You can count on this one!

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Count With Oliver from Mirrorsoft consists of two entertaining games - Toyshop and Lollipops - which introduce the basics of counting, simple addition and subtraction.

The games are intended for four to seven year olds and are both attractively presented and easy to use.

In Toyshop, little red headed Oliver asks the young player to help him count toys in a shop window. The print used is large and easy to read, and the program is carefully graded to gradually get more difficult as the child masters each stage.

Three different kinds of toys in three colours are used, introducing the ideas of sets as well as numbers, by questions like "How many green toys?" as well as "How many boats?"

In Lollipops, Oliver is at the sweetshop, asking for lollipops of different shapes and sizes.

Addition follows naturally as Oliver collects different sorts of lollipops, as well as subtraction when he eats some! As the game progresses, greedy Oliver gradually gets bigger and bigger, with predictable consequences as he turns various unhealthy colours.

Both programs provide a good aid to simple arithmetic, with clear graphics and amusing illustrations.

Jane Jackson