LeapFrog Leapster L-Max Educational Game: Madagascar

• Interactive learning cartridge
• For use with the Leapster L-Max Learning Game System, sold separately
• Join the hilarious Central Park Zoo animals and friends for an adventure on Madagascar
• 4 action-packed learning games
• Teaches essential first and second grade spelling, grammar and math skills

Practice Math, Spelling & Sentence Syntax All While Having Fun! A review of "Madagascar":
There are four games on this cartridge that features the characters from Dreamworks Madagascar movie. Inside each game there are two levels of play, and in general I would say that even on Level 1 (the easier level) this cartridge is probably too advanced for preschoolers and even some kindergarteners since it requires some reading ability plus some basic math notions. **Mango Math** Melman (the giraffe) gets up a tree and Gloria (hippo) tries to get him down. This game starts out (Level one) with simple math equations such as 5 + 2 = X. Melman and Gloria bounce up and down grabbing mangos until the appropriate amount of fruit is collected to answer the equation. (Thus they need to grab 7 mangos). (The `hint' button will take children to a page where the equation is shown and solved should they not know the answer.) **Hi Stakes** In this game Alex (the lion) is looking for Marty at Grand Central Station. On Level One your child will be practicing fractions. Alex will go up and down three different levels searching for the one and only shape that is divided into the correct parts -- shows fourths, or thirds, for example. They will also be shown shapes, such as rectangle that is divided into parts, and asked to identify the numeric fraction that corresponds to the portion of the rectangle that is colored blue. For example, find a number such as 1/2 or 1/4. (One of the problems I noted with this game is that the numerical fractions are visually hard to make out clearly on the screen. Detail is not so good here.) **Penguin's Password** This is a fun letter shuffle game. Children are shown letters such as "a, e, c, k" and they need to reshuffle them to form a real word. In this case the word `cake'. **Island Hopping** Obstacle avoidance is part of this game as your child steers jet-ski riding Marty away from debris and incorrect words as they try to complete a sentence. You might see a sentence such as "The ___ laughs" or "The ____ fusses" and your child needs to find a noun that makes sense in this sentence. Five Stars. (A-). Although the `Hint' button provides good clues and even answers in many cases, children will need to be able to read and understand basic math concepts to get the most out of this cartridge. They will also need a bit of eye-hand coordination. I personally find the characters annoying, but this cartridge has such good learning opportunities that I can't really complain. I haven't seen any games anywhere else that cover the same skills as well: learn math, sentence syntax, and spelling, all while having fun.

Nice adaptation of movie into game format:
This program is well written and focuses on beginning math and reading. It is achedemically advanced for my 4 year old who is just learning to read, but he still enjoys playing using the hint feature and just messing around. It is right on target for my kindergartener and will offer challenges for reading well into first grade. Navigating the games is easy. We also loved Math Mission for both boys but found the Spiderman a little weaker because the programming is less interactive, but still rate that one a 3 or 4 star.

L-Max Game Madagascar:
Good game for my 6 year old. A few of the skills are to advanced for him but he is catching on and has fun with it!

Excellent:
My preschooler loves this (mind you he just got evaluated on a second grade level) he knows how to read, so he does level one comfortably. My kindergartener is great as well he is also on a higher level (3rd) so the second level does him well. It is fun, it is educational, and the fact that the characters are familiar is a plus. This cartridge reviews Fractions, addition, vocabulary and more. The assistance with the hint button is a plus. The cartridge is also great because with the addition it constantly reminds you that if you have to much, what you should do. It is like a tutor which I enjoy. I like to review it myself and practice before I give them to my children. Leap Frog is a wonderful company they make learning FUN! You can get this cartridge if you have a child doing this level work no matter how old.

leapfrog leapster l-max; madagascar game:
I bought this L-Max game for my daughters who are 4 and 6. They loved the movie and seem to really enjoy this game. It teachers all about addition and math and of course, coordination. Some games are a little tougher for the three-year-old and her Mom. I wish there were more L-Max games.