Letters on the Loose - E

Software for the Leapster L-Max that teaches the alphabet.

Publisher: LeapFrog Category/Genre: Educational Handheld - Preschool Platform: Leapster Price: $29.99 Graphics: Cute Playability: Can be played on the L-Max as a handheld or on the TV if the L-Max is plugged in to it. Reading Level: No reading required Release Date: 09/30/2005 ESRB Rating: E

Common Sense Note

Letters on the Loose is one of the first software titles for the new Leapster L-Max system. It's an excellent way to introduce preschoolers to the alphabet because kids learn the alphabet by playing games with each of the letters. The software also teaches them how to draw each letter and then has them practice the lettering by drawing on the touch-sensitive screen. This software utilizes the L-Max's unique ability to create a dual screen when plugged into a TV where the video displayed on the handheld screen is different from what kids see on the TV screen.

With this software, parents can watch their kids' progress on the television screen. They can comment on the games that kids play and might want to ask which letter their child likes best and why. Parents might also consider helping their child make his or her own ABC book away from the L-Max.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Jinny Gudmundsen

Leapster L-Max is a new promising educational gaming system that doubles as a handheld and as a television-based console. Letters on the Loose, one of the first titles for the L-Max, is a good fit for kids who are just learning the alphabet. Each letter appears in the software as an animated character; and, by playing 26 games, kids learn to identify each letter, its sound, and how to draw it.

Kids help Professor Quigley round up the 26 letters of the alphabet so that he can create a talking ABC book. Kids persuade the maverick letters to join the book by playing games with them.

For example, before the letter N will become part of the book, it needs help finding little Ns that are hiding in some pipes. Kids use the L-Max's arrow pad to move an onscreen magnifying glass over the pipes to find the hidden Ns.

Once a letter is added to the book, Professor Quigley sings a song about the letter's sound and shows kids how to draw the letter. Using the L-Max's touch-sensitive screen, children trace a dotted path to draw the letter, and that hand-drawn letter then becomes part of the ABC book.

Kids will discover additional material when connecting the L-Max unit to a television, including Professor Quigley's tutorials and a bonus game involving upper and lowercase letters. A minor complaint about the television game play is that kids must click a button on the side of the L-Max pen to make the pen's actions on the touch-sensitive handheld screen show up on the TV screen.

Overall, Letters on the Loose cleverly engages kids in learning the alphabet by having them play with charming letter friends. Drawing letters using the touch-sensitive screen further reinforces the alphabet recognition and instills pride when those hand drawn letters show up on the television for Mom and Dad to see.

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