'My First Amazing World Explorer' is a wonderful learning adventure around the world that any child will love going on.

Before you can start travelling you need a passport (of course) so you must choose your photograph and fill in your details, this will then be stamped whenever you visit a new country. Your journey starts in the bedroom, which has access to the main features of the programme, the train will take you on a brief tour of these.

Almost immediately the telephone will ring, you must find it and answer it. The call is from your friend Joe to say that he has left a parcel in your bedroom and can you deliver it to him. The catch is that he has gone on a world tour with his parents, you are then invited to begin the Globetrotter Game. Should you accept the challenge you will be able to choose which level you would like to play at. Joe then gives you the first clue as to his whereabouts, click on where you think he is to see if you are right, if you are you will find that he has already moved on to the next destination. Basically, this is like a treasure hunt where you follow the various clues until you find the prize (in this case it is Joe). At each destination you will have your photo taken, which is then stored in your Globetrotter Logbook.

When you return to the bedroom there are many other interesting features to explore. The main one is the World Map, this has amusing animations and sounds as well as amazing graphics and the more you click on the more you will learn. Information cards pop up as you click on items and if you are lucky there will be a sticker there for you to collect or even a film for you to watch. Throughout the map you will see little planes and boats, if you click on these you are given a choice of destinations. You will be then taken to the destination of your choice and told how far you have travelled and how long the real journey would have taken.

Back in the bedroom you cou
ld choose to play some of the games available, these vary from a general knowledge quiz (you can chose the level) to Plan a picture. Various geographical concepts are learnt whilst playing these games including compass directions.

If after all the excitement you are feeling lazy (who doesn?t) you can sit and watch a video on the TV in the bedroom. The carousel holds the videos that you can choose from, these include narrated discovery tours or real life films, all of which are very informative and educational.

All through the CD the information is read out aloud letting the younger children access the information without an adults help. The instruction booklet is very easy to follow and also has some wonderful ideas for further activities. As usual with Dorling Kindersley it is wonderfully designed with captivating animations, magical sounds and easily navigated screens. This CD is sold as suitable for 4-9 year olds and it certainly caters for children of all the differing ages and abilities.

Matthew (7) and Kyle (4) love this CD and often choose to play it , Matthew is on it as I am typing this from the sounds of the music he is now in China. It has taught Matthew where a lot of landmarks like Mount Everest, Eiffel Tower and Sydney Opera House are, and he now understands where we are in relation to everything else. Kyle loves sitting and listening to the music and watching the videos about all the different animals and where they come from. It is definitely an entertaining programme and I would recommend anybody with young children to buy it as it is well worth the £19.99 that it costs.