Parents' Guide to Smart Tales: Books and Games

Brightly colored animals and silly stories will likely appeal to kids, though the quality of the stories and activities is a bit ho-hum. Rhyming and rhythm are tried-and-true methods for engaging kids with language. But the wording in Smart Tales is sometimes a bit odd, and the rhymes don't always work out particularly well -- at least in the English version. Its multiple languages make Smart Tales accessible to more families, and the text may be more successful in other languages. Unfortunately, the integrated activities are also mostly mediocre. Games are standard multiple-choice pick a match, or drag-and-drop puzzles, for example. They're super simple, which makes them easy for little ones but not all that exciting or creative. Finally, the main menu is a bit confusing, with the same content appearing in multiple places. Overall, Smart Tales: Books and Games isn't particularly innovative or exciting, but it does offer some solid fun for the early preschool crowd.