JumpStart Artist (Knowledge Adventure) combines a set of games about shapes, colors, art appreciation, movie making, and more with a very cool set of free form art tools for young artists (ages 5-8). For example, kids help Hopsalong the Rabbit (a character familiar from other JumpStart titles) to follow models or "blueprints" to put together inventions. Like most of the games in this package, this game has three levels. On the first level, the invention consists of just putting shapes in the same positions to make the same animals or objects that Hopsalong makes. On upper levels, this gets much more complicated, with kids having to consult a color wheel to make their invention just the same color as the model or to have all the parts turned just the right way. Frankie the dog also hosts a set of cartoons that need certain sections of scenes to be drawn. Kids add details to the drawings and they become part of the cartoon (although this has been done better in other programs in which the drawings actually become animations, such as in Orly's Draw-a-Story from Broderbund). The other games-a matching game that leads to a little art appreciation and an art "expedition" where CJ the frog collects items in an arcade style game-seem a little out of sync in this package. Nevertheless, they're great ways to get kids thinking about art. The true gem in this program, however, is the Studio Toolbox where the creative art tools reside. Kids can use onscreen versions of oil paint, watercolors, colored chalk, charcoal, colored pencils, tempera paint, and a blend tool. Open the Quilting Drawer of the Toolbox and kids can make an onscreen quilt complete with buttons, appliqués, trims, patterns, textures, and other assorted surprises. (Try printing the kid's creation on fabric for stunning results. Don't know how? Email us and we'll send you a set of directions.) Try the Collage Drawer for cool stamps, hieroglyphics, papers, and patterns to combine into stunning creations. There's even a puppet drawer with puppet parts that can be combined into lots of hilarious characters or more serious players. Don't forget to try the stick and shadow puppets; they're great for book report projects! The Toolbox is the meat of this program-be careful kids don't get bogged down in the games on the way to stretching their creative muscles.