LeapReader
© 2013 LeapFrog
The dream of touch-and-hear reading has never been better, in the form of the LeapReader. It's as if you put a reading teacher, inside a child's pen who patiently waits to sound out a word, or -- for young children, sound out each letter. LeapReader ($50, www.leapfrog.com) represents a mashup of previous devices. You may remember the original LeapPad from the '90s, the short-lived FLY Pentop Computer (2005 or so) and you've undoubtedly seen the still viable battery operated $35 Tag Reading System. The new LeapReader works just like the Tag, using a tiny infrared camera to scan an array of nearly invisible dots on each page, so that the onboard computer can accurately pinpoint the location of the pen tip. You'll need a connected computer to download new content. So what's different? Rechargable batteries that you can charge from your computer, more memory, and improved speakers for playing music or listening to stories. The onboard 256 MB of storage represents an 8x boost over Tag, so no cartridges are required. This means the ability to hold more content, which is either onboard, or can be purchased from LeapFrog's online store. If you already own Tag content, your LeapReader will work ... in addition Tag will work with LeapReader content, except the writing books. A new set of writing activities requires specialized workbooks made of pressure sensitive paper, designed exclusively to work with the LeapReader's steel tip. So it can write, sort of; but you still can't use one to sign a check.
$50, Smart Toy
Teaches: reading, writing, phonics