Editorial Review

This electronic writing desk teaches kids the alphabet, letter sounds, letter formation,spelling, and word creation in a fun, interactive format. Kids can choose from sixgames: letters, a letters quiz, phonics, a phonics quiz, spelling, and "create-a-word."In the letters game, children push a letter to hear its name and see how it is formedon the LCD screen; players can also write their own letters on the "magic" writing screen.In the spelling game, children learn to spell simple words. In the phonics game, childrenfirst hear a letter and then are given a short word as an example. Along the way, thealways-helpful LeapFrog "coach" offers lots of cheerful hints so children won't getstuck in any of the exercises. Additional features include an automatic shut-off, anoversize pullout handle, a variety of comical sounds for incorrect answers, and atwo-position volume control. --Tami Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (75)

a FUN FILLED phonics and alphabet toy
We bought this toy 3 Christmas's ago, for Joseph our 2 1/2 year old (He is now 5 1/2). He had personally asked for the Phonics Writing Desk and he has played with it for hours on end. I think it was an assest in his ability to read before going to Kindergarten. He now has renewed interested in it since his 3 year old brother Benjamin is constantly playing with it. Ben especailly loves it that he can write his name BEN with it and then it actually says his name. He has learned to write about 30 three letter words in the past two weeks. Some of his favorites include; Mom, Dad, jet, jam, eye, ear, hid, and bed. Ben has learned how to write a lot of his letters from watching the toy. The place to write on has been ruined for quite a while - but he tries it on paper after watching the machine show how to form each letter.

From a mother of 5 boys

great toy
My 2 year-old LOVES this toy! He's too young to write the letters, but he is learning to spell and knows the alphabet VERY well and I think this toy is part of the reason. I find it pretty loud and the repetitive phrases are annoying, but I think that it's because he plays with it so much. I would not have expected him to love this toy so much at this age, but he has really enjoyed all of his Leap Frog toys, so I'm sold on them!

only LF toy I ever returned!!!!!!
I love leap frog toys, my 3 y/o has many. I usually find them very educational. However, this toy didn't live upto my expectations. I wanted a toy to help him learn to write letters. My child learns very quickly with encouragement and correcting. At 3 he's reading at a 2nd grade level and writting somewhat legible (no thanks to this toy). This toys tells the name and phonic of each letter. The LF train, Little Leap and Leap pad do the same thing in the same way. I bought it for the writting lesson. It shows how to write them in 'computer style' not real handwritting. The reason I was so disapointed in it was that they can write anything in the spot and the toy tells them it's right. My son scribbled in the area and was told he did great. It wasn't teaching him anything. Sitting down and writting with the child, making sand letters and letting him trace with his finger and plain old letting him expierment with a pen and paper worked better than this thing. I took it back shortly after buying it.

Learning to write!
If you want to teach your kid how to write the letters and don't know where or how to start, this toy is your answer. It not only holds their interest, it makes learning fun too. It teaches both uppercase and lower case letters. Most toys teach kids how to reconize letters but this one is step ahead and also teaches them their phonics so it's definately a must have!

Boring
I think that this is a educational toy for children but is not pleasurable to look at so it would be apealing to the child considering so many toys look like this (boring). ... Read more

Editorial Review

Made by Fisher-Price, this electronic learning system is comprised of an InteracTV DVD, which you insert into your home DVD player; a controller; and activity cards based on popular children's television shows. Plug an activity card into the controller, and games and activities featuring that show will appear on the TV screen. Nine touch points let kids interact with the characters, in lessons covering numbers, colors, animals, and more. Cards contain more than 100 learning questions and activities, posed randomly. This model comes with three activity cards--SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, and Elmo's World--as well as a storage case to hold the cards and the DVD. A switch on the controller enables you to use the system on up to three different DVD players--say, in multiple rooms, or at relatives' houses. --Andy Boynton ... Read more

Reviews (6)

good toy but needs work
My three year old just recieved this toy for his birthday, and I was a little worried that he was not going to be able to work it on his own. To my amazment he picked it up, and began playing. Some of the screens that it wants you to interact with are a little advanced for him, but it helps you along the way. My only complaint is getting it to work with your dvd player. We went out and bought a new dvd player for him, and we have tried everything to get it to work. When we moved it to another dvd player it works fine! The directions for quick set up were anything but easy. I think the manufactor needs to work on this toy, but it is a good idea!!!

