Children's Software

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Award Winners: The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Software Awards

The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, a New York-based consumer organization, was founded in 1989 and publishes the only independent review of toys and children's media. Unlike many organizations that give awards, The Portfolio does not charge entry fees and remains ad-free to assure editorial integrity. Once products make the first cut, based on safety and developmental appropriateness, they are tested with the real experts...kids and their families

Blue's Clues Birthday Adventure
by Humongous Entertainment

This program about Blue's birthday lets kids virtually jump into the Blues Clue's universe. The snappy graphic style of the Nick Jr. TV show transitions well to the computer screen with its mix of live and animated characters. 3-5. Win 3.1/Win 95/Mac.

Age: 3 - 6 yrs
Awards: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award - 1999, Child Magazine

Description: Steve and all of Blue's pals need help preparing for Blue's big birthday party! Plan every aspect of the party by solving four new Blue's Clues games. It's up to you to find Blue's clues, enter them into the Handy Dandy notebook, and sit in the Thinking Chair to determine Blue's answer. You'll need to figure out what Blue wants to give her party guests, what Blue wants to eat at her party, what fun things Blue wants to do at her party, and what games Blue wants to play at her party. Once you've done all this, you can create Blue's birthday cake and, of course, be at guest at her birthday celebration. The four Blue's Clues games are included on two CD-ROMs and can be completed in any order, at different levels of difficulty. Each game is peppered with additional learning activities, continually changing clickable animations, "Blue Skidoo" locations, and special surprises.

Candy Land
by Hasbro Interactive

Candy Land has succeeded in being a superb beginning board game through the years through its simplicity. It teaches the basics of gaming: taking turns, moving in a single direction, matching. The new computerized version uses the same simple rules and game play, requiring the child to find the next color on the board that matches the piece pulled from the magic gumball machine. As a bonus, several of the sites on the board have interactive animation where kids can build giant sundaes and go swimming in the molasses swamp. 3-5. Win 98.

Age: 3 - 6 yrs
Awards: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award - 1998
Educational Benefits:Counting, Letter Recognition

Description: King Kandy has been kidnapped by the evil Lord Licorice and that means doom for candy lovers everywhere. It's up to you to follow your sweet tooth on a journey through Candy Land, and use your number, letter, sorting, and matching skills to retrieve the candy clues and rescue the King. Favorite characters and lands from the original board game come alive in this animated, learning adventure.

Tonka Garage
by Hasbro Interactive

In a year when most software from toy companies was gender-stereotyped, kudos to Hasbro for having created software where women, as well as men, are shown working with tools. 5 & up. Win 95.

Age: 5 yrs+
Awards: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award - 1999, Child Magazine, Dr. Toy - 1998

Description: There's plenty of work to be done at Tonka Garage Headquarters, and Tonka Joe needs your help to run the shop. Get under the hood in the Repair Shop. Fill 'em up at the Gas Station. Design your own custom vehicles in the Design Center, and then show them off in the Show Room. You can even take a test drive at the Test Track or blast cars in the Junkyard. There are nine exciting places to explore at Tonka Garage.

Arthur's Computer
Adventure by Broderbund

This animated storybook is about the day Arthur breaks his mom's computer. In addition to the story, there are a variety of games, most of which are arcade inspired. As with most of the Living Books series, this title works for kids who are learning to read, as well as those who are just ready to be read to. 5-7. Win3.1/Win 95/Mac.

Age: 3 - 8 yrs
Awards: Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award - 1999, Child Magazine, Dr. Toy - 1998

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, he can't resist! Suddenly, the screen goes blank. Will Arthur be able to fix the computer before Mom gets home? Features 5 learning activities, 13 surprises and puzzles, and hundreds of clickable on-screen items.

Award Winners: FamilyPC Magazine's Top Rated Awards

FamilyPC Awards Kids are a picky bunch, and they grow up quickly, so a good kids' CD-ROM must be flexible as well as fun. FamilyPC knows that parents appreciate sound educational content, a reasonable price, and plenty of replay value. FamilyPC's Top Rated Award winners are the cream of a very competitive crop of products. The editors at FamilyPC evaluated hundreds of software products and analyzed results from thousands of family testers to assemble this Top Rated collection