Game Description

Yearn 2 Learn: Master Snoopy's Math features voice narration and three learning components including Darts, Cookie Time and Great Pumpkin Patch. Difficulty settings are adjustable to accommodate the age of your child.

The Darts game involves throwing two or three darts at a numbered board and a second player can be added for a little multiplayer challenge. Once the darts have been thrown, players add their scores and whoever has the most points is declared the winner. Additionally, there's a scoring bar that tests skills on ten basic math problems connected with this module.

In the Great Pumpkin Patch game, Linus needs help in weighing various sized pumpkins. When he throws pumpkins on the scale, the player must match the different sizes with a legend explaining the different weights. Again, there's a scoring bar that tests addition and multiplication skills with questions involving total scale weight. If answered correctly, the player is awarded a star while incorrect answers earn an X. At the end of the test, Snoopy accumulates the score with a percentage of correct answers.

Finally, Cookie Time provides a lesson on sharing. Charlie Brown and his friends are ready to indulge in some freshly baked cookies but, alas, they can't decide how many cookies each should receive. With varying amounts of cookies on each character's plate, the scoring bar asks multiplication questions based on how many friends there are and how many cookies each has. The game also uses basic division problems to further mathematical abilities.

Like the other titles released in this series, Yearn 2 Learn: Master Snoopy's Math has received a Parents' Choice Honor Award and features voice acting and narration. ~ Matthew House, All Game Guide

Roots & Influences

The Best of Yearn 2 Learn educational series features cartoon favorites such as the Peanuts Gang and The Flintstones. Topics in the series include spelling, math, art, reading and vocabulary among others. ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

Review: Enjoyment

The game is fairly enjoyable and has just enough spunk to hold kids' attention without being too boring or too difficult. ~ Carolyn Jones, All Game Guide

Production Credits

Executive Producer: Dominique F. Claessens VIII

Product Manager: Jethro Villegas

Programming & Animation: The Peanuts Gang

Narration: Dorothy Barton

Additional Graphics: Josephine Villegas

Art Direction: Joe Ferreira

Documentation: Larry Colker

Special Thanks: Deborah Berland, Terry R. Schussler, Lucinda Karstedt, Sherwood Forest Elementary School of Winston-Salem, NC and helpful students

Tested by: Dominique IX, Kara Beth, Kristopher, Fontine, Gemma, Shanon, Sam, Quin, Team Leslie & Michael, Molly, Warren, Peter, Mary, Bryan, Sally, Walter, Lisa, Jane, Claudia, Georgia, Liz, Team Jeremy, Cindy, Tim, Chloé ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

Yearn 2 Learn: Master Snoopy's Math animates basic addition, multiplication, and division problems, using the context of Charles Schultz's world of Peanuts. Each game is structured as a visual story problem designed to help kids see the real-world applications of the math being taught.

In Cookie Time, players have to either divide a pile of cookies between two or more Peanuts' characters, or pile each character's plate of cookies into one big pile. In addition to the animation, the problem is written out as a story-problem sentence in the traditional "3 X 2 = ?" format. Multiplication and division are the skills practiced, but the context of sharing cookies helps explain the meaning of abstract symbols and apply math to a real-life situation. Both the Pumpkin Patch and Darts games use the same strategy as well.

The program is geared towards the upper end of the advertised 3-10 age range. Although each game can be played at levels ranging from 1-10 (10 being the hardest), replay value decreases for younger students. The multiplication and division problems aren't appropriate for children who haven't yet seen them in school. Even in the addition games, numbers can get very large, thus three and four year olds may be able to work on problems in the lower levels, but will get stumped on the higher levels.

The animation in the games is fun as well as functional. For example, in the Darts addition game, gamers can change Snoopy or Woodstock's stance when throwing the dart. The cartoons have over eight different throwing poses, including leaning forward, under-the-leg, and tiptoe. In some cases, the animation graphics cover numbers or letters, making them impossible to read. An adult will be able to figure out the numbers, but children still learning can be frustrated.

Another gripe is the somewhat shameless advertising in the game. A large red Snoopy doghouse is placed in the center of the main screen with the buttons to the three math games. Parents and children alike can easily mistake the doghouse for another game, but it's actually an ad for supplements to the Yearn 2 Learn Peanuts' series. Scaling down the size of the doghouse or clearly labeling it as advertising would make the game feel less commercialized.

The program is a useful supplement for 3rd-5th grade school mathematics because it provides real-world examples and uses cartoons to keep kids' interest. Despite the aforementioned problems regarding difficulty for younger children and animation glitches, the game serves as a good tutorial for kids who need practice to reach their grade level in math. ~ Carolyn Jones, All Game Guide

Review: Graphics

Animated cartoons add elements of fun to the game, but, in some places, graphics obscure important letter or number symbols. ~ Carolyn Jones, All Game Guide

Review: Sound

Math problems are read aloud. Verbal feedback is given for right and wrong answers, ranging from cheers of "yaaaay!" to sighs of "bummer, man." ~ Carolyn Jones, All Game Guide

Review: Replay Value

Replay value increases with player's age. The games are interesting enough that kids may want to play the same level a few times. ~ Carolyn Jones, All Game Guide

Review: Documentation

The manual gives a small picture of each game screen and describes each icon, as well as installation instructions and troubleshooting help. ~ Carolyn Jones, All Game Guide