My Very Own Talking Bear and Book

$25, Smart Toy

Teaches: reading, language

CTR Review

This talking plush Santa bear swaps lines of narration with a specialized six page printed book (and vice-versa). It can further blur a child's conception of Santa. You start by squeezing the bear's left paw (operated by 3 AAA batteries, included) to hear a clear, low, very Santa-like voice telling you "the book talks to me, and I answer." This makes sense, until you realize it is coming out of a six inch plush toy. Some fear that this type of technology could prompt the question "Daddy, is this bear really Santa?" We'll leave that answer to you. You start by flipping open one of the thick pages of the colorful book -- a story about the Bear-santa's quest to deliver gifts to the other animals. The book (powered by button cell batteries, included) starts out, reading the first paragraph of text. Each page is marked with an icon, which, when pressed, sends a radio signal to the bear, telling it what page you're on. It also sends radio signal to the bear, which tells it when to start reading. The book is colorful and the pages look as if they could survive in any pediatrician's waiting room. There are two titles available -- I Love You, Santa Bear and I Love You, Little Bear.