My First Brain Quest [Misc. Supplies]

Chris Welles Feder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1999 | Age Level: 2 and up | Series: Brain Quest

First launched in 1992, Brain Quest is the bestselling series of question-and-answer cards that's helped over 14 million kids learn and have fun, too. And now the entire series has been revamped inside and out.

My First Brain Quest gives kids ages 2-3 a smart start with 400 questions to build your toddler's vocabulary, all in a snazzy new package that will dazzle kids and parents alike. Featuring bolder colors, new illustrations, full-color icons, and a more energetic design, Brain Quest looks as smart as it is. And, of course, each Brain Quest is still as portable as ever.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It's never too early to build a child's vocabulary, and the updated My First Brain Quest--designed specifically for 2- and 3-year-olds--is a fun way to get started. The tall, skinny plastic box contains three decks (the cards are attached so they fan out on a hinge) with a total of 400 questions, and a spongy, nontoxic Max toy monkey. The idea is to have the toddler bond with the monkey, so the child associates the cards with playtime! Deck One offers a full day with Max from the time he wakes up until bedtime. For example, a full-page cartoon of Max in his colorful toy-ridden bedroom asks, "Who just woke up? What is Max wearing? What do you see in his room?" The cards break down into smaller illustrations with object and activity identification ("What is Max doing? He's putting on his slippers" or "What is this called? A clock.") We follow Max through breakfast, school, music lessons, and more. Deck Two introduces children to seasonal activities, including trick-or-treating and playing on a snowy day. Deck Three explores the world, following Max from the mall to a picnic in the country to a farm. The Brain Quest series is a wonderful vehicle for parents to play and learn with their wee ones, and paves the way for a lifetime fascination with words. (Ages 2 to 3)

Review

"...Brain Quest is not only educational, it's also fun." -- Family Life

"Amazing...This quiz game is not only lots of fun, but educational besides." -- Money

"Surf, sun, school...yikes! If you're looking to clear the summer cobwebs from your child's head, check out Brain Quest." -- Child

"There's a game out there that doesn't need batteries-in fact, it runs on brainpower. It's called Brain Quest, and it proves that being smart can also be fun." -- Chicago Tribune

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Misc. Supplies: 75 pages
• Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076111517X
• ISBN-13: 978-0761115175
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 2.7 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #563,427 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brain Quests are great fun!, June 18, 2001

By 

Gowie "gowie" (CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My First Brain Quest (Misc. Supplies)

My older daughter loves Brain Quest, and I ordered this for my 2-1/2 year old son. They are great fun, and we often "play" with the decks instead of reading at night. Max the Monkey is fun, and my son enjoys looking at the pictures. I have been surprised at words he both does and does not know.

Some of the "answers" provided by Brain Quest are not words in a toddler vocabularly--for example, a picture showing what appears to be a box of crayons asks, "What are these called?" and the correct Brain Quest answer is "colored pencils." In another series of pictures, Max's slippers look more like shoes. However, these are minor things that are easily worked around--the parent can choose their own "right" answer. There way the questions are written easily lead you to make up your own questions.

The two things that could be improved upon: the is a 4" tall Max the Monkey included with the decks. It is supposed to be a child's playtoy, but it's made of FOAM. Needless to say, it was torn by the second day. Also, the plastic rivet that holds the cards together needs to be changed. It has the deck so tightly bound that I can't let my son turn the cards on his own--the cards would be terribly bent or torn. (The last Brain Quest I purchased had this same problem.)

Despite my negative sounding review, I am a big Brain Quest fan, and do like this Toddler's series. I would encourage any parent of a toddler to give this a try. Everyone learns from it, but in a fun, learning-through-play manner. The pictures are engaging, and a deck can easily be carried in a purse or backpack for outside the house.

The 2-3 year old guideline is appropriate. Very verbal, older 3 year olds will likely find this easy (which is great for their self-confidence), but may enjoy the challenge of the next level.

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brainy Toddlers, December 8, 1999

By 

[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This review is from: My First Brain Quest (Misc. Supplies)

How do you make a smart preschooler? You ask them questions about everything, help them develop keener powers of observation, and guide them to be pattern recognizers. My First Brain Quest will help build toddler vocabulary, will lead little ones to keener observations and will keep up interaction between adult and child. Caregivers and foster care parents will love the structure provided by the sturdy cards hinged with a plastic rivet that keep the cards together and handy for constant use. Folks who provide CDA training and foster parent training, as well as parent-child interaction instruction will appreciate the slow pace and good feeling engendered by the BrainQuest preschool cards. They're a great way to train parenting skills of interaction (rather than imperatives) because they are founded on questions. The box also holds Max the Plastic MOnkey for the kids to hold onto while answering the questions, although he will probably get gnawed on as well as held in the hand. In preschool children, the name of the game is vocabulary. Being able to name your world is to have power over it. Brainquest does just that in a compact way. Great for pediatricians' offices, hospital waiting rooms, and other places you find parents and bored kids spending unstructured time.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Holds his attention, May 4, 2005

By 

csmum "minieandc" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: My First Brain Quest (Misc. Supplies)

I bought these for my 1 1/2 year old son who loves picture books. He was instantly taken with "Max Monkey" and happily pointed him out on all the pages. My son was not so happy with the fact that he couldn't take the "Max cards" apart. Looks like this is a common theme in the reviews.

Anyways, the cards are educational, easy to read, great for taking in the car and cover a lot of topics (seasons, clothing, food). I don't mind that they don't come apart since they won't be lost. :)