Reader Rabbit Wiki
Reader Rabbit Wiki
Reader Rabbit Wiki
926
pages
in: Games, Grade-based games, Remakes and re-releases,
and 10 more

Reader Rabbit Preschool

Edit

Reader Rabbit Preschool (originally stylized as Reader Rabbit's Preschool) is a computer game in The Learning Company's Reader Rabbit series of children's educational games, released on July 9, 1997. It is a remake of Reader Rabbit and Friends: Let's Start Learning!, with updated graphics and four more activities (making eight total). A second version, featuring two more activities (making ten total) and a different plot, was released on June 26, 1998.

Versions & Plots[]

Version 1.0[]

The first version of the game, commonly referred to as the "carousel version," consists of the same plot as Let's Start Learning!, focusing on Reader Rabbit, Mat the Mouse and the player freeing Wonder Pony by using keys and visiting the Learning Kingdom.

Version 2.0[]

The second version of the game, commonly referred to as the "carnival version," consists of a completely different plot, in which the player helps Reader Rabbit, Sam the Lion and Mat the Mouse fix up a ruined Carnival Park and earn tickets to enjoy the rides. This version is also implemented in the personalized version of the game.

Characters[]

Voices[]

  • Jeanne Hartmann - Reader Rabbit
  • Laura Rice - Mat the Mouse
  • Pete Shoemaker - Sam the Lion
  • Megan Woodruff - Tally Cat, Counting Club Critters
  • Greg Walsh - Ben the Ant, Mit the Monkey, Ed the Dog, Scraps
  • Jon Olson - Arno Moose
  • Sean O'Kane - Body Builders Emcee
  • Debbie Rogers - Wonder Pony/Carousel Pony
  • Sarah Chapman - Counting Club Critters
  • Kalyn Jang - Counting Club Critters
  • Meredith Johnson - Counting Club Critters
  • Samantha Johnson - Counting Club Critters
  • Spencer Johnson - Counting Club Critters
  • Marissa Kochan - Counting Club Critters
  • Jeffry Lee - Counting Club Critters
  • Jenna Rose - Counting Club Critters
  • Scott Shoemaker - Counting Club Critters
  • Caleb VanRhee - Counting Club Critters
  • Alison Drago - ABC Diner Patrons
  • Katie Drago - ABC Diner Patrons
  • Melissa Drago - ABC Diner Patrons
  • Lonnie Eschler - ABC Diner Patrons
  • Scott Fischer - ABC Diner Patrons
  • Deanna Rischer - ABC Diner Patrons
  • Irene Trapp - ABC Diner Patrons
  • Rachel Trapp - ABC Diner Patrons
  • Rebecca Wink - ABC Diner Patrons

Activities[]

Each activity rewards the player with keys/tickets. In Version 1, four keys are required from each activity to unlock Wonder Pony from the carousel. In Version 2, four tickets are required from each activity to repair the carnival rides.

  • ABC Diner (renamed to ABC Café in the UK version)
    • Gameplay: Find ingredients that start with a certain letter or letter sound for Ed the Dog to prepare the dish.
    • Skill(s): Matching Letters & Sounds
    • Pony Part Affected by Keys (Version 1.0): Head
    • Carnival Ride Repaired by Tickets (Version 2.0): Moose Coaster (Moose Roller Coaster)
    • Side Activity: Zany Zoom In
      • Gameplay: Click on various parts of the scene to get a closer look, then click inside the circle to look even closer.
      • Skill(s): Exploration
  • Counting Club
    • Gameplay: Find and count up the number of Counting Club critters Tally Cat shows you.
    • Skill(s): Counting
    • Pony Part Affected by Keys (Version 1.0): Tail
    • Carnival Ride Repaired by Tickets (Version 2.0): Bumper Cars
    • Side Activity: Hide & Seek Art Gallery
      • Gameplay: Find Reader Rabbit hiding in one of five pictures in the art gallery.
      • Skill(s): Searching & Finding
  • Pattern Parade
    • Gameplay: Create patterns by moving animals into position in the parade line by uniform color, size, or instrument.
    • Skill(s): Completing Patterns
    • Pony Part Affected by Keys (Version 1.0): Back Body
    • Carnival Ride Repaired by Tickets (Version 2.0): Teacup Parade (Teacups)
    • Side Activity: Crazy Costumes
      • Gameplay: Dress up Reader Rabbit and Mat in various costumes.
      • Skill(s): Mix & Match
  • Shape Shack (renamed to Shape Shed in the UK version)
    • Gameplay: Sort Mit's toys by placing them into the correct stack of boxes.
    • Skill(s): Sorting by Sound & Shape
    • Pony Part Affected by Keys (Version 1.0): Front Body
    • Carnival Ride Repaired by Tickets (Version 2.0): Ferris Wheel
    • Side Activity: Body Builders
      • Gameplay: Assemble body parts to build a character and win a prize.
      • Skill(s): Mix & Match
  • Mouse Match (only in Version 2.0)
    • Gameplay: Look under the mouse cards to match the pairs.
    • Skill(s): Matching Sounds, Letters, & Shapes
    • Carnival Ride Repaired by Tickets: Carousel
    • Side Activity: Coloring Clowns (renamed to Colouring Clowns in the UK version)
      • Gameplay: Color a selection of up to eight pictures of circus clowns.
      • Skill(s): Colors & Creativity

