Editorial Review

Designed for children in preschool through second grade, and easily portable, the Leapster multimedia learning system offers educational games, reading exercises, art tools, and interactive videos in one electronic device. Atop an ergonomic silver body sits a 4-inch, 12-bit color backlit display protected by a blue rubber shield. Slide a Leapster cartridge into the slot, and learn letters, sounds, colors, shapes, numbers, and more, using the touch-screen stylus and multi-directional control pad. This unit comes with a bonus cartridge of six learning games; other Leapster cartridges are sold separately. Control knobs let you adjust volume and brightness; there's also a stereo headphone jack. Required are four AA batteries, not included. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (293)

Best $$ ever spent-just bought 2nd
I wouldn't be able to praise this toy enough. We gave it to our oldest daughter last Christmas when she was 3 1/2. We were concerned because of the price but compared to a GameBoy we prefered the educational aspect. We have never regreted the purchase. She loves playing with it and has even mastered basic math skills well ahead of time. We had a problem with the screen not responding after about 6 months but it only took a quick email to Leap Frog and they replaced it with our only expense being a few dollars to ship it to them. They have excellent Customer Service. We would have even invested the money to buy a new unit if they hadn't replaced it. <br /> <br /> We have just purchased a unit for our 19 month old daughter because she always wants to share big sister's. I know the age is 4-10 but our little one just loves the characters and even though she doesn't totally understand what to do, she still loves playing. It has helped her to master control of the stylus and she is now much better at coloring too. We have a few extra cartridges and plan on expanding for Christmas. <br /> <br /> We haven't had a problem with battery consumption. This toy definitely hasn't eaten batteries nearly as quickly as others and my older daughter plays with it almost every day. She would play with it more if I would allow it. But we still plan on buying the recharging system too.<br /> <br /> I highly recommend the investment in the carrying case also.<br /> <br /> You just can't go wrong with this toy.

my grandson
I purchased the LeapFrog Leapster for my grandson as a Christmas gift when he was 2 years old. His mom gave it to him when we was 21/2, he absolutely loves it and has learned so much. I like the durability, educational theme and the add ons, it just keeps getting better and better.

Love It
My son was given this on his 4th b-day, he absolutely loves it and so do I! It has taught him alot and the only reason I rated a 4 and not a 5 is because of the battery situation!! Ouch!

Battery Eater!
My son got this toy for his 4th birtday. He truly loves it, but it's a battery eater! I cannot believe how quickly this toy drains 4 AA batteries. Thank goodness they are coming out with a recharging unit soon or we'd go broke!

BEST $ EVER SPENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've never written a review before, but feel I have to about this product. It is the BEST money spent on my daughter ever!!!! My daughter got this for Christmas when she was 3 1/2 years old. She has played with it every day. At night we read books to her and then let her do her Leapster for a little while. We just purchased The Letter Factory for our last trip....and she already knows ALL the letter phonics....it is just amazing!!!!! We have never had a problem with it in 7 months...and we just put new batteries in it for the first time. I so highly reccomend this toy!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The Leapster is BEST $ Spent
My daughter got a Leapster for Christmas along with the Dora cartridge....she was 3 1/2 years old. She has played with it every day. We have never had any problems with it and just changed the batteries for the 1st time at 7 months. We got her this kindergarden cartridge for her 4th B-day in May. It is amazing what she has learned!!!!!! We also just purchased The Letter Factory cartridge for our last trip....it has taught her all her letter phonics...and in such a short time!!!!!! Thank you Leapster for such an awesome educational toy!!!!!

The BEST cartridge by far!
This one is AWESOME and teaches so much~ I can't believe how much my little boy has learned. This one is his favorite by far~most like a video gane but 100% educational. Thanks Leap Frog for such great products!

What a Godsend!
My son is newly 5 years old. I first purchased the Leap Pad quite some time ago and it seems, even to this day, he's too young for it or he just gets bored of it quickly. I purchased the Leapster for Christmas and he LOVES it. On his birthday, I gave him the kindergarten software. (He will be going into Kingergarten this coming September). Its his FAVORITE one to date. Its like owning a video game, only EDUCATIONAL. He plays with it CONSTANTLY while learning his letters, numbers and even how to spell small words. I can't rave about it enough.

Leapster games are fun
My name is Skylar and I love to play the games I have for my
Leapster. My favorite one is Dora the Explorer. I love them all
though. I like the letter factory because it has taught me how
to say all of the letters in the alphabet. I really like the
drawing one also. I can't wait for the new games for my leapster
to come out. I also really need the battery pack also. My mommy
says she needs to buy stock in AA batteries. I Love Leapster

Leapster Kindergarten
I bought this for my niece she just learned english with in the last year and now because of leapster products she is learning math, numbers, letters and how to pronounce so many things. Her math skills are incredible ... Read more

Editorial Review

LeapFrog's range of educational toys is exceptional, and this interactive flipbook really has that "wow" factor. In the box it looks like an innocent book, but once assembled it provides absolutely hours of entertainment with a preschool teaching focus. The book reads the text to the child, then its magic pen allows the child to touch the text and reread difficult words. Rather like a computer game, the pictures in the page also respond to touch. Each page has two to three games on it where the child has to answer questions on the text or the pictures. The child only needs to respond with the pen, so children as young as 3 can easily play all the games. LeapFrog has made sure that this two-sided book packs in all the elements of a balanced preschool curriculum. Numbers, phonics, prereading, and numeracy skills come alive through the activities. Both nonfiction and fiction text are included with a variety of musical activities. There is even a volume control on each page for weary parents on those long car journeys! Be prepared with four AA batteries (not included) and a small screwdriver. The instructions included are not specific, but the illustrations on the box are self-explanatory. Perfect for a rainy day or a long journey, My First LeapPad provides great value for the money, as your child will be entertained and educated for hours. --Jo Fitzgerald

