Review: A child's introduction to interactive fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 1, 2014
I've read a number of interactive novels on my Kindle, and I've enjoyed seeing how outcomes of the story depended on the choices I made. I've also reviewed some illustrated interactive adventure stories for children, but most of these were for older kids in the 8-10 years age group or thereabouts. "Elphie, Help Me!" is one of the few that I've seen that's suitable for beginning readers or kids whose parents are reading to them. The interactive choices are simple: Elphie can use either his trunk or his body to help get a friend or himself out of predicaments. Elphie's chief nemesis was Lenny the Leopard, who verbally abused the other animals and made fun of them. But Elphie had the last laugh as he and the other animals learned how Elphie used his natural abilities to help others and gain self confidence.It's good bedtime reading for youngsters as they pick up some valuable life lessons about being comfortable with themselves and their own abilities.