Although the
activities in this computer game for preschoolers are not
particularly original, Little Bill Thinks Big is a
title with integrity, gentle challenges, and decent replay
value. Based on the Nick Jr. television series created by
Bill Cosby, the program offers preschoolers a peaceful
workout in early thinking skills--ones that are particularly
necessary for success in math. Children are greeted by
Little Bill, who asks for help creating a big surprise for
his family. Children explore his house, uncovering fun
clickables, little educational games, and the program's five
featured activities. They earn objects like pinwheels and
watering cans needed for constructing the surprise.

The surprise
depends on what season players have selected at the
beginning of the game. They make a scarecrow in Autumn and a
snowman in Winter, for example. Of course, kids can replay
the game once they've completed the surprise by selecting a
different season.

The featured
activities exercise children's logical thinking skills. They
put pictures in logical order to form a story, group aliens
according to common attributes, construct tunnels for a
hamster by matching colors and shapes, create cookies
identical to the ones already decorated, and match numerals
with sets of objects as they propel Bill on his
submarine.

Earning
objects for the surprise is fairly easy. If children decide
they want to play each activity beyond the prize point, they
will reap the most benefits from the game. Why? Because the
activities advance in difficulty gradually. If children
display mastery of a particular level, they are advanced to
the next one. Similarly, if kids are struggling with a
higher difficulty level, they are kept at a comfortable
level of challenge.

The first
screenshot at left shows the cookie decorating activity in
which children add decorations to a cookie in an attempt to
match the given cookie. The second screenshot shows one of
the sorting challenges in the Alien game. Children arrange
photographs in the family album, creating stories in
chronological order in the third screenshot.

Again, this
title is well-designed and provides a positive environment
for learning. However, the game loses a few points for lack
of originality in terms of activities. We love the fact that
children can play the game in different seasons of the
year--it not only exposes them to the whole concept of
seasons, it also extends the game's life. There is also a
strong and constructive theme of sharing: kids are
encouraged to make surprises for their own families
after helping Bill do the same for his family.

Pros:

Well-designed,
encouraging software for preschoolers.

Gradually advancing
difficulty levels adjust automatically.

Original voices from the
television show.

Decent replay value.

Cons:

If your software collection is
fair-sized, you will find the featured activities resemble those in
other games for preschoolers.