My First LeapPad is a sturdy unit with an integral speaker and a magic pen, which reads the spiral flipbook included with the set. Other books and cartridges can be bought and used with the same unit. My First LeapPad flipbook consists of both an interactive story introducing the characters of Leap and his family, and (once you have flipped the book) a selection of interactive games pages which encourage learning of numbers, colors, shapes, and music making. A pleasant and encouraging voice reads the story, which is written on the page, or if just one word is touched, the voice says that one word, encouraging word recognition. In game mode, the voice asks the child to find a specific number, color, or object and gives praise when the child succeeds. The pad is easy to use, provided children remember to always touch the Go button with the magic pen every time they turn a page. If they forget, the pen will read from another page, which causes much confusion! After a few tries, mine soon got the hang of it and could play independently. Everything is worked using the pen, including the volume control, and the pen is impossible to lose as it is attached securely to the unit. In comparison to their interactive PC games, the LeapPad failed to hold my children’s attention for prolonged periods, and although I found it amazing that the pen could recognize so many different words and objects, they were less easily impressed. There is no movement, unlike in a PC game. On the other hand, the unit is portable, so can be played anywhere, unlike the PC. The unit certainly has lots of educational value and is well made and durable. A large selection of interactive books can be purchased separately, so once the children are comfortable using the magic pen, they can try other activities. They can also choose more difficult material, ensuring that the pad grows with your child. --Rachel Elvidge

In common with other LeapFrog products, My First LeapPad is exceptionally well designed to be both educational and fun. The unit itself and attached pen are chunky enough for little fingers, and the single large button, integral carrying handle, and bright color will make it appealing and easy to use for preschoolers. My First LeapPad comes with a ring-bound book and accompanying cartridge which fit easily into the unit (you also need four AA batteries, not included). Placed right side up the book reads through a simple story, and when turned over the reverse sides contain a wealth of activities and games to play. For anyone who hasn’t previously seen the unique way that simply touching the pages with the pen produces voices and noises of all sorts, it seems like a miracle! Even for those who are familiar with it, it is still endlessly fascinating, and each page has lots of scope for discovery. The clear English voices read the story in sentences or single words as well as introducing games and activities involving music and instruments, shapes and color, reading, numbers, counting, matching, and much more. Each picture reveals a whole world of sound effects, voices, and speech from the characters according to the individual touches the child makes with the pen on the page. This makes play genuinely interactive and absorbing, and hugely valuable in terms of learning and pleasure. I recommend this product highly; it is suitable for all levels of learning between under 3 years and over 5, with each age range getting different benefits at different stages of development. --Caroline Parsons

My First LeapPad learning system by LeapFrog is a portable electronic toy incorporating the format of a flip-over book which teaches children to master skills such as writing, basic numbers, ABCs, phonics, listening, and comprehension. The desk layout includes a side handle and a special touch-sensitive pen which gives children the opportunity to develop the coordination required when they begin to write. With the pen the user can activate the different activities such as touching pictures to hear them come alive, touching words to hear them read aloud, playing a game by pressing the lily pad sign with the magic pen, activating a new page, listening to music, or adjusting the volume. The unit comes with an activity book, Leap’s Big Day. Leap is a frog with a happy voice and an English accent who introduces us to his family and different activities on each page. Although the toy is labeled for children aged 3 years and over, the activities are not incredibly difficult and would also suit a slightly younger child. For example, number work only goes up to five, and the page on what Leap will be when he grows up gives the child a number of pictorial choices and they have to select just one answer to say what a firefighter would need at work (hose, hat, boots), or what a doctor would need (stethoscope, white coat, etc.). All activities require use of the pen, which does require a steady hand at times. More books are available to buy separately, with titles such as Leap to the Moon, featuring Leap again, and Pooh's Honey Tree, which features Winnie the Pooh. The books are double-sided with a story side, which is interactive, and an activity side. The battery-powered toy provides preschoolers with a good introduction to interactive learning aids, including computers, and promotes readiness for reading and writing. --Sarah McNamara

This is a nice-sized interactive electronic learning game by LeapFrog. It consists of the LeapPad unit with carrying handle and a small, easy-to-maneuver electronic pen attached. There is a compact microchip unit which plugs into the side and a cardboard flipbook which attaches to the front. The book has two sides: a story side and an activity side. The sound is activated by touching the green Go circle on the page with the electronic pen. On the story side of the book this triggers a female English voice which reads aloud the words on the page. Your child can then touch each word with the pen to have these read aloud, or touch objects and characters on the page to hear them speak. There is a lily pad and a note symbol at the bottom of each page. When touched with the pen, the voice leads your child through games such as finding objects and people on the page. The activity side is centered on learning games such as parts of the body, colors, shapes, and counting. My First LeapPad is designed for preschool children to teach prereading and premath skills. It contains over 30 games and activities and is indicated to be suitable for ages 3 and over. My son will sit and play with the LeapPad on his own for a short time, but is only 3 and a half, and prefers me to help and guide him a little. My First LeapPad is a good learning aid and value for money as the flipbooks can be replaced with different books in the range to keep your child interested in learning. --Julie Illingworth

Learning to read has never been so fun, until now. This interactive system is an ideal tool for teaching various skills important in early years. My First LeapPad teaches ABCs, numbers, phonics, prereading skills, and premath skills. When children encounter the LeapPad for the first time, they may choose to participate in an interactive story book Leap's Big Day (included) or alternatively they may play 30 games and activities. If they choose a story they will be amazed at how involved they can become and how much they will learn. The games and activities on the reverse of the flipbook feature counting and singing songs as well as a section on parts of the body. The LeapPad comprises a spiral interactive flipbook that when used with the integral magic pen enables the story to come alive! The child may touch words and hear them read aloud or if they touch pictures in the story they too will make appropriate sound effects. This system is certainly an innovative concept that makes learning to read exciting while also challenging. --Tiffany Prescott ... Read more

Reviews (195)

The Leapster is better than this
This is frustrating to my daughter, because if the book isn't placed just right on the pad, it doesn't work correctly....if it is a little off, it will give an incorrect answer...when the answer was actually correct. I do however, highly reccommend the Leap Frog Leapster....it is amazing...and my daughter has learned so much from it....including the sound each letter makes. I also recommend the Leap Frog Phonics writing desk.

