Mia Reading: The Bugaboo Bugs (Windows, Mac)

In MIA READING: THE BUGABOO BUGS, kids go on an learning adventure with an adorable little mouse. Mia's house has been invaded by the Bugaboo Bugs, careless insects that leave messes. Fearing that the humans who share the house with Mia and her family will notice the pests and decide to call an exterminator, Mia decides to do something to convince the bugs to move on. As kids play through the adventure with Mia, they'll encounter 12 educational games that reinforce reading and writing skills taught in kindergarten through third grade.

The games can be played on four levels of difficulty. As Mia seeks help and advice from others, most of the characters she meets have a game they need her to play before they can help her. In one, to get a bee's help, you place lights on a board in a sequence to either create letters or, at the higher levels, words. In another, you sort out picture stamps so that they create a story. The games cover associating words with images, phonics, spelling, sentence structure, vocabulary, reading comprehension, word recognition, rhymes, logic, and more.

In the landscape of kids' technology, this software game stands out. It offers endearing characters that are fascinating to watch and even more fun to interact with, stunning graphics, an engaging storyline, no violence, and age-appropriate educational activities that are fresh in their approach to learning.

Another plus is that this software is replayable since the 12 educational activities can be played separately from the adventure, and enjoyed after kids have completed the adventure.

Available on: Windows, Mac
Not available online
Genre: Edutainment
Developer: Kutoka
Released on: December 15, 2007
Price: 25
ESRB Rating: NR