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Review of My Work by CD Garden

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The My Work software by CD Garden is a classic example of why you shouldn't judge a book (or a CD-Rom) by its cover. Let's face it, the software's title isn't exactly captivating, it doesn't feature talking animals, and there is no perky background music. What could possibly be appealing about it?

If you give this software a second look, or at least read some reviews or check out the demo, you will see that it has quite a lot of appeal.

Let's start with the first of nine activities, Keybang, which allows children to have fun while becoming familiar with the computer. This activity also teaches cause and effect while improving fine motor skills. Ihe kids won't know that though. They'll be having too much fun tapping the keys and watching the black screen fill up with colors, lines, shapes, numbers, and letters while listening to zips, pings, and boings.

The next icon on the menu bar will take you to Pegboard, which reminds me of the LiteBrite toy. Choose from 16 colors plus rainbow, along with different shapes (flat or 3D) to create a picture by dragging the mouse, using directional arrows, or using the fill button. While the kids discover what all the buttons will do and create works of art, they are also learning the important pre-reading skills of directionality and tracking.

With 6 each of skin colors, hairstyles, and hair colors children should be able to make a face to resemble themselves or a friend in Feelings. Then children may choose a facial expression showing one of six emotions. A simple sentence is printed at the top of the screen and read aloud dramatically so children can hear as well as see the emotion represented. Children may choose whether the sentence reads I feel, He feels, or She feels. This activity teaches about diversity, emotions, whole word reading, and basic sentence structure.

16 colors and 13 patterns add up to a lot of combinations in Pattern. Children may choose up to 6 different colors for their design, then watch it drawn before their eyes. Remember Spirograph? This activity teaches observations skills, cause and effect reasoning, and abstract math concepts.

In Paint, every brush has at least 3 different looks plus there are several line types, sizes, and colors to choose from. The possibilities in this activity are endless. I just wish there was some way to save finished masterpieces. There also is no print option in any of the activities, but that's okay since kids are notorious for going through reams of paper. Children learn creativity, discovery, and cause and effect in this activity.

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