Dr. Seuss's ABCDr. Seuss's ABC
Not long ago my mother-in-law asked whether my son, Will, has an ABC book. Nancy, your grandson has something even better-wait until you see Dr. Seuss's ABC on CD-ROM!
I'm certainly a booklover, but-dare I say it?-the CD-ROM is even better than the book, which is included in this package. Dr. Seuss's original illustrations and words form the heart of the CD-ROM, but the multimedia additions include animation, more words, more letters, sounds galore, and, ultimately, more opportunities for learning, all integrated so seamlessly that you'll have trouble distinguishing the new from the old. Even Dr. Seuss's late wife gives the disc a Cat-in-the-Hat salute, saying, "Ted would be enchanted."
Certainly his zany illustrations lend themselves to animation, and the folks at Living Books do some of the best in the medium. The colors are vivid; the illustrations clear, and the antics amusing.
The hosts of this alphabetical tour are Icabod and Izzy, two yellow Seussian creatures who provide running commentary through the 26 "pages" of this program, beginning with Aunt Annie's Alligator ambling across the screen and ending with the Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz (one of my personal favorites) plucking jazz on a zither. An alphabet menu page allows users to go from letter to letter in any order, while an "ABC song" button prompts a singalong. The music is super, by the way, so be sure to play the soundtrack on an audio CD player.
As with all Living Books, kids can have the book read aloud or explore on their own by clicking a mouse and discovering a multitude of surprises. For example, click on Icabod on the A page, and an automobile zips across the top of the page, gets into an accident, an ambulance follows, and then the car driver steps forward and tips his hat, assuring all that he is "A-OK." All that action with one click of the mouse!
The designers say there are more than 500 "clickable" objects, letters and words-easy to believe. The number is significant because there's enough variety to keep kids busy for quite some time, and the action is so engaging that they'll want to set scenes in motion over and over again. Who can resist ten tired turtles on a tuttle-tuttle tree, each of whom has a unique talent or tale to tell?
This seems a good opportunity to take issue with some criticism I once heard directed at the Living Book approach: a parent complaining that the discs don't contain games. Well, games can be plenty of fun, but I've seen far too many titles containing some mighty poor excuses for play. Few of these products can compete with Living Books' animation, music, sound effects, and sense of whimsy. Of course, learning the alphabet is game enough in itself.
If you're bound and determined to play a game, you can always invent your own. Here are three, for instance: discover your favorite page; point to various words to create original sentences; or pick three or so pages and compose a story involving the characters contained there.
Dr. Seuss's ABC is just right for preschoolers learning their letters and first- and second-graders practicing reading skills. Meanwhile, adults looking over their shoulders will have a hard time resisting characters such as a bawling, nearly bald baby or Silly Sammy Slick sipping six sodas and getting sick sick sick.
The bottom line?
Q is for Quality, and-last but, alas, not least-I am a confirmed Zealot.
