Reader Rabbit: 1st Grade
{{short description|1998 educational video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Reader Rabbit's 1st Grade
| image = File:Reader_Rabbit,_1st_Grade.jpeg
| developer = KnowWare
| publisher = The Learning Company
| series = Reader Rabbit
| engine =
| platforms = Windows, Macintosh
| genre = Edutainment
| modes = Single-player
}}
Reader Rabbit's 1st Grade (known as Reader Rabbit Key Stage 1: Year 1 in the United Kingdom) is an educational video game, part of the Reader Rabbit series, developed by KnowWare and published by The Learning Company on January 14, 1998.
Plot
The Old Theatre has everything ready for a performance, but the porcupine Spike feels dissatisfied about not being the star of the show, so he takes and hides the musical instruments, costumes, scripts, props and other necessities so the performance cannot start. Reader Rabbit and his friends have only a number of hours to make preparations before tonight's performance.
Gameplay
The players encounter interesting characters and take part in educational activities through the game's point-and-click interface, with a goal being to get everything ready for the show. The game focuses on vocabulary, phonics, addition and subtraction.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5aA1CjS2rMcC&q=%2522Reader%2520Rabbit%25201st%2520Grade%2522&pg=PT65|title=Working Mother|date=1999-12-01|publisher=Working Mother Media|language=en}}
Commercial performance
Reader Rabbit's 1st Grade was the second top-selling home education title across nine software retail chains (representing more than 40 percent of the U.S. market) in the week that ended on April 4, 1998.{{Cite journal|date=1998-04-20|title=BESTSELLERS|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-649265.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118103054/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-649265.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-11-18}} It was also the seventh top-selling educational titles across 13 software chains (representing 57 percent of the U.S. market), for the week ending on March 20, 1999.{{Cite journal|date=1999-04-05|title=Bestsellers|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-586555.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119081113/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-586555.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-11-19}}
Critical reception
{{Video game reviews
| award1Pub = Parents' Choice
| award1 = Gold Award{{cite web |url=http://www.parents-choice.org/product.cfm?product_id=507 |title=Parents' Choice Awards - Reader Rabbit: 1st Grade |author= |publisher= |date=1998 |website=Parents' Choice Award |access-date=November 21, 2016}}
}}
Common Sense Media said the game has a "nice mix of animation, song, and solid educational gaming",{{Cite web|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/reader-rabbit-1st-grade|title=Reader Rabbit 1st Grade - Game Review|date=27 May 2011|access-date=2016-09-15}} and declared it the "top first-grade title".{{Cite web|url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/reader-rabbit-1st-grade-learning-system|title=Reader Rabbit 1st Grade Learning System - Game Review|date=12 October 2004|access-date=2016-09-15}} Superkids deemed it "lightweight", "lively", and "entertaining".{{Cite web|url=http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/multisub/1stgrade/1/rr1st/merge.shtml|title=SuperKids Software Review of Reader Rabbit's 1st Grade.|website=www.superkids.com|access-date=2016-09-15}} Tech With Kids thought the activities were "supportive, funny, and always upbeat", and described the learning activities as "fabulous".{{Cite web|url=http://www.techwithkids.com/Review_SR00413S_reader-rabbit-1st-grade-learning-system|title=Reader Rabbit 1st Grade Learning System Review - TechWithKids.com|website=www.techwithkids.com|access-date=2016-09-15}} Edutaining Kids wrote the game was highly entertaining and positively compared it to Reader Rabbit Reading Learning System.{{Cite web|url=http://www.edutainingkids.com/reviews/rr1stcloud.html|title=Reader Rabbit 1st Grade Children's Software Review|website=www.edutainingkids.com|access-date=2016-09-15}} Discovery School praised the game for its "exciting adventure storyline", "gorgeous cartoon world to explore", and "outstanding learning activities".{{Cite web|url=http://school.discoveryeducation.com/parents/reviewcorner/software/readerrabbit1stgradecapers.html|title=DiscoverySchool.com - Review Corner|website=school.discoveryeducation.com|access-date=2016-09-15}} The Washington Post said "this title makes the grade", unlike other Reader Rabbit titles.{{Cite journal|date=2001-09-07|title=INSTALL NOW?|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-473453.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118102054/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-473453.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-11-18}} Reading Tutor said the game was a prime example of how Reader Rabbit puts educational games in the context of an interesting story line.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/readingtutorhowt0000ling|url-access=registration|quote=%22Reader Rabbit 1st Grade%22.|title=Reading Tutor: How to Help Your First Or Second Grader Become Great at Reading|last=Linge|first=Mary Kay|date=2000-01-01|publisher=LearningExpress|isbn=9781576853405|language=en}} Jeffrey Kessler who worked as a Learning Specialist for the Reader Rabbit franchise described the game as a clever mix of math, reading, art and emotion rather than a year's curriculum.{{Cite web|url=http://www.baychi.org/calendar/files/mm200101web/mm200101web.pdf|title=Thinking Like A Kid|website=baychi.org|date=2001-01-31|access-date=2019-02-26}} During the inaugural Interactive Achievement Awards, the PC version received a nomination for "PC Edutainment Title of the Year" by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=1998&idGame=780 |title=D.I.C.E. Awards By Video Game Details Reader Rabbit's 1st Grade |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |website=interactive.org |access-date=4 August 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/reader-rabbit-1st-grade}}
{{Reader Rabbit}}
Category:Children's educational video games
Category:The Learning Company games