Description:
Birds twitter, didjeridoos moan, and an excited Ms. Frizzle hits the high notes as she explains the science of sound and teaches kids to listen creatively. On the bus, kids can hear what different sounds do in different locations with the Acoust-O-Matic, play Name That Noise with Mikey Microphone, or learn how sound travels in the Wild Waves experiment; there's even an ultrasound and an oscilloscope onboard. Outside there are more activities, and the kids take the concert stage with various instruments they play and explain. The program hums, roars, and ooompas right along. Sound is everywhere in this inspired, informative bunch of racket: jets whoosh above in the sky, and thunderclouds grumble. Two ingenious touches are a microphone kids can drag about the set to record sounds (it even produces feedback if you brush the cursor against it) and a pair of click-and-drag goggles that show how different sound waves look when they're laid over an instrument. Don't buy this expecting a music theory class--there's not a treble clef to be found unless you count the one on Ms. Frizzle's skirt--but for a child who's all ears, curious about how tape recorders work and why bats squeak, it's sure to hit just the right note. (For ages 6 to 10) --Anne Erickson
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