Great Ariplane toy too!
We purchased this a while back for my son who is now 3. He LOVES it. I enjoy watching match things too and seeing his little thought process at work. He also just went to Disney World and brought this on the plane. IT was GREAT to keep him occupied for the 2 hour flight. He loved showing the flight attendant how smart he is. :) I love the fact that it doesn't get old because you can buy different books to go with it so it's a toy that keeps on changing.

Fun But Not Durable
We bought this for our daughter when she was 2 1/2 years old. She loved it and we only allowed her to play with it when we were sitting with her. We were actively involved in teaching her how to use it. By the time she got the hang of it, just a few months later, it started not reading the cartridges. We would save money to buy additional books and by the time we had 3 the LeapPad was erroring out when reading from the cartridge.

Sometimes we can get it to work by blowing on the cartridge and the contact spot on the LeapPad and sometimes we end up wedgeing a paper in the hole with the cartridge. It seems to be the only way to get it to work.

In my opinion a product of this price should last longer than four months. I was sincerely disapointed to see no help on the website for how to fix this problem. Their warranty is only 3 months for this expensive kids toys.

My daughter has since learned to use the computer and it has served us much better than the LeapPad ever has.

Keeps My 3 Year Old Busy
My 3 year old daughter loves her My First LeapPad. She has spent countless hours playing with it. There are plenty of books to choose from and lots of activites in each book. We take it with on car rides and it keeps her busy. She has learned to change the books and corresponding cartridges on her own so it's not difficult to use. I highly recommend this product.

Junk
It's a real shame that this toy is so poorly constructed. It would be great if it would continue to work for more than a month. My children love it and we are working on our THIRD one and IT just broke. I reccomend skipping this skipping this toy and just investing in a computer and good software. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

GREAT GAME!
Our daughter, Mary, age 4, received the Leapster system and the Dora game for her birthday in June, and she absolutely LOVES them. They are great learning tools, but they are fun as well. We already had to replace the batteries, so I can't wait for the rechargable battery thing to be available in stores!

2-1/2 year old son zooms through level 1.
The 3 year old listed by LeapFrog is accurate. Our son was zooming through level 1 at 2-1/2 years old. Maybe our son is above average. Haha.

The Leapster products are AWESOME!

Thanks, Brett

Cute, a must for your Dora Fan!
This is a good cartridge if your child likes Dora the Explorer. My 4 year old son loves the show, so he really wanted this for his Leapster. I have liked all the cartridges so far, and I will keep buying them for him. The Leapster is a great idea for young children.

Great Game
My 4 year old GRandddaughter loves this Game for her leapster! I love the leapster game to BUT it's very fragile! I've returned it 3 times now. My granddaughter gets very upset when it just stops. No it's not the batteries. She's only 4 so she's not rough on things yet but it has been dropped on the carpet on one of the occasions. The others were just a mystery.

My 3 Year Old Loves This!!!
I have a 3 year old who is not ready for a Gameboy (NOT that I would rather her be playing with a Gameboy), but I bought her the Leapster, and WOW! She loves it! It's easy to use, and she is even using the Kindergarden software already (she has Dora, Spongebob, Drawing, and Kindergarten). These games are very educational and keep her entertained for quite awhile. What a great alternative to the computer, Playstation, Gamesboys, etc...even my 8 year old loves it. I can't wait for new software to come out! It's well worth every penny! ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Returned it to the store it was so bad
I bought this title because I wanted my two children to practice writing their letters correctly. However we could never get the lines to correspond to where the pencil was. In order to trace a letter you had to actually draw the line an inch inside the line you were supposed to trace. Two calls to the company couldn't solve this problem and since we didn't have any problems with any other leapster software we were sure the calibration was right. This was very frustrating for my children especially because Mr. pencil cuts you off and makes you do it over if you go out of the line at all. There is no margin for error, very bad for kids just learning.

We have 5 other Leapfrog cartridges and we love using the leapster but Mr. Pencil is a DUD.

Absolutely wonderful
I have 5 year old twins who received this leapster toy for Christmas. They have since received many of the cartridges appropriate for their age group. They have learned an awful lot from all the leapster games. My son went from spelling simple words and not really reading very well to now reading 5-6 letter words. Not just this cartridge but the Kindergarten and some of the other game cartridges have helped with my kids' reading level. I felt really good about spending the money on the leapster and have not regretted it in the least. It is well worth the money and new cartrideges are becoming available all the time

Mr. Pencil - very problamatic
I have a 5,3,2 year old. We bought leapster for the oldest and realized the others would benefit too. So we bought each one their own module. We purchased all the cartridges. I highly recommend the leapster and its games. Very educational and fun. However, Mr.Pencil is very frustrating. I thought it was due to lack of skill for the kids, but even I and my wife could not make MrPencil happy. I took my time and tried my hardest and could not do well. Very disappointing for the kids that are learning, because when they are actually doing it right, they recieve no credit from Mr. Pencil. Anyways. we love Leapster and want new games.

Our favorite cartridge!
We bought the Leapster for our 4 1/2 year old son for christmas. I have nothing but positive things to say about it. Our son LOVES video games...borderline obsessive! We bought this because he had seen older kids with gameboys and was fascinated. I wanted something that kept his interest like the video games, but was educational. This is perfect! Now, upon saying that, we have Mr. Pencil cartridge, Dora and Spongebob. I asked my son which he liked the best, and he said he loves them all. I have to say that personally, Mr. Pencil is my favorite. It goes right along with what my son is learning at preschool...how to write his letters, both capitol and lowercase. I do agree that the pencil is sensitive, but I think it just forces the kids to go slowly and write the letters correctly. There are times that he has to retrace the letters, but he doesn't become frustrated, because Mr. Pencil is very encouraging. ("almost, try again!") I like that it draws the letter for you, then shows you the starting point for each line, and has an arrow for the direction to trace it. It's just like the preschool worksheets. It waits until they've drawn the first line, and then goes on to the next line of the letter. It's been a great tool. We also have a writing leap pad, and it just doesn't hold his interest like the leapster. We couldn't be happier! My 3 year old also loves to putter around on it as well, but the software is a little above his head still. Soon enough, I'm sure!

