ClueFinders 3rd Grade [OLD VERSION]

Playing 3rd Grade Adventures is a lot like falling into the middle of a Saturday morning cartoon adventure. On the first CD- ROM, "The Mystery of Mathra," Uncle Horace is lost in a South American rain forest said to be the home of Mathra, an evil mythical bird. You have to join with a team of young rescuers to find Horace and learn what's destroying the jungle. But get ready to practice a lot of math, reading, science, geography, and problem-solving skills along the way.

Following this long and twisted tale takes players through "The Monkey Kingdom and the Goo Forest," where problems are presented by a colorful cast of apes, spiders, and even a quartet of talking flowers that sound a bit like the Beatles. Each problem solved earns you whimsical items for bartering--sneezeberries, goo beetles, or snagnets--that later become your ticket to the keys to the Lost City, where Mathra resides.

Solving "The Mystery of Mathra" takes a lot of perseverance. Although the game is rated for children aged 7 to 9, and is equipped with a system that adjusts the program to different ability levels, it's really too difficult for 7- and 8-year-olds to play alone. But 3rd Grade Adventures' games are clever, and kids will love playing along with the animated characters. The package also offers a second CD-ROM full of printable workbooks and activity sheets--just in case parents feel their kids are having too much fun. (Ages 7 to 9) -- Sharon Griggins