Excellent
My daughter just received this for her third birthday and all she wants to do is play with it. She is really practicing her numbers and paying attention to what is happening so she can find the right answer. Money well spent.

fun and educational
I bought this for my daughter who loves all of the characters that are featured on the trial DVD. She just loves it. She sits for an hour playing all of the games. She is 3yrs old and can put the DVD in and start the game on her own. The sensor is able to reach the DVD player from various locations in our living room. Interac TV is very fun and educational!! I am very glad that I purchased it. We will be buying them for other children that we know for Christmas.

Not impressed either
We received this toy as a gift for our 2 year old. It didn't work correctly, as the buttons on the right upper portion were not functional. After much frustration between our 2 year old, 3 year old and both parents and grandparents, we took the toy back to Target to Exchange for a 'working' toy. Got it home, just to find that it was less functional than the first toy we had. Now, the kids don't even want to play with it, and don't want another one. Much mental anguish, and we don't even know who to contact directly to let them know that this product is dysfunctional.

Not impressed
We bought this for our 4 yr old's birthday. We're wishing we would've saved our money & gotten something else that works better. Everytime you start up the device, it acts as if you have to reprogram it all over again (you're supposed to only have to program it once for each DVD player in the home). A couple of times, we HAVE had to reprogram it, which is time consuming & frustrating. This confuses our child & she has lost interest in it, really quick. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

educational and fun!
This toy is great! Does 16 different animals sounds. Sings Old McDonald through one time. Each time using a different animal name and sound, of the 16 animals. A quiz mode to find the animal that makes a certain sound. The handle is easy to pull, for a 2 yr old anyway. He imitates the animal sounds. It uses batteries, so it sounds a lot better than the standard see n' say. The batteries have lasted long in it, 3AA. ... Read more

Teacher Review

With this well-designed, double-sided easel, preschoolers can enjoy the advantages of creative expression on an upright surface. The easel's frame is made from sturdy wood left in its natural state, with thick pressed board used as the bases for the art surfaces. One side of the easel has a 24-by-24-inch, green chalkboard, and the other side has a 24-by-24-inch, white dry-erase board.Two removable, washable trays are included to attach to the easel (one with molded spaces to hold paint jars and brushes). The easel requires simple assembly, but no tools are required and all bolts and plastic bolt covers are included. Some thoughtful design aspects include an adjustable height feature, a convenient, built-in paper towel holder, and two metal clips to attach paper for painting. Included in the set are some art supplies to get started: four large, no-spill paint jars, six small jars of poster paint, four paint brushes, a package of colored chalk, six dry-erase markers, a foam eraser. This set was a winner of the Dr. Toy Best Classic Toys Award, and it would be a winning addition to any playroom, family daycare home, or preschool. --Marcie Bovetz, mother and former children's librarian ... Read more

Features

• 48" tall
• Double-sided easel
• One side is a chalkboard, the other a dry-erase board
• Paint jars included

Reviews (9)

Great item, but a very pricey
I expected the item to arrive with more supplies and some paper for first time use. My husband and I both agree that the item is well made, durable and the kids love it. The price was just too high, at [$$$] for the item plus shipping, because the item was heavy,this was a [$$$] purchase. Assembly was easy enough, except that the holes on the chalkboard were a little off and it took brute force the line the holes up for the bolt. All in all if I could have returned it without paying another [$$$] I probably would have and spent my [$$$] on art supplies alone. I hope this easel will last through all my children, that way maybe I'll feel justified in the price I paid.

Very nice easel, but...
My sister purchased this item as a Christmas present for my 3 year old son. He was very excited while his dad was assembleing the easel, however he could not enjoy it right away because the 75 foot paper roll supposed to come with it was not included in the package. Another dissapointed fact was the blue poster color that my son accidentaly spotted the carpet did not come off easily and left parmanent stain on the carpet. We've tried every way to remove the stain (steam vac, detergent, etc.), but we could not get lid of it. I was very surprised the color was not water based considering it is a product for kids.

Worth every penny!
I purchased this easel for my four year old son. Not only am I pleased that it was so simple to assemble (on Christmas eve!) but it has become a great source of entertainment. The frame is sturdy and will last a long time in a busy house. The marker board wipes off easily and has not discolored at all. The trays help little hands to organize and use the chalk, paints and markers. It did not come with a roll of paper, but the paint jars, brushes, dry erase markers, chalk and eraser were included. Tiny paints were included but are used up quickly. I am highly pleased that I spent the extra money to buy this model.

a lemon
The easel arrived with two problems. One was that the tray had apparently broken in shipment. In part this was due to faulty packaging. However, upon breaking it apparently shatters into many sharp edged fragments.