Mr Pencil has so much fun to offer!
While the other reviewer are right that the pen is a little sensitive, there are so many other great things about this game that I would still gladly give it 5 stars. My 3 year old actually loves mixing the colors and seeing what colors mix to make what, and then painting with the colors. She likes using the stamps and changing their size and rotating them. She like the color drop game where you have to pick the right 2 colors you need to mix a secondary color, and the maze game where you have to make it through the maze without touching the lines. My seven year old loves to paint pictures on it, and she love the learn how to draw animals and objects. She likes how you can save your artwork till later so she can pick up and work more on a picture, or animation. She likes the game what picture is it, where they start to draw a picture and you have to figure out which of the pictures at the bottom is the one they are drawing and see how many you can guess in the time frame. My son who is 10 even likes it. He thinks the maze game is cool, and he likes doing animation/flip books on it. This is a great cartridge and so many kids of so many ages love it. It even has cool things to learn about shading objects, making fun looking alphabet letters, lessons in color mixing and so much more. If you are buying it for just the learning to do letters with your young toddler, then you need to know that the first few times you have to be prepared to sit down with them and draw with them, because they just don't have that steady of hand, but don't ever disqualify this one because of that, it has way too many other things to offer. I even think it has more on that cartridge to do then any of the other cartridges, plus it's fun for all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Love this!!
my daughter rec'd this as a present when she turned one. She is now 14 mnths and is still enthraalled with it. it is a very sturdy toy and has great educational value. I would definitely recommend this toy.

Doesn't hold attention
My twins got this when they were 18 months and loved it the first day then got bored. They are 2 now and still won't sit and play with it. I'll try it again in a few months to see if it will hold their attention and help with their ABC's.

Boring toy
My 2 year old daughter played with this toy exactly 5 minutes and has not picked it up since. It was a Christmas gift and I almost returned it and I wish I had. She would much rather use her imagination or sing the alphabet than use this. It has no learning value except repetition.

Can't leave the house without it!
My son is now 16 months old, but he received this toy as a gift a couple of months before his first birthday and he plays with it all of the time. When he's fussy in the car and won't get in the carseat, I hand him the radio and he sits right down and plays. It's been dropped in the van countless times and is still working fine. I also received the Leap Frog Alphabet Pal (catepillar) and we keep it in the house (which is also a 5-star toy) and the radio is kept in the car. We also have a "Melissa and Doug" alphabet board; with all of these educational toys, he's already learning his letters. He picks up the 'P' and says 'pa' and picks up the 'D' and says 'doggy.

Excellent Educational toy!
After reading the reviews I had to purchase this for my year old son. Not only does it withstand the 5 foot throw, 2 foot drop, and the walking on all that happen daily.. it is a great learning toy and I do not regret the pruchase. I highly recommend this to everyone. On another note.. it has been on every day since receiving it and on the same batteries...I wish more electronic products would be this reliable! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This talking book comes with an interactive "magic pen" that works like a hand-held computer mouse pointer. Children can opt to turn the paper pages and listen to the story read with different voices for each character. Or they can interrupt the read-aloud session to play with the magic pen (permanently attached with a wire). They can point the pen tip to any word on a page and hear it pronounced, or touch a picture and hear a sound effect (such as "Strike one!" for the baseball bat). Very similar to the popular Living Books computer games, this 10-by-11-inch book is more portable than a home computer. Stories in this set include Lil's Loose Tooth, Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever, and Winnie the Pooh in A Sweet Good Morning. The set also includes a paper piano keyboard and map and human anatomy games.--Gail Hudson ... Read more

Reviews (365)

Not as great as we thought it'd be...
I got this for my son when he was about 4, and it was a great learning tool before it started falling apart. The quality of it was terrible, and it didn't last more than a year after normal wear and tear. This product was definitely a disappointment, especially after spending a lot of money on books and cartridges shortly before it bit the dust.

fun for all ages
I bought a leap frog for my son when he was 4 and he loved it. He liked the pictures and sounds. It is also great for older kids, the leap frog book that came with his had activities for all ages. It is very educational and a great item to take on trips in the car.

great for my preschooler as well as older childern
I purchased a leappad for my 3 1/2 year old about a 1 1/2 years ago for christmas and it was a hit!! She loved the noises it made and she could write with the pen. The book that comes with the system is broken up into different age groups so the first book didn't have much she could do as for learning, but my older children (then 9 & 11) found a few pages that interested them as well. We soon purchased a couple of addition books that were age appropriate for my daughter and she began to learn numbers, letters and shapes. My sons even got a book to help them in the areas such as bones. My daughter turned 5 yesterday and she still carries her leappad where ever we go. She has moved up to learning sounds and sight words and hasn't even started kindergarden yet. She loves the games and the interaction since it will tell you (or beep/buzz you)when you have made a wrong answer. This product allows my husband & I, as well as other family members, to sit down and spend time with my daughter learning and ITS FUN for us all!! She can even entertain herself when we are unable to sit with her because of how user friendly it is.

We have had NO problems with our leappad and believe me it has been around and used.

I highly recommend it for a child that is eager to learn new things. If I had to find a fault with it, it would be that due to so many different books available, we sometimes misplace the cartridges. I have ordered her a backpack to keep them all together to solve this problem.

Beware Of Leap Frog Products
We are a family of 5. Our 3 children are 6, 3 1/2, and 2. You can imagine how many wonderful Leap Frog products we have in our household. We have a lot. We want to provide our children with a great educational start in life and what better way to do it than with these wonderful Leap Pad products right? Give me a break. Educationally they are great. Durable you ask, no way. Leap Frog only warrants their products for 3 months. We had 2 LeapPads. One still works great, we've had it for almost 4 years. The newer one we bought for our 3 year old stopped working in 4 months. It wasn't product misuse, because my son was only allowed to look at it with an adult. We only used it about 3 or 4 times a month, that's about 12-16 total uses, before the right side of the LeapPad stopped working. Several emails to Leap Frog resulted with no reply from them. They make these products but only warrant them for 3 months. Now I know why. Our Explorer globe flopped out after only 6 months. I will admit that the Leap Frog preschool toys we own have held up great, especially with all the banging around that they get, but their expensive products like LeapPad, Explorer Globe and Leapster have not. I'd look into buying educational products from a company who is willing to stand behind them and has the necessary means to make repair work on expensive products that no longer work. Leap Frog is a company I will no longer spend any more of my hard earned money on.

