If you think talking books are just for tinies you should take a look at Mike Matson's Rusty
Dreamer. Here is a story with an interest level and reading age that are definitely
Key Stage 2. The sleeve notes describe this program as an interactive, multimedia, reading
experience... designed to provide independent reading practice across a wide ability
range... and to stimulate a range of work away from the computer in support of the
National Curriculum for English.
The package certainly has the potential to do all of this. The story takes the form of
a typical picture book with the top two thirds of each page being the illustration and the
lower third the text. Six different levels of text are available, offering short and long
versions of the story at three different reading levels. The range of complexity is
considerable with the total vocabulary for the simplest, short text being 2500 words while
the long text at Level 3 has a vocabulary of 24700 words. The program could thus be used
with the struggling reader in Year 3/4 or provide a considerable challenge to the most
able Year 6 pupil.
The top part of the page provides far more than just a picture. The illustrations are
an intriguing combination of still photographs, movies and animation and the reader is
drawn in, and given a feeling of being there, both by the panoramic views which can be
scrolled to give an all-round view and by the enchanting, rustic sound effects; bird song,
animal noises, church bells and so on. A pleasant female voice (with a middle England
accent) provides narration, an option which may be turned off if required.
As one might expect from a Mike Matson package, there is a booklet full of ideas for
use in the classroom and a multitude of associated worksheets offering extension
activities involving speaking, listening, reading and writing. An OS style map is
provided, setting the context for the story and this is available both on screen and in
paper form. On screen it is possible to zoom into the map and look at a smaller area in
greater detail and to view photographs of many specific locations.
The screen text is the same size at all reading levels and this is plenty large enough
for a pair or small group of children to work through Rusty Dreamer together, which
means that there are a number of slots in the literacy hour where the program might fit.
The multimedia format would certainly provide extra motivation for the reluctant reader
and the story itself (essentially a fantasy on the good versus evil theme) is gripping. My
one reservation is to wonder how boy-friendly this story is. The chief character is a girl
who does girlie things like working in an animal sanctuary, sketching and daydreaming.
Reluctant readers, usually boys, who might well be stimulated by this type of presentation
might, sadly, be turned off by the content. We could do with another story about Shiny
Doer. What about it Mike?
Rusty Dreamer, a triple format CD (for PC, Mac and Acorn), is available from:
Sherston Software Ltd, Angel House, Sherston, Malmesbury, Wilts SN16 OLH.
Tel 01666 840433
Fax 01666 840048
email: sales@sherston.co.uk
