Zoombinis Maths Journey

Not too long ago, Zoombinis enjoyed the good life. Though they all looked slightly different--different eyes, noses, hair, feet--such differences meant nothing to the Zoombinis. And so they lived happily on Zoombini Isle, making small, useful products, which were prized the world over.

Adored by educators and parents alike, Zoombinis Maths Journey challenges children to employ such basic fundamentals of mathematical thinking as organising information, reasoning of evidence, finding and making patterns, and systematic testing of hypotheses. The journey follows four puzzle-filled trails, each exploring related mathematical ideas. The fundamental data and variables for all this work are the variations in the Zoombinis' features. Their "feet", for example, can be shoes, skates, whirligigs, or coiled springs (the sound effects for these items are particularly great), while their "eyes" may be heavily lidded, enhanced by eyeglasses, blocked by dark shades, or limited to just a single eyeball. Sorting and arranging these variables in order to solve puzzles requires concentrated effort from the players and the game rewards them well with inventive scenarios that evolve in fabulously curious ways as skills are gained. This may not sound like much, but when Arno the Pizza-Eating Tree Troll, who has been yammering for the perfectly topped pizza his entire lifetime, suddenly demands a perfectly topped ice cream sundae, too, it is a staggering, giddy surprise.

The product is full of so many little joys, it's hard to demand improvements. Still, it'd be a great thing if version 2 would feature something other than the monotonous, ping-ping-ping soundtrack that's featured here. But that's minor. In the end, the creators' promise that this CD-ROM will "encourage kids to develop a lifetime habit of associating fun with learning" is spot on. (Ages 9 and up) --Jean Lenihan, Amazon.com

The Zoombinis are weird looking creatures living on Zoombini Isle, making small useful products for the world. Then one day the Bloats arrive, they end up stealing the Zoombinis profits, so the Zoombinis decide to escape to a faraway place. You are the only one to help them escape, you need to guide the Zoombinis through strange regions, inhabited by titanic tattooed toads and pizza-eating tree trolls. Almost every area will pose a puzzle to solve, there are hundreds of Zoombinis counting on you.

This game is aimed at the seven and upwards range, but with some help my five-year-old solved some of the puzzles on his own. There are four levels each getting slightly harder, if you get all your 16 Zoombinis through a stage at a time. There is quite a detailed booklet to read, or there is an information button on each screen for help. My son found it easy to navigate and play and the game has lovely cute colourful characters, it's a very nice package overall. The Zoombinis have been designed in collaboration with teachers, so the children, while playing, are also learning an awful lot of information. To get the Zoombinis to the end of the game (over 600), will take an awful lot of time but I don't think children will get bored too quickly. I love this game and would buy another; it was great value for money. A second CD is included full of printable games and activities. Zoombinis is available for the pc and suitable for Windows 95 and 98. --Hayley Pink

Another good product from The Learning Company, Zoombinis Maths Journey promises "adventures that make maths and logic fun", and it certainly does. I asked my nine-year old son to try it out, and he was enthralled with all that was offered by these two CDs. One contains the games, the second is full of printable games and activities, and 48 puzzles. When I commented that it was educational, he said, "No, it isn't--it's just games', but he had not realised that he was using maths and logic skills on every section. The Zoombinis are cute little creatures who have to trek across treacherous terrain in search of a new utopia, due to the evil Bloats taking over Zoombini Isle. There are twelve different parts to the journey, each one requiring a different skill, and every part of it is stimulating and challenging. Without realising it, the players will solve various problems using their maths skills, organise information, develop strategies, and will test theories. This CD educates without seeming to do so. Children prefer to play than learn: Zoombinis caters for both aspects, so is a winner with both children and parents alike. Full marks for this exciting adventure for children aged seven and upwards. --Charmaine Brown