Fantastic even for age 3
My three-year-old received this leappad for his birthday, which he wanted very badly, and just cannot put it down. He carries it with him throughout the day and it's the first thing he looks for when he gets up in the morning. He saw it at toysrus and just absolutely loved it so he was very excited to get one of his own. He loves learning his abc's and numbers, and loves it when his favorite characters talk back to him. This is such a great tool - if you're trying to decide between this one and the Fisher price one, go for this one. The gal at toys rus said that the fisher price one is just for preschoolers whereas the leappad will grow with the child until age 8. Not bad! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

My Daughter's Favorite LeapPad Book
We have several LeapPad books but this one gets the most use. The games are simple enough that my daughter, age 2, can play with very little help. It keeps her attention. I noticed recently she had picked up several Spanish words and can count to 10 in Spanish. Our Dora selections, including this one, have paid off.

Great educational piece
This book is great as are most of the LeapPad products. My son loves to use this book daily. It helps him learn words in both spanish and english, and he already knows quite a few words in spanish and he is 2-1/2 years old. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for something that their child will use for hours and all of the leapPad Books are as educational as this one. A great Product.

Had it for a year and still going strong
This was purchased for my daughter last year when she was three for christmas, it is now a year later and she still loves it. I love the leap pad systems and my first leap was great and now i think she will be going into the regular leap pad and like my others will enjoy hours of fun. You will not go wrong with dora!!

dora the explorer
the game will not stay on

Fun AND educational
Dora is a hit in our household, so this leap-book was only fitting for us to purchase. If your child enjoys Dora, you won't be disappointed in this fun little book. I was really pleasantly surprised by the educational content, and all the fun it provides, it is packed with a bunch of interactive little games that keep even a 2 year old interested. My 2 & 4 year olds both love this book. My four year old was jealous that he didn't have THIS book for HIS leap pad (he has bigger leap pad). This book teaches vocabulary both English and Spanish, problem solving, cooperation, and shapes and colors as well. My only wish is that they had more books to buy. ... Read more

Editorial Review

LeapFrog's range of educational toys is exceptional, and this interactive flipbook really has that "wow" factor. In the box it looks like an innocent book, but once assembled it provides absolutely hours of entertainment with a preschool teaching focus. The book reads the text to the child, then its magic pen allows the child to touch the text and reread difficult words. Rather like a computer game, the pictures in the page also respond to touch. Each page has two to three games on it where the child has to answer questions on the text or the pictures. The child only needs to respond with the pen, so children as young as 3 can easily play all the games. LeapFrog has made sure that this two-sided book packs in all the elements of a balanced preschool curriculum. Numbers, phonics, prereading, and numeracy skills come alive through the activities. Both nonfiction and fiction text are included with a variety of musical activities. There is even a volume control on each page for weary parents on those long car journeys! Be prepared with four AA batteries (not included) and a small screwdriver. The instructions included are not specific, but the illustrations on the box are self-explanatory. Perfect for a rainy day or a long journey, My First LeapPad provides great value for the money, as your child will be entertained and educated for hours. --Jo Fitzgerald

My First LeapPad is a sturdy unit with an integral speaker and a magic pen, which reads the spiral flipbook included with the set. Other books and cartridges can be bought and used with the same unit. My First LeapPad flipbook consists of both an interactive story introducing the characters of Leap and his family, and (once you have flipped the book) a selection of interactive games pages which encourage learning of numbers, colors, shapes, and music making. A pleasant and encouraging voice reads the story, which is written on the page, or if just one word is touched, the voice says that one word, encouraging word recognition. In game mode, the voice asks the child to find a specific number, color, or object and gives praise when the child succeeds. The pad is easy to use, provided children remember to always touch the Go button with the magic pen every time they turn a page. If they forget, the pen will read from another page, which causes much confusion! After a few tries, mine soon got the hang of it and could play independently. Everything is worked using the pen, including the volume control, and the pen is impossible to lose as it is attached securely to the unit. In comparison to their interactive PC games, the LeapPad failed to hold my children’s attention for prolonged periods, and although I found it amazing that the pen could recognize so many different words and objects, they were less easily impressed. There is no movement, unlike in a PC game. On the other hand, the unit is portable, so can be played anywhere, unlike the PC. The unit certainly has lots of educational value and is well made and durable. A large selection of interactive books can be purchased separately, so once the children are comfortable using the magic pen, they can try other activities. They can also choose more difficult material, ensuring that the pad grows with your child. --Rachel Elvidge

In common with other LeapFrog products, My First LeapPad is exceptionally well designed to be both educational and fun. The unit itself and attached pen are chunky enough for little fingers, and the single large button, integral carrying handle, and bright color will make it appealing and easy to use for preschoolers. My First LeapPad comes with a ring-bound book and accompanying cartridge which fit easily into the unit (you also need four AA batteries, not included). Placed right side up the book reads through a simple story, and when turned over the reverse sides contain a wealth of activities and games to play. For anyone who hasn’t previously seen the unique way that simply touching the pages with the pen produces voices and noises of all sorts, it seems like a miracle! Even for those who are familiar with it, it is still endlessly fascinating, and each page has lots of scope for discovery. The clear English voices read the story in sentences or single words as well as introducing games and activities involving music and instruments, shapes and color, reading, numbers, counting, matching, and much more. Each picture reveals a whole world of sound effects, voices, and speech from the characters according to the individual touches the child makes with the pen on the page. This makes play genuinely interactive and absorbing, and hugely valuable in terms of learning and pleasure. I recommend this product highly; it is suitable for all levels of learning between under 3 years and over 5, with each age range getting different benefits at different stages of development. --Caroline Parsons

