I SPY SPOOKY MANSION
Ages 6-10
Scholastic Win/Mac B Item #9908
$29.99
Teaches: Logic/Problem Solving
Review by: Louise Larson Janke

He's a true I SPY fan. Has been since his first I SPY book, a few years ago. His prized collection includes every I SPY book, the original cd-rom and now most recently, the new I SPY SPOOKY MANSION cd-rom. He's played it so often, he's discovered his new scary voice. Warning us, and chuckling at the same time, he says, "Enter if you dare…"

A spooky mansion awaits, if you dare… Through the creaking gates, you'd best beware. Cautiously enter though, because once inside, the door is sealed. Not able to leave the mysterious house until all 26 I SPY riddles and the Secret Message Puzzle have been solved, you must search the old mansion for objects hidden within 6 eerie rooms. As you discover the cleverly concealed keys, spiders, broken clocks, letters, toys, buttons, and other (sometimes creepy) objects in each of the puzzles, you will be strengthening visual discrimination, problem solving, vocabulary, reading and classification skills- all essential for kids ages 6 to 10.

Check behind mirrors and pictures. Look behind drapes and dressers. Move bookshelves and walls. All locations to find puzzles to solve. Creep carefully up to the attic as there are no lights on this dusty and dark third floor. However, fears of being swallowed by darkness will disappear when you discover the safety of your flashlight cursor allowing you to see objects in the dark. Leave the attic and locate the old desk in the Library to create your own I Spy riddles- print them out and make your own I SPY book. Before running from the mansion, visit the Mystery Bins and Creepy Collections. These brain building games each have three levels of difficulty. And if you dare, during your stay, visit the Inventor's Workshop where you can cook up your own ghouly ghosts with ingredients hidden in various locations of the mansion.

Non readers should easily be able to enjoy this brain building challenge as the onscreen help reads all instructions, including the names of the objects to be found. But be forewarned parents: Kids are probably going to ask for help locating that one last key, button, eyeball, shoe, bat, skeleton, or whatever. But you won't mind. The outstanding lifelike graphics, light hearted ghouly music and the truly innovative features of I SPY SPOOKY MANSION cd-rom will captivate you, just as it will your kids.

If you don't have an I SPY fan in your house yet- you will.

System Requirements:
Windows ®: 486DX 66 MHz or faster processor
Microsoft Windows 3.1x or Windows 95
8 MB RAM (16 MB recommended)
5 MB hard disk space available
640 x 480 display with 256 colors
Double-speed CD-ROM drive
Windows-compatible sound card
Mouse

Macintosh ®: 33 MHz
68LC040 System 7.1 or later
7,000 KB available RAM (16 MB total RAM recommended)
5 MB hard disk space available
640 x 480 display with 256 colors