The other problem, even more troubling, was that one of the legs had holes which were so improperly drilled that it was impossible to assemble.

I must say that Amazon.com was very prompt and courteous in their response to our complaint and quickly arranged for prepaid shipment back with refund.

Something missing
We purchased this item for Christmas for our 31/2year old and 61/2year old. They both loved the easel. It was missing, however, the paper roll that was supposed to come with it. That was very discouraging for our 31/2 year old as he wanted to paint right away. I am waiting for an answer via email about this problem. Some of the screw holes didn't line up properly so we had to really jam the bolts into the holes of the boards, doing a little bit of damage but not enough to go through the trouble of returning the easel. It looks great and the kids use it to play school etc... Hopefully the paper roll will turn up sometime soon. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Every child should have a tea set somewhere in the toy box, not just forfeeding favorite dollies and teddies, but also for practicing tea-party manners before aspecial party or dinner. This molded plastic set is made with the thoughtful design andextra-durable materials of most Fisher-Price toys, with the added bonus of a jolly musicalteapot. It plays "I'm a Little Teapot" when the top of the lid is pressed, and also providesa "magical" chiming noise when the pot is poured (requires two button-cell batteries;included). The set includes four teacups in pastel shades, matching saucers, a sugar bowl,a creamer, and four white spoons. Everything fits onto a sturdy lavender tray with largehandles and a built-in stand for the teapot. --Marcie Bovetz ... Read more

Reviews (37)

The Perfect Tea Set
I searched all over for a tea set that my 2-year-old daughter could actually use. This one is wonderful! The set is sized just right -- the cups hold enough that she (and I) can actually drink out of them, the teapot holds enough to pour liquid into all four cups, the teapot is easy to pour, and the cups are easy to hold. To top is off, it's a really pretty set, has a very well designed, easy to use tray, and is made of super durable molded plastic! Not to mention then cream and sugar set, spoons you could actually use if you wanted to, and a very reasonable price.

I was concerned about the "pouring" noise making us crazy as it kept going off when I wrapped the gift, but found that in the course of normal play it's not bothersome. Just store the gift flat until it's unwrapped. My daughter found it really intriguing to unwrap a gift that was singing.

My daughter has a lot of fun playing with this toy and serving all her stuffed friends. It's on my gift list for all the little girls I know.

Wish I had this tea set when I was a kid!
My girls love it. They are always playing TEA. My girls are 2 and the size is perfect for their little hands. The plastic seems durable and I think this toy will last for some time with normal use. The "pouring" sound the tea pot makes can be annoying to parents, but the kids seem to love it. The tea pot also plays "I'm a little tea pot" which is cute and my girls love it when I sing the song.

Great Buy for little girls
II BOUGHT THIS TOY FOR MY NEICE LAST MONTH AND SHE LOVED IT. SHE HAS A BIT OF A PROBLEM NOT DROPPING CUPS AND SPOONS ECT. WHEN "SERVING" TEA BUT ALL IN ALL A NICE BUY ALSO THE LID WHICH MAKES THE NOISE CAN BE SOME WHAT ANNOYING AND AFTER 2 MONTHS THE BATTERIES RAN OUT AND WERE HARD TO REPLACE THE SPOONS ARE ALSO EASILY LOST AND THE TRAY IS JUST BIG ENOUGH FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TO ARRANGE IT JUST RIGHT A TASK OFTEN RESERVED FOR ME OR MOM. THE PLASTIC IS THICK AND DURABLE AND CUPS PERFECT SIZED FOR WEE HANDS SHE WAS A LITTLE DISSAPIONTED WHEN SHE FOUND OUT YOU COULDN'T HAVE REAL TEA (THE ELECTRONIC COMPONETS MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE.) WE ARE NOW HAVING TEA EVERY DAY THOUGH SHE LOVES AND SO DO I A GREAT BUY RECOMENDED HIGHLY FOR THAT FIRST TEA SET

Confused - Mfr says for 2 yrs & up, not 3
I couldn't give a rating, because I haven't purchased this yet, but plan to do so for my daughter's 2nd birthday. I have the Fisher Price catalog in front of me, which says specifically that it is for ages 2 years & up. It does not say anywhere that there are small parts/choking hazards as TRU indicates. I have noticed that Amazon/Toys R Us does not always list the correct mfr's age for the toys they sell. I've noticed this with the Disney My First Princesses when they first came out, but TRU has since corrected the ages on the site. Just FYI. I will correct the rating once I purchase the toy.

