Woof Woof! Our beloved big red phonics friend Clifford is now available on the LeapFrog Leapster. The edutainment game is for the pre- and beginner reader. Clifford Reading features 4 different educational games. The games are age appropriate, focusing on Phonics, Handwriting, Letter and Word recognition, as well as Spelling and Rhyming. An automatic leveling system ensures that young players advance at an individual and appropriate pace. The game gives verbal directions again and again if the player is stuck or needs help. Players can also press the dedicated “Hint” button on their Leapster. The game is virtually free of failure or disappointment. Clifford the Big Red Dog Reading also uses little cartoons to encourage the player to carry on. The game is slow paced. Younger players are likely benefit from that, where as, the older player (5-6+ years) may become bored quickly. There is a reward system; the child earns a joke (“Why shouldn’t you tell jokes when ice skating?.......The ice may crack up!!!”) when they complete four mini games. We would have liked to see the mini game to joke ratio a little lower, especially considering the young target audience and the time it takes to complete four mini games.