My First LeapPad learning system by LeapFrog is a portable electronic toy incorporating the format of a flip-over book which teaches children to master skills such as writing, basic numbers, ABCs, phonics, listening, and comprehension. The desk layout includes a side handle and a special touch-sensitive pen which gives children the opportunity to develop the coordination required when they begin to write. With the pen the user can activate the different activities such as touching pictures to hear them come alive, touching words to hear them read aloud, playing a game by pressing the lily pad sign with the magic pen, activating a new page, listening to music, or adjusting the volume. The unit comes with an activity book, Leap’s Big Day. Leap is a frog with a happy voice and an English accent who introduces us to his family and different activities on each page. Although the toy is labeled for children aged 3 years and over, the activities are not incredibly difficult and would also suit a slightly younger child. For example, number work only goes up to five, and the page on what Leap will be when he grows up gives the child a number of pictorial choices and they have to select just one answer to say what a firefighter would need at work (hose, hat, boots), or what a doctor would need (stethoscope, white coat, etc.). All activities require use of the pen, which does require a steady hand at times. More books are available to buy separately, with titles such as Leap to the Moon, featuring Leap again, and Pooh's Honey Tree, which features Winnie the Pooh. The books are double-sided with a story side, which is interactive, and an activity side. The battery-powered toy provides preschoolers with a good introduction to interactive learning aids, including computers, and promotes readiness for reading and writing. --Sarah McNamara

This is a nice-sized interactive electronic learning game by LeapFrog. It consists of the LeapPad unit with carrying handle and a small, easy-to-maneuver electronic pen attached. There is a compact microchip unit which plugs into the side and a cardboard flipbook which attaches to the front. The book has two sides: a story side and an activity side. The sound is activated by touching the green Go circle on the page with the electronic pen. On the story side of the book this triggers a female English voice which reads aloud the words on the page. Your child can then touch each word with the pen to have these read aloud, or touch objects and characters on the page to hear them speak. There is a lily pad and a note symbol at the bottom of each page. When touched with the pen, the voice leads your child through games such as finding objects and people on the page. The activity side is centered on learning games such as parts of the body, colors, shapes, and counting. My First LeapPad is designed for preschool children to teach prereading and premath skills. It contains over 30 games and activities and is indicated to be suitable for ages 3 and over. My son will sit and play with the LeapPad on his own for a short time, but is only 3 and a half, and prefers me to help and guide him a little. My First LeapPad is a good learning aid and value for money as the flipbooks can be replaced with different books in the range to keep your child interested in learning. --Julie Illingworth

Learning to read has never been so fun, until now. This interactive system is an ideal tool for teaching various skills important in early years. My First LeapPad teaches ABCs, numbers, phonics, prereading skills, and premath skills. When children encounter the LeapPad for the first time, they may choose to participate in an interactive story book Leap's Big Day (included) or alternatively they may play 30 games and activities. If they choose a story they will be amazed at how involved they can become and how much they will learn. The games and activities on the reverse of the flipbook feature counting and singing songs as well as a section on parts of the body. The LeapPad comprises a spiral interactive flipbook that when used with the integral magic pen enables the story to come alive! The child may touch words and hear them read aloud or if they touch pictures in the story they too will make appropriate sound effects. This system is certainly an innovative concept that makes learning to read exciting while also challenging. --Tiffany Prescott ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great for Little Kids
I was in a book store with my sister & my 22-month-old daughter. While I was shopping, my sister brought my daughter by the My First LeapPad toy to keep her busy. My sister tried to turn the page to finish the story, but couldn't figure out why it was still reading the items from the previous page. My daughter showed my sister how to turn the page by pressing "go." I'm looking forward to my sister giving this to my daughter for her second birthday.

love it!
My husband and I bought this for our 2-1/2 year old for Christmas. She really loves it. She is definately at an age where she enjoys learning and is very interested in colors and shapes and showing us "what she can do". This is perfect. We often travel out of town and this is great for those long road trips. Anything to keep her content. I think it will be helpful as she learns to write and read, and it is wonderful for learning shapes and colors. I would say the downfall in this toy is that the cord for the pen is a little short (suppose that is a safety issue) and also I dont like how the cartridge sticks out of the side. I think a drop in sort of thing would have been better. The books are a little tough to get in place, but she is learning. I think she is a little young still, but will get lots of use out of it, and I think it is a good time to introduce this product to her at least. We are going to buy one for her cousin this month, so I think that shows how much we like it!!

So Far...Not impressed
I had HIGH expectations for this product, but so far have discovered that it's been far overrated. My 3 year old received the My First LeapPad for Christmas plus 3 additional books including the Princesses book. This product has not managed to keep her entertained or focused at all. I think it's confusing for a young child, the words are not very clear, and it automatically turns off after just a few seconds. It will tell the child to "find ___" but while my daughter is deciding what to touch with the stylus, it says something along the lines of "try again later". It doesn't give her enough time to THINK before shutting off! There are also options to play games, but after only 2 or so rounds it says something like "press the game button again". That is extremely confusing for a child.

Maybe the regular LeapPad is better. I hoping that once she gets older she'll get into this one more. My daughter LOVES anything having to do with Barbie, Ballerina's or Princesses and even the Princess book doesn't interest her. My daughter also LOVES the new LeapPad DVD "All About Letters", but the alphabet books don't quite have the same effect. If you are just looking for something that reads stories go with THE STORY READER...it's truly an excellent product.

I love Leapfrog stuff!
I love that thing. Not only is it educational, it is fun too! You can learn music as well as the body's bone structure. And to hear your child read to you and tell you what the story was about, phenominal! I am buying it right now for my three year old God daughter. All Leap pad products are amazing.

Great for any Child.
My daughter loves her new LeapPad. I am beyond happy that she would rather play with the LeapPad than watch TV. It also keeps her busy while we are in the car. The LeapPad is very user friendly and is a really great toy for any child. I also loved the girly color for my little princess. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

We love it
My daughter has had her leap pad since she turned 2, almost a year now, and loves it. She has several titles, but this one is by far her favorite(even over Dora!!!!) She knows her letters by sight, she has for a few months now, and loves the music that goes along with the phonics. It's wonderful for car trips!!!

