My two-year-old son, Will, is in love with you. He loves to hear your songs over and over and over and over and--well, you get the picture. He admires your bravery but likes you even better when you're lost and scared. He thinks the map game is neat, even though he's too young to understand it.
Sheila Rae, I hope you don't mind, but Will's also got his eye on your little sister, Louise. He thinks she's funny, especially when she swings down from the tree. That made him laugh out loud.
Thanks for the fun times,
Will's Mom and computer partner
Sheila Rae, the Brave is a delightful new CD-ROM adventure based on the picture book by Caldecott Honor-winning author and illustrator Kevin Henkes. Our heroine is a breathtakingly fearless mouse--that is, until she gets lost in the woods and has to be rescued by her tagalong sister. The story is simple enough to hold the attention of the very young, yet filled with humor and emotions sophisticated enough for those beginning to read on their own.
Living Books hasn't strayed from its basic presentation formula, but, as always, there are interesting variations, including seven singalongs and a map game. After choosing between narration in English or Spanish, kids can hear the story read aloud from beginning to end, or pause to "play" on each page, where numerous "hot spots" (over 20 on each page) hide surprises. Be sure to find the butterfly hidden on every page.
Sheila Rae also contains numerous fully animated scenes that introduce these "hot-spot" pages. Although usually not interactive, these animations move the story forward, adding both variety and a more cinematic feel. The seven songs can be heard during the course of the story, but kids can listen to them again via a separate menu. The folks at Living Books always cater to both the reading and the nonreading crowd: The menu, for instance, has words as well as pictures.
The songs themselves are short and snappy, with definite kid-appeal. "Dead Bear Eyes" is bound to be a hit, while "Cat Rap" is catchy ("I'm hip, I'm hop/I'm doin' the bop . . ."). With a click of the mouse, you can hear the song, watch accompanying animation, and read the lyrics. Even these are animated; words are highlighted as they are sung; some turn into pictures. The map game is straightforward and conceptually linked to the book's theme of being lost. Help Sheila Rae navigate around the playground with the aid of hidden clues. There's nothing fancy here, but preschoolers will find the game challenging while learning useful map-reading skills.
Living Books is a multimedia company devoted to the written word in both new and traditional forms. As a result, their packages always include the original book on which the CD-ROM is based. In addition to Kevin Henkes's book, there's a short booklet for parents and kids called "Beyond the Computer." Think of it as a teacher's guide suggesting noncomputer tie-in activities as well as a list of other books your child will enjoy.
With my son at the helm, I have a feeling I'll soon be singing Sheila Rae's songs in my sleep!
Alice Cary is a freelance writer and mother of two-year-old Will. She lives in Groton, MA, and can be reached at alice_cary@bookpage.com.
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