Developer: VTechSoft Publisher: VTechSoft Target group: Ages 3-5 System Requirements: Windows 95/98 Pentium 90 or better 16 MB RAM 4X CD ROM or better 256 colors 640 X 480 resolution Sound Blaster 8-bit or compatible sound card Macintosh PowerPC, iMac or G3 System 7.6 or higher 16 MB RAM 1 MB Hard Disk Space 4 X CD ROM or better Thousands of Colors Introduction: The version my four-year old daughter and I played with contains three CDs: Colors and Shapes Workshop, Numbers Workshop and Alphabet Workshop. The software teaches number recognition, counting, addition and subtraction, letter recognition and sounds, colors, shapes and sequence. Each is available separately but the three pack makes financial sense. I like the idea of keeping these three workshops on different discs; I think the interface would have been too cumbersome and too ambitious a project to put on one CD. The Characters: Shades the chameleon and JB the jitterbug are the hosts of this children's software from VTECH. Shades does most of the introductions and is a likeable enough character: not too wordy. JB grates a bit on the nerves like a yappy dog. Even my daughter would jiggle and twirl the mouse when JB started talking. The Game: The Workshop is the starting area for all three CDs. In Colors and Shapes, you have a choice of going to some six game platforms. Find the Colors gets the child to match a color from a color pallet to the same color in a picture. The child can change pictures to a farm, bathtub or fire hall. The Colors and Shapes Song took my daughter's attention and is essentially a passive listening and learning exercise. The Coloring Book game uses stories to reinforce colors. The child changes the story by choosing colors for characters and items to be. Shades then tells the story using those colors he or she has selected. There are a number of stories to choose from so the game won't be too repetitive or boring. My daughter gave this her thumbs up saying "These stories are cool." Build a Toy attempts to teach both colors and shapes in the same game. The child must build and color, simple and quite recognizable toys. The idea is to insert colored shapes into blank pictures. Not the easiest game to play because the shapes to be inserted didn't totally match the blank. However, this is a good chance for parents to play along with their kids: games are tools, not babysitters. Numbers Workshop includes Hide and Seek (number recognition), Box Game (counting), Building Game (addition and subtraction), Singing with Music Machine and Number Stories (21 different stories based on numbers 1 - 20). Alphabet Workshop includes Find the Letter (letter recognition), Pictures and Letters (spelling and vocabulary), Changing Words (change one letter in a word to make a new word), Letter Sounds and Match the Letters (upper and lower case letters). The Psychology: The exercises generally fall into two categories: passive learning and active learning. They also allow for various levels of knowledge; the games teach letter, number, shape and color recognition, or they reinforce if the kids already know them. The Nuts and Bolts: Installation is simple-insert CD and the game begins. Graphics are good. Lots of bright, primary colors to attract the kids' attention with simple, easily recognizable scenes used as play zones. Sound is simple and not irksome, as I've heard on some other children's software. And gameplay is simple with its point and click interface. I like the screen-saver feature but thought it could have done without the background squeaks, pops and "boings" to lure you back to the game. The final say? My daughter likes it! This game's wide range of activities ensures hours of fun. In Da GameBoyz parlance this one rates an easy 4 out of 5 joysticks! Essential Learning Series was reviewed by GameBoyz parents, Jeff and Pat Hoogendoorn