The vagaries of the English language are exposed when a bird of paradise plant transforms into an exotically plumed bird of paradise, and then that same bird rolls a pair of dice. A tiny bit of sophistication seems to have seeped into the wide-eyed world of Reader Rabbit, and it will probably be appreciated by kids who have cut their pop-culture teeth on the rapid-fire fare provided by Nickelodeon and Nintendo. Fear not, Reader Rabbit and Mat the Mouse still run a pretty straight-laced establishment, with plenty of opportunities for parents to check progress, control gameplay and levels, and educate themselves about educating their young readers. But there's a bit more sass here than in the Reader Rabbit programs designed for younger kids-an intelligent way for the series to adjust to its increasingly sophisticated audience. (Ages 5 to 8) -Anne Erickson This title is designed to teach critical reading and writing skills with phonics-based word puzzles, animated storybooks, and reading comprehension games. Kids will follow the Road to Imagination, then catch the train for Wordville Station, where they'll join Reader Rabbit and friends in an action-packed adventure. The activities in this colorful reading program build confidence and pleasure in reading, in addition to helping your child learn critical reading skills.

Spin to win in the sparkling new version of this beloved game.

Word Factory is another program element that has nothing to do with Mat's quest, but introduces four more word-building and memorization activities to an already brimming program. Designers paid attention to details that are important for learning: characters meticulously pronounce words and sound out letters in clear children's voices. Each activity can be played on five different levels, and kids can check their progress and print study words. The program introduces sight words for memorization as well as words that must be constructed by sounding out. Some of the virtual books in this program are more entertaining and engaging than actual phonics texts we've seen. Even the Parent's Guide information was useful, and taught us a thing or two about how kids learn to read. Perhaps most importantly, this CD-ROM's clever wordplay and constant comedic surprises will keep kids interested as they develop the nuts-and-bolts skills that will lead to a lifetime of enthusiastic reading. (Ages 3 to 6) -Anne Erickson Your child is invited to go on a learning journey with Reader Rabbit. Learn to Read with Phonics is designed to teach reading one step at a time, from letters and sounds, to words and spelling, and, eventually, to reading simple stories. This reading program is designed to help children build skills, confidence, and a solid foundation for success in reading. Come along and discover the joy of reading with Reader Rabbit.

All new Rube Goldberg-style puzzles Over 200 elements to create and destroy World tour, online, and free-style modes All new parts-amazing lightning machines and laser beams Hall of fame - win a trophy for your contraption Fun for the whole family AGEIA PhysX hardware support Windows Vista / XP Crazy Machines 2 is packed with all new features to help you create your wackiest "rube goldberg-style" contraptions ever! All new elements, plus an amazing 3d physics engine lets you craft even more complex gadgets and effects. A New Dimension of Fun Kick your brain into high gear with incredible mind bending puzzles. Tinker with wrecking balls, lightening rods, lasers, pulleys, springs, gears and more to create the chain reaction you need! Unlock a new 3D world of addictive fun that the entire family will enjoy! Hundreds of all new levels to complete New parts, new pieces, and new contraptions Multiple solutions, play these challenging puzzles again and again Swap ideas with other members of the online community Trick out your own contraptions in free-style mode Create your wackiest contraptions ever! Tinker with wrecking balls, lightening rods, lasers, pulleys, springs, gears and more to create the chain reaction you need. Kick your brain into high gear with incredible mind bending puzzles. Compete for tropies and high ratings. Go on tour with the crazy professor and put your skills to the test with challenges from around the globe. Travel, from the bazaars of Egypt to the white sands of the Caribbean, then blast off into space for an out of this world gaming experience. Check out the crazy machines community online! Post machines you've created and download those made by others. Compete for trophies and high ratings. All new "rube goldberg-style" puzzles Over 200 elements to create and destroy World tour, online, and free-style modes All new parts-amazing lightning machines and laser beams Hall of fame win a trophy for your contraption Fun for the whole family Join the online community Incredible 3d graphics with brand new effects AGEIA PhysX hardware support.

png) repeat-x; border-left: 1px solid #999999; border-right: 1px solid #999999; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-bottom: 10px; width: 250px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px; } Bejeweled Twist's lightning gems result in big scores. View larger. Updated graphics deliver crisp new backgrounds and animations. View larger. Play four different modes: Classic, Challenge, Zen and Blitz. View larger. A New Twist on the Wildly Popular Game PopCap has sold more than 25 million Bejeweled games, with over 350 million copies downloaded, making it one of the most successful game franchises in history. Bejeweled Twist was four years in the making, and brings an exciting spin on the classic gameplay: instead of dragging the jewels around, you rotate them. The goal is still to create a line of three or more identical jewels, and each successive turn in which you do so gives you a multiplier for even more points. A key difference from the older games is that you don't have to make a match with every turn. The graphics have been updated as well, with new backgrounds and animations. The graphics are crisper and more modern while still retaining the fun, colorful look of the old games. The new game exhibits a high level of polish and production values, including nice animations in between levels, fun explosion effects when power-ups are used, and extras like being able to watch an instant replay of high-scoring matches. Four Different Play Modes Bejeweled Twist features four different play modes: Classic, Challenge, Zen and Blitz. Classic mode lets you progress through increasingly difficult levels where you try to create jewel chains before a bomb detonates. Challenge mode creates specific tasks for you to complete, such as destroying ten gems in one move. In Blitz mode, you frantically try to accumulate as many points as you can within a certain amount of time. And in Zen mode, you can play a relaxing game without any obstacles or timers. There are various power-ups that can be used for higher scores, such as a lightning gem, which you'll receive by matching five gems at once. The lightning gem then eliminates the entire vertical or horizontal column or row where the gem is located. When a you get consecutive matches to max out the chain meter, you'll receive a fruit gem that destroys all same-colored gems. Like all great puzzle games, you'll be surprised how fast that time flies while playing Bejeweled Twist. System Requirements Minimum Recommended Operating System PC: Windows XP/Vista CPU 1. 2GHz or faster Sound Direct X 8 compatible sound card and drivers Direct X 9. 0c compatible sound card and drivers Memory 256 MB 512+ MB Other Requirements Internet connection is required to register the game.