Reader Rabbit
| Reader Rabbit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genres | Edutainment |
| Publishers |
The Learning Company Exient Entertainment Activision (Later Releases) |
| Creators | Leslie Grimm[1] |
| Platform of origin | Apple II |
| Year of inception | 1986 |
| First release |
Reader Rabbit 1986 |
| Spin-offs | Math Rabbit series |
Reader Rabbit is an edutainment software franchise created in 1986 by The Learning Company. This series currently makes up the greater part of a franchise of grade-based and subject-based titles, where the games for infancy through second grade feature Reader Rabbit. The games for third grade through sixth grade instead feature The ClueFinders.
The first game in the series taught language arts, featuring a variety of simple games designed to teach schoolchildren basic reading and spelling skills. Originally, the title character's name was changed to reflect a change in subject, as with Math Rabbit, but it has apparently since been decided to retain the character's original name regardless of the subject area covered by a particular game.
In 2011, a game for the Nintendo Wii was announced.[2]
History
Development
Cast and characters
The series centers on the adventures of the titular Reader Rabbit and his friends such as Sam the Lion and Matilda the Mouse. Reader Rabbit is the protagonist of all the games. He was a greyish blue rabbit. In Reader Rabbit Math Adventures Ages 6–9, when the Sealion is wrecked by the momentum of the storm, he has a plan to fix it while Sam the Lion was on a search for parts. In the 1986-1993 games, he wears a scarlet T-shirt rather than his trademark red sweater. In the 2000s games, he wears a red T-shirt and blue jeans and in the 1995–present games he wears a red and blue striped sweater.
Music
Each game consists of some songs that guide the narrative and provide internal monologues of characters.
In 2000 Acme Crimenet, Mattel Interactive Entertainment and TLC Entertainment released a Home Video which contained a compilation of various songs from the game. The video was titled "Reader Rabbit Sing-A-Song Adventures" or alternatively "Reader Rabbit's Sing Along Musical Adventures".
Critical reception and awards
Reader Rabbit remains one of the most commercially successful and beloved edutainment series of all time, alongside Carmen Sandiego and The Oregon Trail. The series had sold over 6 million copies, and won over 175 awards.[3]
Products in the franchise
| Year | Games | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 |
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| 1987 |
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| 1988 |
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| 1989 |
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| 1990 |
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| 1991 |
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| 1993 |
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| 1994 |
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| 1995 |
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| 1996 |
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| 1997 |
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| 1998 |
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| 1999 |
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| 2001 |
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History
Development
Cast and characters
The series centers on the adventures of the titular Reader Rabbit and his friends such as Sam the Lion and Matilda the Mouse. Reader Rabbit is a greyish blue rabbit and is the protagonist of all the games. In the 1986-1993 games, he wears a scarlet T-shirt rather than his trademark red sweater; in the 2000s games, he wears a red T-shirt and blue jeans, and in the 1995–present games, he wears a red and blue striped sweater. Other characters include Wonder Pony, Charlie the Chipmunk, Babs the Beaver, Ernest the Train, Paige, Chester, Penelope the Parrot, Pierre the Raccoon, Spike the Porcupine, Olivia the Owl and the Pirats.
Music
Each game consists of some songs that guide the narrative and provide internal monologues of characters.
In 2000 Acme Crimenet, Mattel Interactive Entertainment and TLC Entertainment released a Home Video which contained a compilation of various songs from the game. The video was titled "Reader Rabbit Sing-A-Song Adventures" or alternatively "Reader Rabbit's Sing Along Musical Adventures".
Critical reception and awards
Reader Rabbit remains one of the most commercially successful and beloved edutainment series of all time, alongside Carmen Sandiego and The Oregon Trail. The series had sold over 6 million copies, and won over 175 awards.[5]
Products in the franchise
Individual products
| Year | Games | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 |
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| 1987 |
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| 1988 |
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| 1989 |
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| 1990 |
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| 1991 |
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| 1993 |
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| 1994 |
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| 1995 |
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| 1996 |
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| 1997 | ||
| 1998 |
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| 1999 |
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| 2001 |
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| 2005 |
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Compilations
| Year | Title | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Reader Rabbit: I Can Read! With Phonics[9] |
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| 2001 | Learn to Read with Phonics |
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References
- ↑ The Learning Company (1986). "Reader Rabbit Manual" (PDF): 9. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
- ↑ Jinny Gudmundsen, USA Today. "Reader Rabbit hops over to the Wii." May 29, 2011. Retrieve June 7, 2011.
- ↑ "Reader Rabbit". www.reader-rabbit.com. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
- ↑ Jinny Gudmundsen, USA Today. "Reader Rabbit hops over to the Wii." May 29, 2011. Retrieve June 7, 2011.
- ↑ "Reader Rabbit". www.reader-rabbit.com. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
- ↑ http://www.gspsupport.co.uk/media/patches/RRR4-6.pdf
- ↑ Jinny Gudmundsen, USA Today. "Reader Rabbit hops over to the Wii." May 29, 2011. Retrieve June 7, 2011.
- ↑ Discovery Education. "Reader Rabbit Learn to Read with Phonics: 1st & 2nd Grade." October, 2002. Retrieve November 4, 2016.
- ↑ http://vztimg.exent.com/Prem/products/302450/manual.pdf
External links
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Wikiquote has quotations related to: Reader Rabbit |
- Official Website
- Reader Rabbit Software and Workbooks - The Learning Company
- Reader Rabbit at MobyGames