Peter and The Wolf is one of the best children's titles ever made, and a great rendition of Prokofiev's classical music masterpiece. Non-classical music fans may not know that Peter and The Wolf has long been considered THE best piece to introduce children to the world of classical music, due to the entertaining fairy tale story that serves as backdrop for the music, as well as the amazing representation of each character by a musical instrument (the cat, for example, is played by the clarinet, while the duck is played by the oboe). As to how this CD-ROM beautifully captures the spirit of Prokofiev's classic, I'll leave it to Tamara Miller's review for WorldVillage to convince you: "I don't know how the folks at 7th Level do it, but they keep topping themselves. Peter and the Wolf is a magnificent romp "inside" the story. The child enters a symphony hall, (that looks remarkably like the one I visited, complete with velvet curtains) and the show begins. The child may start and stop the action and watch and rewatch any part or character of the program he prefers. The many click points provide everything from sight gags to learning opportunities. For instance, click on the orchestra pit and the child may listen to each instrument individually. Peter guides his young guest around the theater and backstage making navigation extremely easy for even the youngest three-year-old. The Hudson Philharmonic provides the music. None of the usual hokey synthesized stuff, the music is rich, full and beautiful. Children will be immediately drawn to the sights and sounds of Peter and his friends. Tony Randall's narration completes the sound package. His voice is as velvet and warm as my childhood memories. Peter and the Wolf is incredibly interactive. Wherever the child clicks something funny or interesting happens. Music appreciation games and interactive overviews keep the program interesting, even for a three-year-old. Older children will love to watch the story all the way through and focus on specific instruments. A child could play with this program a hundred times in a hundred different ways without losing interest. I loved Peter and the Wolf. My children did too. I can't recommend it highly enough. It is the perfect introduction to the grown-up world of classical music, in an intelligent and fun context. IBM and 7th Level have hit upon a remarkable idea. I would love to see what they could do with Beethoven. Keep it coming guys." Two thumbs up, way up! Reviewed by: Underdogs |