Wonderful! Traditional toy brought right up to date
Fisher Price rarely disappoint, and this tea set is no exception. There is the usual set of four cups, four saucers, four spoons and a tea pot, plus a milk jug and sugar bowl. What this adds is a little turntable (is it called a lazy susan?) in the middle of the tea tray on which the child can place the tea pot (or anything else they fancy spinning round!). They have also added a little mechanism in the tea pot lid which plays a little tune (The theme from Watch With Mother) when the button on the top is pressed and another to indicate that it is being tipped. This is really an excellent toy for all ages. Even after my nearly two year old has gone to bed I find myself making myself a sly cuppa just so I can hear the pouring noise! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Often the best way to get the housework done is to have your children working by your side.When it's time to vacuum, preschoolers can use this toy Hoover right alongside an adult using a realvacuum cleaner. Sized for preschoolers, the navy and black, hard plastic vacuum stands 26.25 inches highand has adjustable levers in front, working lights, and a realistic motor sound. There's a flexible black hoseon one side and three yellow plastic attachments inside a storage compartment with a clear door. Thoughthe Hoover is fairly sturdy, the door isn't the most durable part of it; after a while it may begin to fall open,making the attachments fall on the floor. There's also a removable cloth dust bag inside, although thesuction action is so slight that very little dirt is actually collected. Four C batteries are required (notincluded). --Marcie Bovetz ... Read more

Reviews (68)

A hit for little helpers
My son turned two almost two months ago, and while this toy is recommended for ages 3-6, I think it can be appropriate for some two year olds as well.

My son decided about a month ago that he wanted to assist his daddy and brothers with the vacuuming, and he'd grab the handle along with them and "help." So after some consideration, I got him this toy.

It arrived today, and as soon as I got the batteries in it, my son was off and running. He used it for an hour and a half straight, and his little head was all sweaty from "working" so hard! It was very cute.

My only suggestion is that you leave on the tape holding the accessories door on. If they don't want to play with them, these just fall out and get to be a real annoyance.

Since we have only had the toy today, I can't say how long it will last, but for now it's a HUGE hit.

Wonderful Toy
We bought this vacuum for our 14 month-old son who was so afraid of the real vacuum that just bringing it out of the broom closet resulted in pointing and sounds of concern. Actually running the real vacuum resulted in tears and screaming. However, after inital concern and positive reinforcement (kisses, 'yeah, it's your own vacuum', and cuddles) by us, our son is now keen on using his own vacuum as well as less concered about the real thing. He loves to open/close the cover on his vacuum, take out the on-board tools and put them on/off the hose attachment, and push the vacuum around making vacuum sounds ('brrrr'). We're thrilled with the realistic appearance of this toy. The only concern is that the cover for the on-board tools is not very securly attached and often requires a parent's assistance to put it back on. Overall, this is a fantastic toy with numerous fun and developmental opportunities.

Best Toy Investment I EVER Made!!!
I decided to purchase a toy vacuum for my son two years ago when he almost pushed mine down the stairs. I had no idea that he would enjoy it so much! Like I said, I purchased this two years ago, and he plays with it to this day. During the first three or four weeks he would not leave the house without it, and thankfully the obsession slowly wore off. Now, he takes it out when I vacuum and follows behind me. This vacuum has also gone down the stairs about a hundred times and still keeps on going! I have not changed the battery for the motor sounds and it still works, but occasionally it will cut out, but only after extended use. This is probably an indicator that the battery should be changed, but I refuse to until it stops working all together! After two years of hard use I would have to say that this has held up well. The hose did break in a minor way and I was able to fix it, but when it did it again, I just took it off. (He never used that part anyway.) BOY OR GIRL I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS ITEM. I think it is a great way to teach good cleaning habits and an even better way to give yourself a break and relax for awhile! A+++++++

Vacum Freak
My kid (21 Months) is just obssessed with Vacums and he has been like that for a while, he would take vacum parts from our regular vacum and play with them and throw a fit when we would take it away. Recently he was at someones house and he took over the toy vacum and wouldn't let it go, so thats when i decided to get him this Hoover, and he is just obssessed with it.

