Leapster Explorer Mr. Pencil Game Review

The Mr Pencil series is quite an innovative Leapfrog created game.

While other games for the Leapster Explorer may have big names to attract kids, this is one of Leapfrog’s own in house designed games and so may not seem like the most likely choice to purchase kids but it has the potential to engage kids in ways that others cannot.

Gameplay

In Mr Pencil Saves Doodleberg, players must travel around the city of Doodleberg, fixing signs that were erased when a giant twister came through town.

Children need to draw and write their way around the town and tasks include recreating letters and numbers as well as art concepts like color combinations, scale and perspective drawing. 

Mr Pencil is the main guide but he also brings in other friends when specific instruction is needed on art techniques.

There are a number of tools and templates kids can use to accent the art they create and while it is not Photoshop, the game produces some nice creations. Kids can also put their drawings together to create a flip book animation.

Its quite and inventive game and encourages creation more than other games in the Leapster Library and is recommended for ages 4-7.

Thankfully, the illustrations on the screen are reminiscent of children’s drawings which is an important factor when trying to encourage kids to draw.

More complicated images may discourage reluctant artists from creating their own illustrations so these illustrations will make kids feel at ease.

Leapster Explorer Game:
Mr. Pencil Saves Doodleburg

A pair of twisters has erased the signs, shapes and lines of Doodleburg! Learn how to write and draw as you join Mr. Pencil and friends to return the town to its former glory.

Create your own art using cool tools, colours, filters, stamps and effects.  Become an animator by creating your own flip book.

As you play, you can earn badges for your achievements which can then be converted into LeapWorld tokens where you can customise your Mr Pencil game.  Or use your tokens in LeapWorld where you can adopt a pet, play games and earn rewards.

With Leapster Explorer the game dynamically adjusts the curriculum to the player’s skill level so it’s not too easy and not too hard.

Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog Learning Path to see what their child is playing and learning, and explore ways to expand their child’s learning journey.

Teaches:

 - Writing letters
 - Writing numbers
 - Pencil control
 - Understanding colour
 - Creating animation
 - Drawing lines, shapes and objects
 - Understanding scale and perspective
 - Number writing
 - Art and drawing

LeapFrog Leapster Explorer Learning Game: Mr. Pencil

LeapFrog Leapster Explorer Learning Game: Mr. Pencil Rating:
List Price: $24.99
Sale Price: Too low to display.
Availability: unspecified

Product Description

Learn how to write letters and numbers and create art as you help Mr. Pencil and his friends save the town!
- Help save the town by writing letters and drawing lines, shapes and objects.
- Create your own art using cool tools, colors, filters, stamps and effects.
- Become an animator by creating your own flip book.
- Teaches letter writing, number writing, shapes and art and drawing. Appropriate for children ages 4 to 7 years (grades pre-K to 1).
- Only for Leapster Explorer.

Details

  • Mr.Pencil and his toolbox pals have arrived to help the Doodles restore their town
  • Learn how to write and draw as you join Mr.Pencil and friends to return the town to its former glory
  • An expanding library of games goes beyond school skills to creativity and life skills
  • Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog Learning Path to see what their child is playing and learning
  • For use with LeapFrog Explorer only. Not compatible with any other LeapFrog System.

Leapster Explorer Disney Princesses Game

The Disney Princess phenomenon is a certified success worldwide. By combining all their princess characters into one franchise Disney have hit on a winning formula for young girls.

The Disney Princess line focuses on the major women in the most famous of Disney movies, including Belle from Beauty and The Beast, Cinderella, Mulan, Pocahontas, Ariel from The Little Mermaid, Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, Tiana from Princess and the Frog, Snow White and Jasmine from Aladdin.

The Leapster Explorer Disney Princesses Game features just two of those figures, Cinderella and Belle as they guide players through a magical pop up story world and learn about letter recognition, early reading and basic music.

Gameplay

Set up as a pop-up story book premise the game moves players through various puzzles and mini-games in order to teach about aspects of letters, phonics and music.

Guided by Bella, Cinderella and other characters from their stories, such as Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast, children discover the main points of these concepts and practice what they have learned.

It seems like a simple concept but can become frustrating at times. The navigation through the game’s various areas can be confusing and it all seems a little less intuitive than the quality we are familiar with from Leapfrog.

Younger players will enjoy seeing their friends on the screen and will want to learn important skills with them but ultimately the game gets in the way of itself and loses some of that magical feeling.

If your child really loves the Disney Princesses over everything else, then it couldn’t hurt to try the game, but if they also like Tinkerbell then I would recommend that game instead.

Leapster Explorer Game:
Disney Princesses

Embark on a magical learning journey with Belle and Cinderella as you experience each of their beloved Disney stories in a pop-up book adventure!  You’ll see each princess in her world and discover secrets and surprises as you reveal new parts of her story. 

Help the princesses through quests, and play curricular mini-games   Learn about musical pitch as you help Lumiere welcome Belle to the castle.  Build words as you prepare Cinderella for the ball.

As you play, you can earn badges for your achievements which can then be converted into LeapWorld tokens where you can customise your Disney Princesses game.  Or use your tokens in LeapWorld where you can adopt a pet, play games and earn rewards.

With Leapster Explorer the game dynamically adjusts the curriculum to the player’s skill level so it’s not too easy and not too hard.

Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog Learning Path to see what their child is playing and learning, and explore ways to expand their child’s learning journey.

  • Letter recognition
  • Phonics skills
  • Reading comprehension
  • Spelling
  • Word building
  • Logic and reasoning skills
  • Matching skills
  • Musical rhythm and pitch

Where To Buy the Game

You can purchase the game from Amazon and if you add another item you can get them shipped for free with Super Saver Shipping for orders over $25.

LeapFrog Leapster Explorer Learning Game: Disney Princesses: Pop-Up Story Adventures

LeapFrog Leapster Explorer Learning Game: Disney Princesses: Pop-Up Story Adventures Rating:
List Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $20.32
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Eligible For Free Shipping

Product Description

Learn about music and get practice with phonics and early reading skills as you unlock the stories of Belle and Cinderella in this magical pop-up book adventure!
- Enjoy 7 mini-games that teach about music and early reading.
- Build words as you prepare Cinderella for the ball.
- Turn gameplay into reading fun with innovative art that simulates a real pop-up book.
- Teaches story comprehension, musical rhythm & pitch, phonics skills and letters. Appropriate for children ages 4 to 7 years (grades pre-K to 1).
- Only for Leapster Explorer.

Details

  • Take a magical journey with Cinderella and Belle through each of their exciting princess stories
  • Get practice with reading skills in a pop-up book adventure
  • An expanding library of games goes beyond school skills to creativity and life skills
  • Parents can connect to the online LeapFrog Learning Path to see what their child is playing and learning
  • For use with LeapFrog Explorer only. Not compatible with any other LeapFrog System.