Colors, Shapes, and SizeColors, Shapes, and Size
Preschoolers and kindergartners will embark on a delightful journey with their new friend, Poldy the Scarecrow, in Colors, Shapes, and Size. On this journey they will learn about primary and secondary colors, simple geometric shapes, and size relationships. Along the way they will listen to stories, sing songs, and enjoy a variety of learning activities.
The title begins by introducing the children to Poldy and his desire to fly. With the help of three feathered friends he gets his wish and they depart on a journey around the world. Their tale is told through three narrated stories that describe their experiences in Brazil experimenting with colors, in China identifying shapes, and in Africa exploring size relationships. All three stories incorporate native surroundings, people, and animals. Entertaining songs and hidden click animation add sparkle and surprise to the stories. At the end of each story the user returns to a main screen. From here, the child can select a different story, choose a learning activity, or sing-along to a small number of songs.
There are six learning activities, two for each of the three areas. Between the easy-to-understand user interface and audible instructions, young kids will soon master this title. The narration and instructions are simple and clear, although there should be a way to repeat the instructions for an exercise.
Installation is a snap for Windows and Macintosh computers, primarily because the title runs directly from the CD-ROM disc. This means minimal impact on a system's hard disk but adds noticeable delays when moving between program screens. Colors, Shapes, and Size also has trouble on systems running Windows whenever it animates large areas of a screen. In these situations, users see portions of the picture being repainted, which is somewhat distracting.
Colors, Shapes, and Size achieves its goal of teaching early learning concepts to young children. Quality graphics, narration, and music put a finishing touch on the title. Too bad it is marred by minor performance problems-though it is a testament to the polished quality of this title that these annoyances stand out at all. So introduce your preschool or kindergarten child to Poldy and his friends and let him or her explore the world of colors, shapes, and size. Just do not be surprised if he or she is not home in time for dinner.