I wonder what it is that makes these kids obssessed with Vacums ?
I wonder if there is any research out there or someone can look into this further.

If your child loves when you vacuum, get this toy!
I bought this toy vacuum for my 17 month old son who always loved it when we would vacuum. When the toy arrived in the mail, my son played with it nonstop for over an hour. We had to hide it so he would come in and eat dinner! He loves playing with his vacuum and there's nothing cuter than watching him vacuum the rugs in our house with this realistic looking mini Hoover! I have only two minor complaints about this item. First, the "filter" on the side keeps unlatching, but it's really just a minor issue and doesn't affect the fun of this toy one bit! Also, the vacuum often locks in the upright position and my son can't unlock it, becuase he is too young to figure out the release. But this toy is recommened for a child a bit older, and that is probably why. Nonetheless, he still loves this vacuum. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

My son loves this toy!
My son received this toy for his 3rd birthday and he loves it! He carried it around with him all day and even brought it to bed with him that night. The songs are great but I do wish they sang the words to the popular kids songs. Although I don't find it especially educational, it's a great toy for a child who loves to listen and sing along to music.

Great fun for the next American Idol
Great fun for the little entertainer. I would recommend removing the microphone (long cord) if your child is under 3 years old.

It's ok
I thought this would be a cool toy but my kids don't seem to think so. It has been sitting in the toy room ever since we got it and very rarely is it touched. We don't even recognize most of the song on there. NOT a must have

We really like it.
My son is nowhere near the recommended age for this toy, but at 15 months he loves it anyway. I got it because it was on sale and set it on his toy shelf. He points to it and demands me to bring it to him. I take off the mic because the cord is a choking hazard. Other than that, the toy seems safe for him to play with. He loves pushing the buttons. He also likes watching the lights. I personally think this toy is more appropriate for a toddler than a four-year-old because I imagine a four-year-old would have moved on to toys like Leapster.

My gripe is that there are no lyrics to the songs that are played. They are very simple songs, like Pop Goes The Weasel, but I find myself going "All the cobbler's bench. A hum huma humahummm." because I can't quite remember the words. Also some of the songs are Leapfrog songs, for example "Upper case letter are big and tall" or something like that.

Basically, though the songs are cute. One that is in my head right now goes "Manny manny moo. Moo moo. Zanny zanny zoo. Zoo zoo." Simple, cute song.

3 year old loves it
Picked this up for my son's 3rd birthday. He has it in bed with him right now. Hasn't even needed the microphone for it yet (didn't want to worry about him strangling himself with cord in bed at this point). There are enough songs that he has only scratched the surface. He likes the animations (little red dots of light). Reinforces counting and the alphabet, introduces phonics songs. As he gets older, introducing the microphone and the singalong songs (Oh Susannah, I've been working on the railroad) will make the toy seem new again. Very happy with my choice based on the reviews ... 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

Reviews (2)

Doesn't have to be just for easels...
Being a preschool teacher I use these all of the time. I have found that taking the sheets out individually clipping them to the easels clip to be the best way to work with them. Even if you don't have an easel these are wonderful for children of all ages. Large, unlined sheets of paper encourage children to be creative and to express themselves in a completely original way. For infants, toddlers, and preschoolers I will often tape the sheets to the table and let them color/paint/glue to their hearts delight.

Too Heavy
I bought this pad for my twins. They use it on their little tikes double easel. This pad is a little to heavy to stay underneath the clip. When they start drawing on it, it starts to slip down. However, easel pads are not easy to find in our area, so I will probably continue to buy these. They have lots of pages in each book and good quality paper for "little artists". ... 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 (1)

best present for my kindergartener
My daughter was promised a suprise. The thought of getting another toy bothered me - then I saw this bank. It is fantastic. She loves it. She plays with it - it is excellent at teaching her the coins - it tells her what it is when she inserts the coin -, then gives her a little fact about it. It also shows how she is doing against her saving goal. She brought it in to share with her class - and it was a hit with all the kids and her teacher. My only warning is that you will have no change left in your house : ) ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Map accuracy
We liked the description of the map puzzle and thought it would be perfect for our puzzle-loving toddler, but we read an Amazon review (dated 11/03) noting that the upper peninsula of Michigan was colored the same as Wisconsin. Obviously, accuracy is important for an educational toy, so we planned on buying it and painting the piece to fix the Michigan problem. But when the puzzle arrived, both parts of Michigan were yellow, and Wisconsin was blue - the manufacture has fixed that oversight!

