Suzanne Frea
PC Entertainment
October 1995

Comparing Cultures

If you've been to the software store lately, you may have noticed some familiar titles in the children's section. That's no coincidence, because the latest trend in kids' software is CD-ROM titles based on popular books for children. While animated versions of popular storybooks are old hat, this latest crop of electronic books enhances its printed counterparts to teach kids a variety of skills.

Older kids ages 7 to 12 can learn history first-hand by traveling back in time with Grolier Kids' How Would You Survive?, based on the Franklin Watts book set of the same name. Players get a "survival guide" containing basic facts and a map, then journey to the time of the ancient Egyptians, Vikings, or Aztecs. When they're done exploring, kids take a quiz to find out if they've mastered the skills to survive in the various cultures. The disc also lets junior explorers compare the cultures with each other, something not easily done with the books.