I just had the pleasure of testing out a new edutainment software program for kids called Mia Reading: The Bugaboo Bugs! Mia Reading is a series of educational games starring the cute mouse on the right. This is the first title I've had the chance to play, but I really enjoyed it.

More importantly, I think kids will enjoy it and actually learn without realizing they're taking a reading lesson! This game offers high-end graphics and a full cast of fun characters. What I really enjoyed about it was the fact that you can set every activity to a certain skill level. As your child advances, you can advance the program!

Here is the plot of the main storyline:

The Bugaboo Bugs! is about some incredibly troublesome bugs! Mia lives in a charming Victorian house where her family has lived for generations. The house has recently been invaded by pests—the Bugaboos.  These disrespectful, noisy and uncivilized bugs are going to attract the attention of the humans, and if they are noticed, the exterminators will be called and everyone will be put out on the street! The Bugaboos must go! And Mia needs the player’s help to find a way to get them to stay out of site.

It is obvious that a lot of creative talent went into this game. It isn't a cheap software program that was churned out so that Disney or Nickelodeon could slap one of their popular franchise characters on it. Instead, it offers original characters and interesting stories, in addition to being a well-constructed lesson plan.

Although Mia Reading: The Bugaboo Bugs! was designed for five to nine-year-olds, my almost three-year-old also loved it. He knows his alphabet and has started early phonics lessons, so there were several activities on the game that we could explore together.

For those of you who are homeschooling or would like to give your child some added phonics lessons, I highly recommend this program. Kids love to play on the computer, so you might as well sneak in some education!

Mia Reading games are available at Toys 'R Us and Apple Stores. You can learn more about the game at the official site.