Madeline's House

Subject: General
Category: Exploration
Ages: 4 to 8
# of players: 2 to 4
Time to play: 30 minutes
Mechanics/Game Type: Roll and Move

Ratings (1 to 5)

Educational Value: 2
Gaming value: 4
Aesthetic value: 4
Price value: 3
Ease of play: 4
Younger adaptability: N/A

My comments:
Madeline's House reminds me of a cross between Candy Land and Highlights Magazine's Hidden Pictures. You don't know if you are going to move forward or back until you find the hidden object! That's what makes this game exciting for the kiddos and they do enjoy it while they are young enough to play it.

The box, board and components are made of heavy duty cardboard that will last through multiple children.

I tend to be a little tough when evaluating educational value. Does this game teach anything to a four year old that any other game won't? Not really. Color recognition is key but most 4yo's already have their basic colors down. It is a really fun game though and does teach the basics of fair game play, taking turns and following instructions which is so important during the early years of game playing. If you are just looking for something fun to get your kids used to playing games, this is a great choice because it is a bit different than your typical roll and move board games.

BoardGameGeek.com link to this game:
http://boardgamegeek.com/game/11739

BibleMan Adventure Board Game, The

Subject: Math
Category: arithmetic
Ages: 4 to 7, 8 and up
# of players: 2 to 4
Time to play: 30 minutes
Mechanics/Game Type: Roll and move, pick up and deliver

Ratings (1 to 5)

Educational Value: 3
Gaming value: 3
Aesthetic value: 3
Price value: 4
Ease of play: 3
Younger adaptability: 5 (Game has two level design)

My comments: "Why is Bibleman listed under Math?" you ask. Though Christian values are integral to the game as you try to "rescue" kids and bring them to the church, the advanced game teaches great math skills. You roll and move 1 of 4 heroes (Bibleman, BibleGirl, Cypher, or Coats) around the board. When you land on the Docks, School, Refinery, Villain's Lair, Church, or BibleMan's Cave, you choose a villain card and do battle. In the basic game, you simply spin one of two spinners and if you land on the Bible icon you win--you pick an adventure card with a child that you have saved. In the advanced game, each hero and villain has a number next to 5 attributes (faith, love, truth, joy, patience, forgiveness for heroes; doubt, fear, lies, sorrow, rage, bitterness for villains.) You spin the U.N.I.C.E. spinner for the hero and the L.U.C.I. spinner for the villain to determine which attribute and what bonus will be used for the battle. Next you roll a red and blue die to determine the final sum for both the hero and the villain--whichever is higher wins. If the hero wins, s/he picks an adventure card and saves a child or gets armor enhancements for the next battle. You can see where all the math comes in! In either game, after collecting 6 saves, you drop the kids off at the church and then return to the BibleMan cave to win.

What is really great about this game is the 2-level design so that even younger gamers can enjoy it (my 4 y.o. has no trouble with it.) The board has an interesting elevated cardboard center with the spinners around which you place the standard playing board--interesting, yes, but the tabs on it keep the playing board from lying flat. My boys love battling the villains. Minimal reading is involved, and readers can read for non-readers without affecting the game play.

BoardGameGeek.com link to this game: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/19138

Granny's House

Subject: General
Category: N/A
Ages: 4 to 7
# of players: 1 to 6
Time to play: 30 minutes
Mechanics/Game Type: Co-operative Play

Ratings (1 to 5)

Educational Value: 4
Gaming value: 4
Aesthetic value: 3
Price value: 5
Ease of play: 5

My comments:

Should you use the rope to climb over that fence in your way or have the dog dig a hole under it? What about that sleeping bear, maybe we should leave him some candy in case he wakes up?These are things you will discuss and have to agree on with the other players in this wonderful co-operative game. There is only one pawn and everyone has to work together to get to Granny's House.

I estimate an average of 30 minutes for game play however because of the many obstacles, this varies greatly. I have found that when many obstacles send us back to start (making the game last more than 30 minutes) the children lose interest but this only happens rarely.

The 1986 version that we own is still around and kicking although the box is definitely falling apart. I've included a couple of photos because the link to BGG below is for the 1985 version and it looks quite different.

One more thing of note. All picture cards have both English and French words printed on them making this game suitable for readers, non-readers and fun review for those learning one of these as a second language.

BoardGameGeek.com link to this game:

http://boardgamegeek.com/game/7917