Songs[]

* Only appears in Version 2.0.

Personalized Version[]

On June 28, 1999, a personalized version of Reader Rabbit Preschool was released, which added the use of A.D.A.P.T. Learning Technology and the Personalized Learning Center as a second disc. This version is based on Version 2.0, featuring the carnival. In 2000, another version was released, featuring the Treehouse Launcher and the Learning Creations program.

Trivia[]

  • The first version of the game, along with Let's Start Learning!, is the only version of the game in which Wonder Pony talks.
  • In the UK, Version 1 uses the same title and "flying chalkboard" title sequence as the US version, but is otherwise unchanged from the UK dub of Let's Start Learning!. This is also the case with the Spanish version. This is most likely because the creators didn't have time to redub what was used in the US Version in UK English or Spanish.
    • Additionally, the title sequence has been scaled down from the 640x480 screen resolution of the late 1990s games to fit the original 512x384 resolution of Let's Start Learning!, causing it to lower in quality, except for the game's logo and copyright information text.
    • Also, the chalk and eraser on the chalkboard tray from the game's logo are on the right side instead of the left side. Therefore, this makes the logo match the one shown on the cover.
  • Many of Mat's animations from this game are re-used in Reader Rabbit: Playtime for Baby. Her idle animation was also used in Reader Rabbit Toddler, but with complex shading.
  • Version 2.0 re-uses various clickable surprises from Reader Rabbit Kindergarten as well as having a similar menu layout.
  • In the 2000 release, the scene where Mat takes out Pop for the sign-in is omitted, as the sign-in screen appears before the main game rather than after the intro sequence. This is also the case with other grade-based games aimed at 3 to 8 year-olds that were re-released in 2000.
  • Version 2.0 removes the path pointers from the activity locations.
  • The image on the cover of the UK Personalised version is mirrored.
  • A beta image of the main menu appears on the back of the 1998 box.
  • Version 1.0's disc art shows Reader holding a key whereas Version 2.0's disc art, as well as the inside of the box and the back of the jewel case cover shows Sam wearing a top hat which he does not wear in-game.
  • The "0" doesn't appear in the original UK Version's title screen's copyright information. This also happened on the Spanish version.
  • In the prologue of Version 1.0, there are a few differences between this version and "Let's Start Learning". In "Let's Start Learning" when Reader examines the key, he doesn't say anything but in Version 1.0 of this game, he wonders what the key is for and Mat points to the keyhole while saying "I think it goes here". Reader then says "I knew that". Additionally, Wonder Pony's voice clips have been re-dubbed.
  • The back of the original UK jewel case cover had a grayscaled chalkboard rather than a coloured one.
  • Some of Mit the Monkey's player gratitude quotes were recycled from Reader Rabbit's Interactive Reading Journey 2.

Quotes[]

  • Mat: Look! A carousel! I want to ride that pony.
  • Reader: I wonder what this key is for?
  • Mat: I think it goes here.
  • Reader: I knew that.
  • Mat: Play the skill house games. Find each carousel key. Unlock the Wonder Pony, and play the game with me.
  • Tally Cat: Click on the eyes and then count out loud.

Dialog Differences[]

UK Version[]

  • "Carousel" is changed to "Merry-Go-Round".
  • "Diner" is changed to "Cafe".
  • "Shack" is changed to "Shed".

Gallery[]

Screenshots[]

Other[]

References[]


See also[]

Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.