Note however that some of the small Northeastern & New England states are combined on single puzzle pieces, so in fact the puzzle only has 44 pieces, not 50. Toddlers won't mind because the puzzle is fun, but parents might think twice before buying for children trying to learn all the states.

Awesome educational toy
My 4 year old loves maps, so this was a great Christmas present for him. Now he knows where all of the states are and almost all of the capitals! He also knows the Pledge of Allegience now. The only thing I don't like is the speaker is on the back of the puzzle, so if you set it on the carpeted floor or couch it's muffled (and you have to lay it almost flat otherwise the pieces will fall out). But the volume is real loud if you hold it upright and there's no volume control. But overall, it's a great toy and one of my son's favorites. I bought another one for a family member and she loves it too.

GREAT STORAGE DRAWER FOR PUZZLE PIECES
My son is a USA puzzle nut, so he was thrilled to receive this gift. What I especially like about this puzzle is: #1:Each shape fits into its own compartment, so my 2 year old daughter can figure it out too if she keeps turning the piece around until it fits #2: There is a storage drawer on the side for easy clean up. I just wish there were a volume control on it (when the states are pushed, the name of the state is recited along with other facts, but I can live with that.

Inaccurate
The upper peninsula of Michigan is blue and looks like it's part of Wisconsin. My 5 year-old niece lives in Wisconsin and my parents are from the UP. I won't buy this product because I don't want my niece to think that the UP is part of Wisconsin!

Amazing educational tool!
My two granddaughters (aged 2 and 5) have this puzzle and both know most or all of the state capitals and state nicknames. The 2-year old especially puts together the puzzle, dumps it out and puts it together again over and over for hours on end. My daughter says that when neighbor kids visit, this puzzle is the toy of choice. Based on this, I bought one for my grandson, aged 3. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

great design, great fun
This preschooler variation of the old favorite Bingo is a real winner.

Zingo cards have a 3 by 3 grid that shows pictures and words. Cards have a yellow side (easier, for younger kids) and a red side for the odler ones. The plastic game piece dispenser is well-designed and fun to use. Players shout out to claim a piece, which is then placed over the appropriate square on the player's card. There are several play variations.

Excellent game for the younger set, and fun for older children and adults as well.

Wonderful toy - kids love it!
My son got this for his fourth birthday and still plays with it regularly (he's now over 5). He'd just started to read when he got it, and the game helped him add many new words to his vocabulary - but more importantly, it was fun! His friends loved it so much that several of them asked for their own sets as gifts. We play until everyone wins and gets to shout Zingo!, and the kids help each other get there. And my son even plays it sometimes by himself. It's really wonderful, very very fun, and would be great for kids from about 3 to at least 6.

game enthusiast
my 4 yr old daughter received this game as a gift. she hasn't stopped playing it! Everyone in the family has fun with Zingo! from my 8 yr old daughter to my mother in law! Great family fun!

Let's Zingo!
Our children love this game and it is by far their favorite. Though the recommended ages are 4 and up - my 4 year old and my 2 1/2 year old both enjoy playing this game and it is one that they never seem to tire of. The playing pieces are all very durable and well constructed. I highly recommend Zingo.

Excellent game that even parents enjoy!
This game is great. Since the day we got it, it has been played with all the time. The kids love being able to yell "Zingo" when the win. The design is great since you can keep all the pieces neatly tucked in the dispenser.

A great fun, educational game for game nights and rainy days! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This purple and silver electronic lap-book looks worth the sacrifice of foregoing afternoon cartoons--and it is. The two included storybooks ("Ernie's Neighborhood" and "School Skills") fit inside the book and, thanks to microchip technology, kids can read, count, talk, and sing along with characters using a handy stylus as a pointer. They can stop the story whenever they like to figure out words, phrases and puzzles along the way. Buttons for letters, words, music, and "surprises" are within finger-distance, and so is a full reference of capital and lower-case letters. There are also 60 or more learning activities stored in the book, designed for kids between 3 and 8 years (or up to the 2nd grade). Activities range from simple (spelling, telling time, music) to more complex (problem-solving, comprehension, vocabulary). Required: four AA batteries. Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Don't waste your money!
I got the PowerTouch Learning System for my 3 years old son. He loved that until the day that he got tired of Elm's book. I went to look for the Dora's book and other books to buy for him. The Dora's is not for sale at any store and there are just few different books avaliable in the market. I got really frustated. I wish I had gotten the Leap frog, they have a way more books which keeps the toy very interesting for the kids. Another problem is that while playing with it, my son eventually touch other parts of the book with another areas of his hand when he points a figure, which make the PowerTouch Learning System starting spelling or reading another word instead of the one that he intended, making him confused at first. Even without touching the book, a closer approach to it, is more than enough to activate. Now I like the idea of the pen in the leap frog. I would never buy this toy again!

