Fancy tracking down a missing world-famous professor and exploring history in a time machine?

Then Become A History Explorer, from Dorling Kindersley, is definitely for you.

On a visit to the professor's house, you find him gone. The rascally Time Fugitive has stolen his all-important "time trail" and it is up to you to travel back through time to uncover eight missing pieces of history, re-assemble the time trail and find the professor.

Gripping stuff, I am sure you'll agree. But is it enough to hold the attention of an active seven-year-old? Actually, it is.

The software is presented beautifully with plenty of fabulous animations and all the panache expected from Dorling Kindersley.

The story line is acceptable and there are plenty of games and activities to explore and enjoy.

There is a really comprehensive ancient treasure challenge offering a vast array of of multiple-choice questions to test the player's historical knowledge and impressive parents' and teachers' notes showing how to help children get the most from the CD.

The Travel Journal allows the user to keep records of his or her exploration and even to take daft pictures of himself or herself in historical costumes in various locations.

I also enjoyed the Time Detective and and History Maker features that offer a little more insight into historical subject matter.

Become A History Explorer offers a great way into history and makes the subject fun.

Each of the eight historical worlds is presented as an explorer's map, which provides a gateway to the information on the CD.

The Romans, the ancient Egyptians and the Incas all have a lot to offer and multimedia is a great way to see how these people lived.

Price: £19.99.

Contact: 01480 496600.

Feel good factor: 8 out of 10.