Reader Rabbit Toddler
CD cover art
Developer(s)KnowWare
Publisher(s)The Learning Company
SeriesReader Rabbit
Platform(s)Windows, Macintosh
ReleaseJune 1997[1]
Genre(s)Edutainment
Mode(s)Single-player

Reader Rabbit Toddler (also known as Reader Rabbit's Toddler) is a 1997 educational video game developed by KnowWare and published by The Learning Company. It is part of the Reader Rabbit series.

Development

Production

The game was part of Reader Rabbit's Early Learning Series, along with Reader Rabbit Preschool and Reader Rabbit Kindergarten. The game was packaged with Reader Rabbit Playtime for Baby into Reader Rabbit Playtime for Baby and Toddler.[2]

Educational goals

The game minimizes the presence of text to make it easy for illiterate players and to keep them interested. Users are free to click on objects without being prompted, allowing for flexible exploration. Children are able to bridge together the keyboard inputs and screen outputs in the gameplay. Much younger children are recommended to experience the game with an older sibling or adult who will give them adequate help. The activities in the game are intended to prepare a child for preschool including number and letter recognition and sequencing, patterns, matching, sorting and basic phonic skills. Difficulty in the game increases with every success made, although the focus is not about getting answers correct but rather learning from incorrect ones.[3]

Gameplay

The players do not need to use a point-and-click interface to seek enjoyment from the game. They simply have to roll their mouse over hotspots to interact with the game.[4] The game has eight activities, including Peek-a-Boo Zoo, the Bubble Castle and Musical Meadow.[5] The product has multiple difficulty levels.[6]

Reception

Critical reception

SuperKids noted the game appealed to both children and their parents.[7] Edutaining Kids thought the title was the best educational game for toddlers, and a "delightful introduction" into using computers.[4] TechWithKids deemed the title a "winner".[8] DiscoverySchool thought the game was "exceptional", "useful", and "exudes warmth" toward the player.[2] ReviewCorner praised the game's graphics, activities, and the simple interface.[9] Allgame said the graphics were more sophisticated than other Reader Rabbit titles, due to having 3D backgrounds and shading on the 2D characters.[10] Black Enterprise said the graphics were "clean, bright and simple".[11][12] The Exceptional Parent thought the game had "enjoyable cause and effect".[13] According to Chicago Sun-Times, the developers understood "what young kids are capable of doing".[14] Redbook praised the game for being playable by kids who were unable to use the point and click mouse interface.[15] Post-Tribune thought the game was a "perfect first-time introduction to the computer".[16] PC Mag said the game had "unmistakable shortcomings".[17]

Commercial performance

Reader Rabbit Toddler was the 9th top-selling education video game in October[18] and November 1997,[19] and the week ended in February 1998.[20] The game generated $1.8 million in revenue.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Portefield, Deborah (December 23, 1997). "Toddlers becoming software consumers". Florida Today. p. 32. Retrieved June 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 "DiscoverySchool.com - Review Corner". school.discoveryeducation.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  3. ↑ Ross, David (August 16, 1997). "Helping toddlers to hippety-hop into the world of learning". Press-Telegram. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Edutaining Kids: Reader Rabbit Toddler Review". www.edutainingkids.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  5. ↑ "Fun-Filled Multisubject Reader Rabbit Series for Earliest Learners Available Today From The Learning Company - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  6. ↑ "The Learning Company, Inc. to Debut New Line of Multisubject, Age Appropriate Software Products - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  7. ↑ "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit's Toddler". www.superkids.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  8. ↑ "Reader Rabbit Playtime for Baby & Toddler Review - TechWithKids.com". www.techwithkids.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  9. ↑ "Reader Rabbit Toddler Software Game". 2005-04-24. Archived from the original on 2005-04-24. Retrieved 2016-09-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ↑ "Reader Rabbit Toddler - Review - allgame". 2014-12-12. Archived from the original on 2014-12-12. Retrieved 2016-09-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ↑ "The fun-damentals of learning: this holiday season, leave the video games in the store and give the gift of knowledge instead. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  12. ↑ Ltd, Earl G. Graves (1997-12-01). Black Enterprise. Earl G. Graves, Ltd.
  13. ↑ "Software for PLAY and ACTIVE Early Learning. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  14. ↑ "Little kids and PCs: So far it's hit and (mostly) miss". 2003-05-31. Archived from the original on 2016-10-08. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  15. ↑ "The best learning software.(Mommy Strategies)(Bibliography)". 2004-09-01. Archived from the original on 2016-10-08. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  16. ↑ "HOLIDAY FARE CAN INCLUDE GIFTS OF SOFTWARE THAT TEACHES CHILDREN A VARIETY OF SKILLS". 1998-11-20. Archived from the original on 2016-10-08. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. ↑ Inc, Ziff Davis (1998-02-10). PC Mag. Ziff Davis, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  18. ↑ "A SPECIAL BUSINESS REPORT; SectorSnapshot; Little multimedia firms gain big voice". 1998-02-19. Archived from the original on 2016-10-08. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  19. ↑ "The Learning Company Announces 29% Increase In Year Over Year Dollar Sales in November - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
  20. ↑ "BESTSELLERS". 1998-03-09. Archived from the original on 2016-10-08. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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