Happily Ever After

Copyright: KBkids.com

Knowledge Adventure's new Happily Ever After is a fairy tale activity program. This volume one in what will apparently be a new series for them. Nice activities are incorporated into each of the three fairy tales, although some are too difficult for four year olds. The only problem with this program is the very odd way they have chosen to incorporate multicultural awareness. The course the company has chosen is enough to make Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm turn over in their graves!

Happily Ever After, includes variations on three traditional fairy tales. The stories included are Little Red Riding Hood, Rumplestiltskin, and Hansel and Gretel. The original stories are not included, however, and you might be surprised as to what you find when you click on each story. Apparently in an attempt to infuse some multicultural awareness into children's lives, these stories have been altered in very different ways. Rather than choosing stories from various cultures which have their roots in these three fairy tales, and variations do exist in all corners of the world, the names and scenery have simply been changed. Little Red Riding Hood is told in a Chinese background as Little Red Happy Coat. The story remains identical except for the oriental faces and this odd new name. Rumplestiltskin remains exactly the same other than the Jamaican names and background music. Hansel and Gretel is by far the funniest alteration. Here, our hero and heroin become Hanselito and Gretelita. It would have been very effective to have included the one of the traditional versions of the story and then shown a version from another country. Instead, these simple name changes give the stories a very odd and inaccurate feeling. This is unfortunately multicultural education at it's worst.

The stories are based on the HBO television show of the same title. While the attempt to create "stories for every child" is laudable, why not use variations on the classic stories which actually do come from the various countries? The series has received several awards and is being met with some acclaim, but anyone who has made a study of children's literature may find this program quite disturbing. There are such beautiful variations of these tales available already. This would be a much more educational and valuable activity.

That complaint aside, the program runs well, is very user-friendly and contains a few quality activities. The program is narrated wonderfully by Robert Guillaume. The following activities are incorporated into each story:

Little Red Riding Hood includes a Tic-Tac-Toe- a variation of this game involves flowers and small creatures. Instructions are far too fast and complex to explain a basic game. An included maze activity is very educational and teaches map reading skills as well as giving directional practice for young children.

Hansel and Gretel includes a magical cookie activity where patterns must be matched in order to make your cookies come to life. This is good visual discrimination practice for young children as they must observe very carefully.

Rumplestiltksin includes a variation on the game Mancala as well as a two sided puzzle activity. Each puzzle piece has a picture on both sides. In order to complete the puzzle, your children must find the right side of the piece and then place it in it's proper spot.

Each of these stories includes an art activity. Pictures from the respective stories are available to be colored with basic art tools like pencils and paint brush. The pictures are far too detailed for most four year olds to color and the art tools rather ordinary. If you click the fish icon, however, the program keeps all of the colors within the lines. This is a nice addition and younger kids really like this feature. There is not much creativity to this art activity, but it is not bad either. Each of the above mentioned games can be played at three different skill levels.

Bottom Line: A ho-hum program which contains fair activities, but nothing spectacular. The multicultural changes to these stories may bother some, not because they have changed them, but how they have changed them.

Ratings: (based on KBkids.com's 4 star ratings system)

Overall: 2

BrainGain: 2

FunFactor: 2

EasePlease: 4

This program is no longer available. Watch for it on Ebay.com