Go Fish Gets Smart

This isn't the only alphabet-based Go Fish game around, but it sure is a well-designed one. School Zone's prices are designed to be low enough for schoolteachers, who often have to pay out of pocket for supplies their schools should be buying for them. Price plus good design makes a company stand out in a crowd, even in the extremely crowded educational materials market.

This Go Fish game features clean lettering in caps and lowercase and animals whose names (in most cases) start with the letter on the card. A mature specimen of the animal in question is featured on the capital card and a baby graces the lowercase one. Highly intuitive for young children, with animal types and colors both providing clues that help those who haven't yet memorized the alphabet, which is exactly who this game is for.

As a bonus - and a sign that School Zone products really are designed by educators - the same animal name is presented in all caps on the capitals card and in all-lowercase on the lowercase card. It may seem obvious when it's stated outright, but it's the little things like this that really help cement letter recognition. Lowercase letters are often underemphasized in helping kids learn the alphabet.

As for extrinsic motivation, this game can't be beat as far as Z's internal drivers are concerned. She takes GREAT satisfaction in reuniting mommies and babies, both in her charge and in the hands of others.

You can buy School Zone's Go Fish alphabet card game on their website for under $3; Amazon.com has an older edition of the same game (different graphics and colors, same concepts and features) for under $2.