Document for:

                     KSHAPES.PRG--Kidshapes
                     (For Children Ages 2-8)

                               and

                  KSHAPESP.PRG--Kidshapes Plus
             (For Children Ages 8 and Up and Adults)

         Yet Another KIDPRG (#14 and #15!) in GFA Basic
                        by D.A. Brumleve


     Kidshapes,  a  graphics  design program patterned  after  my 
sons' magnet board sets,  comes in two versions.  The version for 
young  children features large targets for the mouse and  limited 
choices.  The version for older children (and adults!) includes a 
larger number of choices,  with the possibility of creating  more 
complex pictures,  and offers a "Flash" option:  selected squares 
on  the  design grid can be turned on and off for  a  variety  of 
effects. 

     Help files on the disk will get you started making  pictures 
and designs with Kidshapes.  (In Kidshapes Plus, separate help 
files are available in the  design and flash modes, so be sure to  
read  both.   Please instruct  all users to leave the disk in the 
drive at  all  times while  using  the program.   You should be 
aware  also  that  the pictures provided will be overwritten (and,  
thus,  lost) if  you choose  to save your own pictures to disk.   
For this  reason, I would  recommend  that you make a back-up copy  
of  the original disk.  I would also suggest that you provide each 
member of the family who will use the program with a personal copy.  
It is also a good idea to provide for autobooting if young children 
will use the  program.   I  have therefore provided  AUTOSHPS.PRG   
(for Kidshapes) and AUTOSHPP.PRG, which, when inserted in an auto 
folder  on  your Kidshapes disk, will load the program automatically 
when the disk is  inserted in Drive A and the reset button on the 
back of  your computer is pressed.  To take advantage of this option,
place your Kidshapes disk in Drive A and click the Drive A icon on 
your Desktop.  Then click "New Folder" in the File menu and type 
"AUTO" (no quotation marks).  Click "OK".  An AUTO folder will be 
created on your disk.  Now copy the appropriate AUTOSHP*.PRG into 
the AUTO folder. 

     Please note that this program,  while freely distributed, is 
not quite public domain.   It is offered to you as CAREWARE.   If 
you  enjoy using this program and would like to share the joy  of 
computing with others,  please send your tax-deductible  donation 
($10 suggested) to:

                       LEAL SCHOOL ST FUND
                  C/O 607 WEST ILLINOIS STREET
                        URBANA, IL  61801
                             U.S.A.

Please  make  your check payable to "Leal School".   (This  is  a 
public  elementary school in my neighborhood.)   Your  generosity 
will be most appreciated.  Thank you, and enjoy Kidshapes!

GEnie Address:  D.A.BRUMLEVE

Files Provided by the author:

Kidshapes:  KSHAPES.PRG--The compiled GFA Basic program.
            KSHAPES.DAT--This one stores your saved pics.
            KSHAPES.PI1--Degas file, the Kidshapes screen.
            SAMPLE.DAT--The sample of the house on the title screen.
            SAMPLE1.DAT--The sample of the car on the title screen.
            KSHAPES.TXT--This document.
            AUTOSHPS.PRG--Put this in an AUTO folder.

Kidshapes Plus:  KSHAPESP.PRG--The compiled GFA Basic program.
                 SHAPES.PI1--The Kidshapes Plus screen.
                 SHAPES.DAT--This one stores your saved pics.
                 SAMPLE.DAT--The sample of the house on the title.
                 FLASH.DAT--Info on what boxes flash on each pic.
                 KSHAPES.TXT--This document.
                 AUTOSHPP.PRG--Put this in an AUTO folder.

Only the .PRG and .PI1 are absolutely necessary for the program 
to run.  You must either have KSHAPES.DAT/SHAPES.DAT or 90000K
of diskspace on your disk to save your pictures. 

Commercial product:

MichTron has produced "PreSchool Kidprogs", a disk of three programs 
by the same author.  The disk includes Kidgrid+ (graphics design),
Kidkeys (on-screen piano/organ and tune-player), and Kidblocks
(multi-sided block puzzle), all available from an icon menu in an 
autobooting shell program.  Recommended for ages 2-6.                  

The KIDPRGS series by the same author (freely distributed):

     Graphics Design
                 Kidgrid
                 Kidgrid2
                 Kidgraph
                 Kidshapes
                 Kidshapes Plus
                 Kidsketch

     Desktop Publishing
                 Kidpublisher

     Music
                 Kidpiano
                 Kidnotes
                 Kidmusic
                 Makin' Aiken (Kidsong1)

     Games (well, I call them games)
                 Kidpuzzle
                 Kidmixup
                 Kidstory
                 Kidpotato