The Classic

Kid Pix Deluxe 3 Published on June 14th, 2002

Since its introduction in 1991, Kid Pix software has been the leading art creativity software for children. The current version, Kid Pix Deluxe 3, provides a virtual canvas and a set of art tools to paint with on the screen. Kids will find traditional drawing tools, such as paint brushes, chalk, and crayons; but there are also buckets of paint, rubber stamps, stickers, animated stickers, and more. Kids can even draw with wild things like shaving cream or clusters of candy. They can add sounds to their creations, including their own recorded voice. For something totally different, would-be Picassos can use their voice (with an optional microphone) to direct wacky paintbrushes. Loud sounds create a large splash of paint, whereas a soft sound may change the color and the size of the splash. After creating several pieces of art, Kid Pix Deluxe 3 shows children how to create a slide show of their work. Or they can send their accomplishments in an email to loved ones.
Summary Age  4 - 99 Platform  Windows Mac Price  $30.00 Category  Art Grade  ISBN  Company  Broderbund http://www.broderbund.com

Another Great Choice

Flying Colors 2 Published on June 14th, 2002

Flying Colors 2 is a competing product to Kid Pix Deluxe 3 and is equally as good in providing a wide range of easy-to-use art tools. It too offers a virtual canvas on which to create art, and it provides both traditional and whacky art tools. It does not have some of the high-tech options, such as painting by sound and slide show creation. However, Flying Colors 2 has special strengths not found in Kid Pix Deluxe 3. With so many different art tools to choose from, younger kids can become overwhelmed. Flying Colors 2 anticipates this response and provides four separate interfaces: preschoolers, kids, basic, and expanded. When the “Preschool” interface is selected, any movement with the mouse or tap on the keyboard causes a stamp to appear on the screen—perhaps a butterfly or a pretty flower. With the “Kids” interface, a basic set of drawing tools appears. “Basic” and “Expanded” provide more sophisticated tools than those available in “Kid Pix” and they come with excellent visual tutorials explaining how to use them.
Summary Age  2 - 99 Platform  Windows Mac Price  $29.00 Category  Art Grade  ISBN  Company  Magic Mouse Productions (415) 669-7010 http://www.magicmouse.com

An Art Mystery

Mystery Museum Published on June 14th, 2002

This software cleverly engages children in a whodunit mystery while introducing them to the portrait collection at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Every night after the virtual museum closes, the portraits come alive. However, one portrait has decided to wreak havoc by messing with the other portraits. To find the culprit, players search the virtual museum for paintings that don’t look correct. A painting may be jumbled or sporting a confused aura shown by thought bubbles floating above the portrait. To fix a painting, kids play games with the artwork. The games take many formats, including jigsaw puzzles and scrambled pictures. Once players restore the doctored painting, they are rewarded with a clue about the culprit. Collect enough clues, and you will be able to spot the culprit. This software mystery is a fun way to learn about the museum’s collection, famous painters, and different painting styles. Because children become involved in solving the mystery, the learning flows easily. There are 30 different paintings to explore.
Summary Age  7 - 12 Platform  Windows Mac Price  $40.00 Category  Art Grade  ISBN  Company  Night Kitchen Media http://store.yahoo.com/pma-store/cdroms.html

All software is judged on a five star scale by looking at the following five factors: educational, fun, ease of use, value, technical.

Jinny Gudmundsen is the Editor of Computing With Kids magazine. If you have questions or comments, please write to: .

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