Fun and educational
When our daughter was almost 3 we bought her a leap pad for Christmas and we bought her this book. Out of 3 books she has this one is her favorite! She reads this book over and over!!! She is now a few months over 3 and knows her ABC's. You can point to any letter and she can tell you what it is and can sing the alphabet song. It is fun enough to keep a 3 year olds attention and the songs arent nerve racking. This was definatley a great buy!

Super
My daughter just turned three and loves it, she picks it up herself and sits and does the letters and their sounds and the numbers and colors. The best investment for her. I would continue to buy the leapfrog (leapad) toys for her.

The Best Toy of The Year...No dout
The leapPad has been wonderful for my 3 Year old he will play with that toy for hours and he learns alot from it. He will tell me the story and then so what he is talking about... So thankyou LeapPad for giving the children of today and tommarow the chance to grow. Sincerly, Terri. Cincinnati, Oh

Great Educational Toy
My daughter just received this book and the First Leappad as a Christmas gift. It is one of the best Christmas gifts she ever received. She is learning to read, play music, learn body parts, colors, shapes, numbers, etc. while also having fun. With this educational toy, it allows you to repeat the words on the page and read along with the book. My daughter is only 4 and is learning to read. She is in preschool and is already good at knowing her colors, shapes, numbers and letters, but this toy just reinforces what she already knows. Plus, this toy is at a great affordable price. My next Leappad item to buy is the backpack so she has a place to store the books and cartridges. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

This is a book review for Thomas & The School Trip for MFLP
This is a great MFLP book for Thomas friends old and new. My 3yr.old loves to hear the engines talk while playing the educational games. Thomas and his friends teach shapes, colors, opposittes, matching and problem solving while taking the children on a school trip. After each page is read aloud to your child,(ideally, your child will read along silently) he can explore Thomas's surroundings or choose to play a game. My son loves the games and seems to be appropriately challenged; not frustrated with the content. This is the first book we purchased outside of the MFLP w/ it's initial book. Even so, I think this will prove to be one of the better books.

Great educational toy for youngsters!
I initally bought the regular Leap Pad for my then 5 year old daughter last Christmas. She loves it! But then my 2 year old son started getting into hers, so we decided to get him the My First Leap Pad this past Christmas. He can't get enough of it. He plays with it at least 2-3 times a day, and he has actually learned from the toy. They think they are playing, but they are learning at the same time. I have owned quite a few Leap Frog Products, and every one has been great! I would not hesitate to buy any of Leap's products, they are all good investments in our children's future.

success
I really think the leap frog of thomas the tank engine is really educational. My son loves it and really is learning from it. He has come with new vocabulary everday. Thanks.

Not as authentic as the disney /nick jr theme books
My 2 1/2 year old loves the Pooh bear book for My First Leap Pad, and the Bear in the Big Blue house/Bob the Builder/Dora the Explorer for the regular leappad. Thats because, those include the several theme songs from the actual videos which he really enjoys. And the actual voices of the TV characters. This does not include the catchy Thomas the Tank engine music which is what he, as a toddler, really loves and associates with Thomas! He is usually singing one of the songs as he plays at his train table. The voices too are not Alec Baldwin or Carlin. So, despite featuring familiar characters, since the musical part of this book is on the whole, not very good, he prefers even the Rhyme book. .... the rhyme book for My First Leappad, is much better than the one for the regular Leappad.

a very worthy investment
My two-and-half years old boy loves this! Since we speak Mandarin Chinese at home, he does not learn much English from us. But I was pleasantly surprised that he learned a lot of English words a month after he started playing with this book. I now have all the other books for My First Pad since I am so impressed with its educational value. This is the best return I have gotten from money invested in toys. Now I am concentrating my toy money on Leapfrog stuffs. Thank you LeapFrog! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

leap frog library
I was just browsing through this site and found out about leap frog reviews. I was trying to figure out what to buy my two year old godson and now that he is turning two years old. So I went on with leap frog library I was going to get him a guitar but I decided to get him educational things. That would help his talking alot. Thanks for the reviews about leap frog that is what made me purchase it.

Great Tool for Toddlers
We bought this about 6 months ago for our nearly-two-year-old son, and he loves it. We keep it in the car, and it is a great way to keep him amused on both long and short trips, and he's learning things to boot! Never to early to start, and he can already pick out many letters of the alphabet. We also purchased the Fridge Fun Magnets from LeapFrog, and those have also been a great educational tool for him.

Taking the Next Step
My five year old daughter loves Leapfrog products, so I wasn't amazed when she got caught up in this toy. She knew all of her letters prior to this, but now she's actually spelling words and thinking about how other words are spelled. She likes the function above the music one, where you can create your own words the best. I would recommend this to every parent I know! Leap Frog has done it again!

On other parent-interesting notes, like most Leap Frog products, this is sturdy, durable, great sound quality that's adjustable. The carry handle fits her hand perfectly.

Leap Phonics Library is a favorite.
We just bought this for our son's 2nd birthday and he loves it! It's a great way for him to begin identifying small letters. The sound is adjustable, which is nice. The only disappointing part is the final activity has the same set of songs that his phonics radio contains. This is a toy he'll be sure to play with for the next year and beyond.

great for learning
My daughter recieved the libray for a gift it is amazing before I knew it she knew her ABC's form playing with this and the alphabet pal thank you leap frog ... Read more

Editorial Review

LeapFrog's arsenal of learning toys are all designed to boost children's skills at an early age and get them ahead of the curve. And what could offer a better head start than the LeapPad, which is essentially a lightweight child-sized laptop. Instead of a mouse, the LeapPad comes with a wide easy-to-grip pen that allows children to point to pictures to hear music or sound effects or point to words to hear them spoken. In addition, kids can use the pen to practice making letters and numbers. This set comes with two books focused on writing skills and children place them inside the LeapPad tablet and boot up to begin learning. This learning system pack come with a writing practice book geared to pre-kindergarteners to first graders to teach how to write letters, numbers, words, and equations. A second interactive book offers an assortment of stories and lessons in phonics, science, geography, music, and more. --Cristina Vaamonde ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Leap Pad Plus
The Leap Pad Plus has a lot of educational value but the one I purchased for my 4 year old daughter hasn't been very durable. I only let her play with it under my supervision and we have been very careful with it but after 6 months it doesn't work at all and we have had to ship it back to the company. I find it ironic that their warranty is only for 3 months. She has never had another toy that is this flimsy.

