Read Write & Type takes a unique approach to teaching basic reading skills by slipping typing lessons in among spelling, phonics and writing lessons. Kids will develop basic typing and mousing skills at an early age, without suffering through boring touch typing lessons. Combining several skill areas in a single package also saves parents a little money.

Read Write & Type features good guys and bad guys, or more specifically, one bad guy, a green blob named Vexor the Virus. Vexor isn't really all that bad; he just likes to stir things up a bit. Vexor swiped all the letters of the alphabet, preventing the storytellers from being able to tell stories. (Each onscreen keyboard key is referred to as a window; a different storyteller lives in each window.) By successfully completing a series of phonics and spelling exercises, players can rescue each letter, and give it back to the appropriate storyteller.

The game is hosted by pair of friendly, wisecracking hands named Lefty LaDee and Rightway McKay. You can click on either hand at any time if you need help. Lefty and Rightway also demonstrate proper hand placement for typing the various letters.

Many of the lessons follow the same pattern. For each letter that needs to be rescued, Vexor the Virus will display a series of pictures that may or may not begin with, end with, or contain that letter. You type the letter if it's there, or press the spacebar if it isn't. A voiceover sounds out the letter and the word. If you identify all the words correctly, then the letter will escape. If you make too many mistakes, Vexor will send you back to the beginning.

The next step is to type a series of letters or words, to help one of the characters cross a play gym. The final step is the Story Tree, where you will type a series of short phrases, such as a cat hat, that together make up a short story.

Other Read, Write & Type activities include a simulated email feature, which lets your child send and receive email, a typing game, a reading game and a spelling game.


Pros: Colorful graphics, amusing sound effects and music, and appealing characters
Cons: Expensive, the repetitive drill nature of the exercises may bore some kids to tears, instructions are a little sparse in places