We just got this game and I have to say it's a hit with both the children and myself. (My children are boy and girl; almost 4 and almost 6).
One of the features I like is that there are places for three different people to sign in. Some of the other games have just one place and everyone else is "guest". Not terribly useful if you are trying to accumulate points.
With this Leapster Book you have five basic activities. The games have two levels. Level One is pretty much on the preschool level, while Level Two seems to be geered more for Kindergarteners. Level Two of the Making Tracks with Thomas game, for example, involves simple mathematical equations.
Story Options
There are two story options.
With the "Read with Me" option, the narrator reads the story with help from our Train friends.
With the "Read and Play" option the story does not progress without you clicking on either the forward or backward arrows. This version of the story lets you click on characters to see what they have to say, and there are also games interspersed to keep little ones from getting bored. (Valuable Blue tickets are hidden here.) You can also click on individual words and hear them pronounced.
***Games***
Harolds' Barrels
The storm has scattered drums and crates all over the harbor. Using the arrow pad (and the A-button when you are over the right crate) you. This game teaches listening skills, letter recognition and work building.
Cranky's Cargo
Cranky has to load cargo onto the right cars. The challenge here is to get the right cargo in the right hold. Number sequences, patterns and skip counting are taught here.
Making Tracks with Thomas
Tracing the track, you take Thomas to the correct location. Children do pre-writing practice (tracing the track) and learn numbers. On Level Two they will be using equations.
Pocket Watch
Your child can learn about clocks and time using Sir Topham Hatt's pocket watch.
Train Depot
Elsewhere you earn red and blue tickets. This is where you spend them, adding extra trains (you start out with Thomas), additional track (you begin with just a circular track), and special features such as a water tower, chocolate factory, etc.
Children learn/practice counting, and one supposes the value of money.
Five Stars. Graphics are typical of LMAX. The game features our favorite Steamies plus Harold and Sir Topham Hatt. Children have the opportunity to learn about time, money, numbers, patterns, and telling time. There are two levels of play.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
My son loves this game for Leapster. It has a great Cranky the Crane game that teaches patterns. It also has a Harold The Helicopter game that teaches to put together 3 letter words. And the best game is tracing the track using the pen. It has helped my 3 year old to write letters on his own because now he has the hang of using the pen and tracing. All the games give tickets that are used later to purchase all their favorite Thomas friends and tracks to build their own railroad. Plenty of fun and they do not even know they are learning definately worth the money.
Best Deals for LeapFrog® Leapster® Learning Game Thomas & Friends
My 4yr old son loves this game. It is great for teaching patterns and simple math. Each game earns 'tickets' that you can use to build your own thomas tracks, buy more engines, and buy destinations like the coal loader, water tower, and several more. If you have a little Thomas fan, this is a must-have.
Honest reviews on LeapFrog® Leapster® Learning Game Thomas & Friends
This is a great game.I bought this for my son and he is not even 3 yet. He knows all his letters and numbers, but he did not know the sounds of the letters.It's been 2 weeks since he got it and he already knows all the sounds, plus he can figure the basic math skills taught in this game.Great product.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for LeapFrog® Leapster® Learning Game Thomas & Friends
This is a really great game. My son loves to find all the hidden blue tickets within the story. He seems to prefer doing that over playing the games. The tracing the tracks game is a little hard for him because it seems a little touchy. We have about 8 leapster games total between my 3 and 5 year old sons. My 3 year old likes his Finding Nemo game the best but this comes in second!
