|
Home  Awards & Grants Children's Notable Lists Great Interactive Software for Kids 2005 Notable Computer Software for Children
2005 Notable Computer Software for Children
2005 Notable Computer Software for Children Committee: Caren S. Koh, chair, Queens Library, Jamaica, N.Y.; Diana Berry, Oak View Elementary School, Decatur, Ga.; Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, Rohnert Park, Calif.; Nancy Johnson, Western Washington University, Bellingham; Don Latham, Florida State University, School of Information Studies, Tallahassee; and Bina Williams, Bridgeport (Conn.) Public Library.
I Spy Spooky Mansion Deluxe. Scholastic. Win/Mac. $19.95.
Ages 6 and up. Fans of visual puzzles and wordplay will love this interactive trip into a haunted house. Fifteen I Spy picture puzzles must be solved before the resident skeleton guides the player out of the mansion. Once out, the skeleton invites the player back in for a new round of games and clues. Completing each of three rounds leads to a new challenge. Not only is the program easy to load and fun to play, it also sharpens visual and problem solving skills.
Learn to Play Chess with Fritz and Chesster 2: Chess in the Black Castle. Viva Media. Win. $29.99.
Ages 8 and up. Fans of the first Fritz and Chesster adventure will not be disappointed with this new game, this one focusing on chess strategy. Bianca and Fritz enter the creepy Black Castle to rescue their mentor, Chesster the Rat, who is being held hostage. Only by increasing their chess skills do they stand a chance of outwitting the nefarious King Black. With Bianca’s handy Organizer, players can check on point values, learn strategies, store clues found throughout the castle and glean other helpful information. A free year’s subscription to playchess.com is included with purchase.
Photo Puzzle Builder. APTE, Inc. Win/Mac. $64.95.
Ages 6 and up. Creating word and picture puzzles is a snap with this engaging program. Anagrams, crosswords, word searches, photo-scrambles, and photo jigsaws are just some of the puzzles users can create. Public domain images are included, but personal digital photos and graphics can be used as well. Puzzles can be edited and the final results can be saved, printed, exported, and posted on a Web site.
Starry Night: Complete Space and Astronomy Pack. Imaginova. Win/Mac. $49.95.
Ages 9 and up. Discover the wonders of the night sky with this realistic planetarium program. Young astronomers can see the sky from any point on earth, controlling time, location, elevation, and more. They can pilot the Deep Space Explorer up to 700 million light years from earth for stunning views of the ever-expanding universe. Heavenly bodies can be viewed from any angle or distance and be rotated as well. This extensive package also includes Sky-Theatre, a full-length documentary on DVD, and an accompanying text, Starry Night Companion.
2005 Notable Online Subscription Services
Digital Curriculum. AIMS Multimedia. Contact vendor for pricing (www.digitalcurriculum.com).
Ages 7 and up. This comprehensive interactive learning resource integrates full-length videos, video clips, still images, encyclopedia content, teacher guides, lesson plans and online assessments and assignments. Users can supplement learning at home and school with over 90,000 educational multimedia components for every subject. Includes correlations to state and national standards.
|
