Reader Rabbit

Reader Rabbit is an edutainment software franchise created in 1986 by The Learning Company. This series currently makes up the greater part of a franchise of grade-based and subject-based titles, where the games for infancy through second grade feature Reader Rabbit. The games for third grade through sixth grade instead feature The ClueFinders.

The first game in the series taught language arts, featuring a variety of simple games designed to teach schoolchildren basic reading and spelling skills. Originally, the title character's name was changed to reflect a change in subject, as with Math Rabbit, but it has apparently since been decided to retain the character's original name regardless of the subject area covered by a particular game.

In 2011, a game for the Nintendo Wii was announced.^[1]

Characters

• Reader Rabbit is the protagonist of all the games. He was a greyish blue rabbit. In Reader Rabbit Math Adventures Ages 6–9, when the Sealion is wrecked by the momentum of the storm, he has a plan to fix it while Sam the Lion was on a search for parts. In the 1986–1993 games, he wears a scarlet T-shirt rather than his trademark red sweater. In the 2000s games, he wears a red T-shirt and blue jeans and in the 1995–present games he wears a red and blue striped sweater.
• Sam is one of Reader Rabbit's best friends. He is a lion who likes to go on adventures. He also appears as a cub in Reader Rabbit Math Adventures Ages 6–9 where he was driving a ship in the flashback. He also teams up with Penelope the Parrot in all activities except the one that involves fractions on pizza and the song he sings is Sam's Song. In the 1986–1993 and in the 1997–present games he wears a green T-shirt. He also appears as the leader and the main protagonist in the live-action/animated video series Read Now! with a shiny red nose, a red mane and a matching tuft of hair on his tail.
• Matilda (nicknamed "Mattie" or "Mat") is one of Reader Rabbit's best friends. She is a feisty young mouse who likes to do everything and wears a yellow shirt, a blue dress with white buttons and a blue ribbon on her tail (after 1989). As a main character in Reader Rabbit Kindergarten, she finds some things that Spike is stealing. In Reader Rabbit Toddler, she visits Reader Rabbit and goes into the book where it has so many fun worlds you can select. Mattie makes plenty of jokes! The song she sings is Mat's Song. She also appears in Interactive Math Journey and in the video series Read Now!.

Games

Year	Game	Platform(s)	Critical Reception
1986	Reader Rabbit	Apple II, DOS, Macintosh	Allgame - [2] Superkids - "Although it is not the most engaging reading software currently available, this time-tested winner is a good bet for any family with young reader".[3]
	Math Rabbit	Apple II, DOS
1987	Get Ready to Learn
	Writer Rabbit	Apple II, DOS
1988	Get Ready For Reading
1989	Reader Rabbit 1
1990	Reader Rabbit 2	DOS, Windows 3.x	Computer Gaming Magazine - The game offered a substantial improvement on its predecessor by being a new type of edutainment in which "now learning can be as visually and aurally stunning as the slickest videogame".[4]
1991	Reader Rabbit 3	DOS, Macintosh, Windows 3.x
	Ready for Letters
1992	Reader Rabbit 2	Macintosh	Allgame - [5]
1993	Math Rabbit Deluxe	Macintosh, Windows 3.x
	Interactive Reading Journey	Macintosh, Windows 3.1	Superkids - "If you want a highly structured, phonics-based program, you've found it!".[6] PC Magazine - [7]
1994	Reading Development Library 1
	Interactive Reading Journey 2	Macintosh, Windows 3.x
	Learn to Read CD Sampler
1995	Reading Development Library 2		Superkids - "The game is a solid program, based on an interesting approach to two classic children's stories".[8]
	Reading Development Library 3		Sunday Courier / Argus-Press - "The game's thoughtful programming prevents the familiar stories from being boring to young players."[9][10]
	Reading Development Library 4
	Let's Start Learning
1996	Learn to Read
	Interactive Math Journey
1997	Toddlers	Macintosh, Windows	Edutaining Kids - A+[11] Child Software Review - [12] Allgame - [13] Superkids - "This program does a fine job of introducing the young mind to the wonders of the computer".[14] PC Magazine - [15]
	Preschool	Macintosh, Windows	Allgame - [16] Superkids - [17] PC World - [18]
	Kindergarten		Superkids - 14/15[19]
1998	1st Grade	Macintosh, Windows	Superkids - 13.6/15[20] PC World - [18]
	2nd Grade	Macintosh, Windows	Allgame - [21]
	Interactive Reading Journey For Grades K-1
	Interactive Reading Journey For Grades 1-2
	Interactive Reading Journey For Grades 1-3
	Reading 1
	Reading 2	Macintosh, Windows	Allgame - [22]
	Math 1
	Math 2
1999	Playtime for Baby	Macintosh, Windows	Superkids - 12.5/15[23]
	Reading Ages 4–6		Superkids - 14.5/15[24]
	Math Ages 4–6
	Phonics Ages 4–6
	Complete Learn to Read System		Superkids - 14.3/15[25] PC Magazine - [26]
	Thinking Adventures Ages 4–6		Superkids - 12.5/15[27]
	Reading Ages 6–9		Superkids - [28]
	Math Ages 6–9		Superkids - 12.2/15[29]
	Phonics Ages 6–9
	Thinking Adventures Ages 6–9
2000	Learn to Read with Phonics		Discovery Education - .[30]
2001	Reader Rabbit Preschool: Sparkle Star Rescue	Mac OS X, Windows	Superkids - 12.5/15.[31]
	Reader Rabbit Kindergarten: Bounce Down in Balloon Town
	Reader Rabbit 1st Grade: Capers on Cloud Nine!		Superkids - 8/15[32]
	Reader Rabbit 2nd Grade: Mis-Cheese-ious Dreamship Adventures!		Superkids - 8/15[33]
2009	Reading Learning System		Top Ten Reviews - "we found its teaching methods to be productive" and deemed the game "easy to use[34] Edutaining Kids - A-[35]
2010	Reader Rabbit Kindergarten	Wii
2011	Reader Rabbit Kindergarten	NDS	Common Sense Media - [36]

