Charlotte's Web (PC)
© 2006 Sega
In the beautifully illustrated Windows version of Charlotte's Web, your child can care for Wilber the Pig, unlocking food, toys and finding lost spider eggs by playing nine logic, spelling or math games. The more you play, the more puzzles, stickers, games and bonus items are unlocked. The game starts in the Petting Pen where you care for Wilbur by feeding and grooming him or by giving him toys and affection. The icons for these items are bright and large, making it easy for youngsters to tend to his needs. Bale Out asks children to help Wilbur slide bales of hay onto a target in increasingly difficult puzzles, whereas, Word Web asks them to click on connecting letters to spell words. The Number Web features a similar concept, except children have to click on sets of connecting consecutive numbers. There are also puzzles, games and trivia along with a sticker book in the Activities section; enough content to last for while. We liked the look and sound of Wilbur and also the inclusion of movie stills from the Paramount Pictures film. Children will need to be able to read and spell words like “suit”, “terrific” and “Fern” to play the word games independently. They will also have to string together consecutive numbers to use the Number Web. Easily identifiable icons, including Exit, and the ability to save six games are also features we liked. Be aware that some of the games are challenging to the point of frustration, or sometimes just poorly designed. We found the Bale Out puzzles to be the most difficult, and even our 11-year-old tester had some trouble solving the harder puzzles. Developed by Backbone Entertainment for Sega, this game is also available for PlayStation 2, GameCube and Nintendo DS (reviewed December 2006).
$20, Windows XP*, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Nintendo DS
Teaches: logic, creativity, spelling
CTR Rating: 84%