Words And Pictures is a suite of educational programs written for three- to seven-year-olds. They aim to teach a selection of words and sentences using pictures drawn in Mode 7 graphics. There is a six-page booklet containing useful notes for parents, and a complete list of all the words covered by the package.

The package contains five programs, all written in Basic. The first side of the cassette contains WORDSA and SENTSA, with an introductory program allowing selection from a menu. The reverse has the same menu plus WORDSB and SENTSB. In each case the second program produces a sentence using the words from the first.

The initial part of the suite is obviously designed to be used by parent or teacher. After selecting one of the programs, you are given the chance to change the sound level. This is very welcome because, although the tune used is good, it becomes very wearing.

Next you are asked if scores are wanted. Answering YES produces a request for the first child's name, and then others in turn. If this option is chosen, the computer displays a score after each turn and says who is next.

From now on the children are on their own. Each child has ten screens, with four pictures on each. There is a word or sentence at the bottom of the screen, and the child moves arrows from one picture to the next by pressing the space bar. When he/she is happy that the picture corresponds with the word or sentence given. Return is pressed. If the answer is correct, the little green frog on the right of the screen eats another of the ten bugs buzzing around his head.

After the ten screens, there is a song with five frogs jumping into a pool one after another. The tune is catchy and the words are displayed on the screen to encourage singing and, with any luck, reading.

This is an attempt at writing software in a field in which it is notoriously difficult to succeed, and I look forward to seeing more.