References

1. Jinny Gudmundsen, USA Today. "Reader Rabbit hops over to the Wii." May 29, 2011. Retrieve June 7, 2011.
2. "Reader Rabbit 1 Deluxe!". Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 16 November 2014.
3. "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit 1.".
4. "Reader Rabbit 2".
5. "Reader Rabbit 2". Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014.
6. "SuperKids Review of RR's Interactive Reading Journey.".
7. "PC Magazine, Volume 14" (3). Ziff Davis. February 7, 1995: 384. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
8. "SuperKids Review of RR抯 Reading Development Library Level 2".
9. "The Sunday Courier - Google News Archive Search".
10. "The Argus-Press - Google News Archive Search".
11. "Edutaining Kids: Reader Rabbit Toddler Review".
12. "Reader Rabbit Toddler Software Game". Archived from the original on 16 December 2012.
13. "Reader Rabbit Toddler". Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 12 December 2014.
14. "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit's Toddler.".
15. "PC Magazine, Volume 17" (3). Ziff Davis. February 10, 1998: 336. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
16. "Reader Rabbit Preschool". Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014.
17. "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit's Preschool".
18. "Reader Rabbit Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade". PCMAG.
19. "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit's Kindergarten".
20. "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit's 1st Grade".
21. "Reader Rabbit Personalized 2nd Grade". Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014.
22. "Reader Rabbit Reading 2". Brad Cook. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014.
23. "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit Playtime for Baby".
24. "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit's Reading 4-6".
25. "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit's Complete Learn to Read System".
26. "PC Magazine, Volume 18" (15). Ziff Davis. September 1, 1999: 281. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
27. "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit Thinking Adventures 4-6".
28. "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit's Reading 6-9".
29. "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit's Math 6-9".
30. "Reader Rabbit Learn to Read with Phonics - Review Corner - DiscoverySchool.com".
31. "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit Preschool Sparkle Star Rescue!".
32. "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit 1st Grade Capers on Cloud Nine".
33. "SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit 2nd Grade Mis-cheese-ious Dreamship Adventure".
34. "Reader Rabbit Reading Learning System Review 2016 - Good & Bad of Reader Rabbit Reading Software". TopTenREVIEWS. 3 October 2014.
35. "Reader Rabbit Reading - Learning System Game Review".
36. "Reader Rabbit Kindergarten".

External links

• Reader Rabbit Software and Workbooks - The Learning Company
• Reader Rabbit at MobyGames

Further reading

• PC Mag 1991
• PC Mac 1987
• Working Mother 1999
• Working Mother 1995
• PC Mag 1994
• PC Mag 1995
• PC Mag 2000