The Adventures of Peter Rabbit & Benjamin Bunny
Reviewed by Cynthia A. Sorrels
Published by Mindscape

Age Group: Age 2 to 5 Type: Language Arts Price: $34.99 US

PC version requires:
Windows 3.1, 486DX66,8M,10MHD

Mac version requires:
Version is available.

Description:

Hop Into The Adventures of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny

Mindscape has released a new version of two old stories: The Tale of Pater Rabbit and the Tale of Benjamin Bunny on one hybrid Windows/Mac CD-ROM. Even if you're not a Beatrix Potter fan, you most likely will be after viewing this title.

Installation

While the installation was not complicated, the program needs Microsoft Video for Windows v1.1. This took a few minutes to complete but wasn't a problem. The program will offer a selection of American English or British English during the process.

So start the story, already!

Once the program begins to run, you'll see a bird's eye view of the countryside as the music plays. The programmers have actually managed to produce a feeling of flight! Next, choose which story you want to hear - The Tale of Peter Rabbit or The Tale of Benjamin Bunny.

The only problem with the story reading option is that the page must be turned, (clicked) which does present a problem for smaller children. An option for "automatic read" would be nice. There are reading tips from Dr. Paul Melmed on educating your child at home.

Exploring

To explore Peter Rabbit's world and find the activities, click on one of the cameos which appear as the cursor is moved over the screen. You'll discover games, nursery rhymes and hot spots as you play. There are six cameo spots in the program:

• Mr. McGregor's Garden has so much to do! Look out for that cat, though.
• Look around in the Woods that Peter knows so well.
• The Edge of the Woods - between safety and danger.
• Peter Rabbit's Home - can you find and print the recipes with Mrs. Rabbit?
• The Toolshed - careful! Mr. McGregor's in here - can Peter get to safety?
• Mr. McGregor's Vegetable Patch - Peter and Benjamin Bunny are having fun here!

The Games

There are 11 different activities accessible through the six cameo's. You'll have to look to find them all. There are puzzles, matching games, and my favorite - Mrs. Rabbit's recipes, which involves listening to directions and then following those instructions. The actual recipes can be printed out! It's great to see sequencing skills taught in a way that can be illustrated in everyday life.

Sound and Graphics

The music selected for this title is beautiful and relaxing. The only two problems with it were 1) no music plays during the stories themselves and 2) after a few hours, hearing the same riffs over and over becomes tiring.

The graphics look as if they were done by Beatrix Potter, and they have been done by hand. The most memorable scene is at the beginning of the program, where you are a bird flying high, looking down at the countryside through a cloud. The sensation of flight is really amazing.

In Comparison:

Discis Books issued a version of The Adventures of Peter Rabbit in 1995 - only one story. The music plays throughout, but it's not very good. There are no animations, no games or nursery rhymes, no puzzles, recipes. Just the story that's read from beginning to end in English or Spanish.

Mindscape has taken The Adventures of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny to new heights by including early reading skill enhancements, games and rhymes. After spending about a week working on this review, I now understand why Mindscape has delayed the release of the next title in the Beatrix Potter series - Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle-Duck. They have a reputation to live up to!

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