The Magic Schoolbus Series
The Magic Schoolbus Explores the Rainforest
The Magic Schoolbus Lands on Mars
The Magic Schoolbus in Concert
Ages 6 to 10

The Magic School Bus Series has been around forever. It's education content will make it a attractive pick for parents who don't want kids just wasting their time. These kids more likely will be girls because I have never heard a parent say to a boy “No, you can't play Evil Blood Suckers Revenge because it's not educational.” So just pick a topic you fancy and have Ms. Frizzle lecture you about it. The web site www.microsoft.com/kids gives parents and teachers ideas on how to expand the learning process.

The Magic School Bus Explores the Rainforest is one of the earlier games, but in an attempt to include lots of content - gets to be overly complicated. The dashboard on the school bus contains all of the control functions needed to guide you through the main portion of the lessons. The learning is a bit heavy handed with explanations given with every click but thankfully there are quick little games that provide welcomed intermission. Navigation isn't easy. There is no highlighted cursor to tell you when you have found what you are looking for so you end up clicking on any and every thing.

The Magic School Bus Lands on Mars - Well, don't expect to be exploring that much on Mars. It basically is a lot of red rock so most of the activity is inside the Mars Lander. The later versions of the School Bus series are simpler and have less content. If you are really interested in Mars - you are better off with a good book or look on the NASA website.

The Magic School Bus in Concert - So you learn about sound waves and the ear, and hear poorly reproduced sounds of a few instruments. By now Ms. Frizzle's voice is like nails scratching on blackboard. The little puzzle games as an interlude are still fun and age appropriate. The packaging is minimal and so it the content.

Editor Review 11/01

My brother (age 4) loved all of them, especially the rainforest one. He liked how you can make different dudes on the license plates, and he also really likes how you can go to the toolbox and check things out that way. I think the graphics and inside the bus are cool too, and how it's all rainforest-y. But I thought it was kinda weird, too, how in all of them, you aren't really trying to get any thing, or to go any where. (Sorry, I must be REALLy used to Freddi Fish and Pajama Sam games which are the opposite of this.). I think this kind of game is fine though, just not for my age. On the box it says 6-10, NOT what I think. I'm thinkin' maybe 4-8, or 4-7. Probably 4-7.. Some of the games have a little something that you're trying to get, but not enough to be real interesting.

Review by Rebecca L.