by Ellen Adams

Children using the computer to write themes and essays now have a new handy tool on which to rely. Simon & Schuster Interactive has debuted a great online sourcebook for kids, the Macmillan Dictionary for Children.

Easy to install by simply clicking on the setup icon in a CD-ROM file list, the CD will create its own icon in a program group for Windows users.

To find any word instantly, you use the GO To function. Words are defined much as they are in hard-bound dictionaries, but entries are also hot linked, or connected to other words with interrelated meanings. Most entries have pictures, and some also have embellishing audio clips.

Clicking on words like helicopter, pig or cannon will product explosive sound effects. Word histories and language notes also accompany many of the dictionary entries, and when the user clicks on the words, the CD-ROM will also pronounce the entries.

The CD-ROM also has three word games--Spelling Bee, Hangman and Words Within-- which can be played solo or against a challenger. In Spelling Bee, the user clicks on the play word sign, and the CD pronounces a word to spell. If the player is correct, then the CD responds with applause and a "that's correct" animation. Words Within simply induces players to find the greatest number of words within words, and Hangman plays like the old stick figure game of the same name, except the graphics are much more impressive.

In environments like Windows, its easy to toggle back and forth between the dictionary and a word processing program, so writing impressive vocabulary-filled treatises should be a snap for well-equipped youngsters.

The Macmillan Dictionary for Children is very attractively packaged and well implemented. With its handsome graphics, it's super easy to navigate without relying much on text at all. It's a great way for early readers to get acquainted with language.

Simon & Schuster Interactive
1230 Avenue of Americas
New York, NY 10020