Book Buddy
© 2010 Scobre Press
A good idea, but poorly implemented, Book Buddy is a small, mouse-sized digital audio player and a book. The idea is to start the audio, and follow along with the text; listening through the included headphones. This is a good way to connect reading and listening, however, the hardware is hard to use, and the batteries drain quickly if you don't remember to turn off the player. The stories are narrated with a human voice with sound effects. It is possible to skip through the story by pausing, fast-forwarding, rewinding or skipping directly to any chapter. Two books come pre-loaded on the device, and are included in the $30 price: Home Run (reading level 3-4) and Touchdown (Level (5-7). There are 15 titles in the series including Bold Moves: A Dancer's Journey, Full Speed Ahead, and The Biz. Prices are $30 for the Book Buddy with one title (two levels), $70 for six copies of any Future Star Series title, and $300 for the entire library of 15 titles. Includes batteries and headphones.
$30, Smart Toy
Teaches: reading
CTR Rating: 42.5%