this wacky romp big on giggles and laughs! Kids meet blue-haired Ben and Becky Brightly, who morph, twist, and turn into a bunch of amazing objects. This is not just another kindergarten readiness program--there are no virtual classrooms or teachers here. It's big fun.

Although the 16 multi-level activities emphasize letter identification, measurement and estimation, sequencing and patterning, alphabet skills, reading and sentences, counting, computation, geography and directions, time telling, environmental science, thinking skills, spatial perception, art and music creativity and spelling and phonics, you'd never know it by watching your child play this CD-ROM. In fact, judging by the laughter and overall excitement levels that 5-year-old Timmy experienced while playing this software, you'd think he was hip deep in arcade games! In fact, kids gravitate toward the friendly, comic-book style Brightly twins. Never mind that the music is goofy.

Although every other word out of the twins mouth seems to emphasize the word 'smart', kids don't seem to mind. They're too busy having fun! Kids enjoy earning reward stars (SmartStars), checking out their SmartChart, and customizing their BrainBank (where they store their stars) while playing the many activities found in this software. Check out the Face Making activity, an artistic masterpiece where kids can create their own one-of-a-kind face for Ben; the Superstar of Smarts Challenge, a rewarding space race; Twin Time Telling, a hilarious activity where Ben's face morphs into a clock face and kids compare analog time to digital readouts; and Refrigerator Measurement, an original measurement and estimation game where kids use pickles, ice cubes and carrots to measure Becky's height.

Don't miss Bubble Business, Ben blows bubbles out of his mouth (at least he doesn't belch 'em out!) while kids scramble to complete the shapes and color patterns; Twin Skywriting, a cool game where kids learn letters and phonics while watching Becky morph into a plane and skywrite the alphabet; Bird Perch Math, a funny addition and subtraction game based on the number of birds perched on the twins pole-like arms; Find the Twin, an aerial maze where kids listen to directions and play hide and seek with Ben; orAnimal Food Maze, a simply amazing maze! There's more!

Whether kids are playing Things in My Shoe, another object identifying game; Pick of the Litter, a hip environmental activty where kids learn which items can be recycled; Fishy Words, a funny spelling and phonics game where the twins turn into a couple of fish; Music Maker, a far-out musical game where kids can dabble with an array of musical instruments and match musical patterns; Which One Doesn't Belong?, a thinking game where kids choose which Becky doll is different; and my favorite activity, Silly Stories, an excellent reading builder where kids can customize mini-stories with zany words and hilarious endings. Humor certainly is an important aspect of kindergarten socialization.

Although it won't substitute for the real thing, Big Thinkers! Kindergarten is sure to bring your kindergartener some fun and laughs and just may teach him or her to think BIG!