Multiplication tables are a huge issue for primary-school aged children (and beyond). Many a parent has bemoaned the lack of rigour in teaching tables these days, while many a child has bemoaned having to learn them at all.

A while ago I wrote a post about the importance of tables, and why children had to know them. I truly believe that they are a foundation for many of the next stages of maths. And everyone I spoke to agreed.

Steve Tranter and John Sanderson have latched onto the importance of tables - and the reluctance of children to engage with them.

"I have twin boys who were struggling with learning their tables," says John, who was once a teacher. "It wasn't just a case of them not being able to learn them, but more a case of them not understanding the reasons why they should be learning them."

John runs an audio and animation company, and so he decided to help. The result was Times Table Adventure, which is now my son's favourite set of DVDs! The strap line - "learning your times tables isn't the end of the world..Or is it?" - is absolutely brilliant, and the set of DVDs tells the story of a boy who can save humanity (and defeat the evil number cruncher, Zeta), but only if he learns how to multiply properly.

As you can imagine, the story is divided into episodes, which go up in numerical order. This is slightly unusual, because it means that the 3 and 4 times tables come before the 5 and 10s, which are usually learnt first in schools. But that is a minor point. Steve Tranter saw the potential of John's idea, and adds "this motivates and enthuses children."

It's certainly a clever idea, with the times tables woven into the story. It's very interactive too, with a quiz for each table, before you move on.

I'm an old-fashioned sort of person, and not always convinced that screen-based ideas are the answer to everything. I still think that Perfect Times, especially in card version, are a brilliant way to learn tables, and that schools ought to take the topic more seriously and ensure that the kids learn them really thoroughly. But I am impressed by Times Table Adventure, not least because every child I have shown the DVDs to has wanted to watch on. And that's not something you hear of very often when it comes to maths.....

The DVDs are now on sale and I think they will appeal especially to young boys. They're loud, fun and a little teeny bit scary. But they're not at all boring. And all this makes them something I'm very happy to recommend.

Sarah Ebner, The Times / Schoolgate

www.timestableadventure.com