Great gift
My son loves this and he is learning things fast. I am so glad he has this and would consider this as a great gift for all children.

Poor Quality
We got this for our sons for a long road trip...and couldn't get it to work, it kept asking us to press the green go button...I tried new batteries and finally just returned it and exchanged it for a new one. I got the new one home and it would never recognize the page we were on. I've never had to write a bad review about a product, but this has been a major disappointment!!!! I had also bought the 'My first leappad' for our younger son and that worked okay, but would turn off in the middle of an activity...very frustrating. Nothing we press on the book is recognized by the leappad system. In the future I will consider buying other products and staying clear of the Leappad products.

Ah, but I like it too.
I enjoy testing myself on the States and capitals. But we got it for my son's 5th birthday and he likes it too. It should be great for the summer vacation drive. Unfortunately the whole thing stopped working within 2 days (no accidents, just gentle use); we had purchased it through Amazon so replacing was a breeze, but by the time the new one arrived some of the initial enthusiasm has worn off. I recommend it, but be sure to keep the receipt and purchase it from an easy return store. ***Update-- after writing this review, I went and purchased another book for his LeapPad to make up for the disappointment of waiting for the replacement. He excitedly inserted the cartridge and... the new LeapPad no longer works either (less than an hour of use on this one). The pad does not recognize
any activity on its right side. So I'm packing up the second one as I write this. Very disappointing; so much potential.

The stylus provided does not last
We got this 'toy' as a birthday gift for our 4 year old son. He enjoys playing with it. But the only problem we found is that the stylus stops working after some it. Nothing we press on the book is recognized by the leappad system. It continuously keeps telling us to press the Green Go button to get started regardless of what we press (even when we press the Go button). We have already exchanged it once. Even the second one seems to be having this same problem. I am just not very happy with the quality of this system. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This LeapPad book and cartridge brings to life the heroic adventures of The Incredibles. An interactive reading experience that allows second-grade readers to practice reading comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, synonyms and antonyms, and compound words, all to a musical accompaniment, The Incredibles (the booklet) fits into most LeapPad portable units. Youngsters use the "magic pen" to point to words and pictures to make them come to life, or to initiate games and activities. Kids will have so much fun, they won’t even realize they’re learning a thing or two! --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (10)

grab shell dude!
Alex got this for Christmas and absolutely loves it! This is neck and neck w/Lion King as his favorite LeapPad book. The best part for the 'big people' in the house are the jellyfish game and the turtle game.

Finding fun with Nemo
My son is a big fan of Finding Nemo so this is, naturally, his favorite Leap Pad book right now. It has fun games with different facts about ocean creatures which my son loves.

So, as usual, another fun book from Leap Pad that I highly recommend.

Great Toy!
My kids, Ally 3.5 years, Christopher 4.5 years, and Matthew 6 years, adored this LeapFrog book. They are huge Finding Nemo fans. They have the VHS, the DVD, the X-Box game, Christopher has the bed set, we have the stuffed animals, the plates, the cups, the bowls, EVERYTHING NEMO! I saw this book in the store and I knew that Nemo's #1 Fans would love it. My boy's both have Leap Pads. My daughter Ally has the My First Leap Pad for younger kids. The only problem was the kids fighting over who was going to get to "read" it next.

Finding Nemo is great!
My almost 4 year old daugther loves this book! She explores with it all the time. The story is a condensed version of the movie. The book also allows children to explore different facts about the sea and it's creatures. I highly recommend it.

Great for Nemo Lovers of all Ages
I got this for my 2 1/2 year old daughter as an intro into her big brothers Leap Pad system. She adores Nemo, and this is the only Leap Pad book that will hold her attention. She can sit with it for about 30 minutes, which is a lifetime for a 2 year old. The picutes are cute, drawings, not the computer generated pictures of the movie. The story is very abbreviated, but hits most of the points. The voices are good, though Albert Brooks is noticebly missing as Marlin. The games are not great, but the educational value is high, for learning about the ocean and its inhabitants. I would recommend this book to anyone with a Nemo Lover or anyone interested in fish and the ocean. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

If She is a Princess, she'll love it
Like most 4 year old girls my daughter has been swept into the world of the Disney Princess. This book was a great start to teach her how to use her new leapfrog. It was full of different songs as well as different activities and questions at the end of the book based on the stories inside.

Princess Stories
Its a nice book for a little girl who likes all the Disney Princess stories. But if your looking for an educational book I'd suggest a different book.

Got a lemon!
We have had our Leap Pad for over a year and love it. My 3 1/2 yr old daughter just started using it and wanted a "girl book" so Santa brought her this one. It will not work, and says "whoops, that's not a leap pad cartridge!" We'll be going back to the store for an exchange to try again. Bummer, she was really disappointed. All our other cartridges still work fine - never had a problem!

A good book for a child wanting to read
My 3 1/2 year old has several LeapPad books and likes this one because of the princesses. I think this book would be best for a child who is ready to start reading. My daughter likes to play the games in the book, but isn't really interested in reading the story yet. If your child is ready to focus on the story and read words, this would be a good book. If your child is still learning letters and sounds, I recommend the Phonics Lesson 1 book first, or the other LeapStart books like the math ones (ie. Lots and Lots of Honey Pots).

GREAT ENTERTAINMENT
MY GRANDAUGHTER LOVES THIS TOY AND I HAVE JUST ORDERED SEVERAL MORE BOOKS TO GO WITH IT, I DO WISH WHEN LEAP FROG ITEMS ARE SOLD THOUGH THAT WHAT THEY ARE COMPATIBLE WITH WAS LISTED. ... Read more