An attention getter!
We bought this for my 2 1/2 year old son for Christmas. He loved it and still does. He really does not care about the story too much. He mostly likes the music, counting, and pointing to pictures and it tells what the picture is. Its very durable. The only problem is the cartriages are small, but we try to keep the books and cartriages in a back pack. We bought all the books but he loves Ernie's Neighborhood and Blue's Clues the most. It was definately worth it!

Fisher Price does it again
My daughters got this gift for their second birthday even though the age on it is 3-8. At 2 1/2 they are still too young for it, so I really would go with the age limit on this toy. My 2 complaints with this electronic book is the books that go in the toy come in and out ever easily with is very annoying to my toddlers. I can't imagine at 3 they would be any better with the books though. To me, it seems like the system would work better if the books clipped in a bit better. Also some of the books seem "cheap" in their text. Example: Ernie's Neighborhood plays a song, "who are the people in our neighborhood" based on what the child is pointing at. Ernie sings most of the song and then some other voice chimes in with "police man" or "mail carrier", then Ernie continues to sings. Seems to me they could of spent more $$$ on the books development as well.

What I do like about this system is the fact the girls can use their fingers and not a pen to use the books. Plus the girls really seem to like this toy. I hope FP gets some better books soon.

One of my children's favorites!
We'd considered the Leap Pad for my daughter when she was 2 1/2, but decided to go with this one. For one thing, there's no wand or pen with it; it's all done by touch, which is helpful for little ones who haven't perfected their fine motor skills yet. It's also nice, because a wand or pen can be used as a weapon against siblings or parents! I also checked the durability of the books that come with it, because in addition to my daughter we also have an 18 month old, and he would be pulling on the pages. We've never had a page rip yet; they're very strong. My favorite thing about this product, though, is the fact that it even works without a book inserted! The plastic casing itself has the alphabet on it, so you can push the letters and play even when the insert books have been temporarily misplaced.

My daughter is 3 now, and has played with this nonstop for the last 6 months, and her younger brother (18 months) adores it as well. My children aren't "gifted" or anything; I'd say they're prefectly average, and they're able to work the Power Touch very easily, yet not so easily that they get bored. I highly recommend this product!

Do not recommend
I do not recommend purchasing the Power Touch Learning System because there have been no new books developed that I can see. And, at the back of some of the books it shows a Dora Explorer Book, and an additional Clifford book that are not offered anywhere, my son and I look in every store, I have searched the web and search engines. Basically Fisher-Price is not supporting this system, so I wish I had purchased the Leap Frog system. Although the Leap Pad we had when my son was younger had some problems with the stylus not touching correctly and giving incorrect answers, at least it has plenty of books and support. My son is 4 years old, has done all the Power Touch books and doesn't use it anymore, he's become bored with all the same books, he rather play with his old Leap Pad. And in the stores, you quickly see how much more there is available for the Leap Frog, and I think the stylus is also a great learning tool for practicing holding pencils/pens. Hopefully Fisher-Price will introduce new books soon, and this problem won't be such an issue. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Toot-toot! All aboard for lunch with the very functional Thomas the Tanklunch box, which is made of durable plastic and comes in the traditional Thomasblue with a red handle. Inside the generous container are an 11.5-ounce canteenand a Pecoware double-deck sandwich container, which measures 5 by 5 by 3inches. Both are adorned with Thomas scenes. On the front of the lunch box is anifty front panel--decorated with another happy Thomas scene--that clips open.This compartment is big enough to accommodate another sandwich or is the perfecthiding place to tuck away a secret goodie for your child. Press a button on theside of the canteen, and the cover pops up, revealing a straw. No muss, no fuss.The lunch box measures 9 by 7 by 4.5 inches and can hold a lot of food--forchildren or adults! --Diane Tuman ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Most Adorable Lunchbox
This Thomas Train Lunchbox is GREAT! My three year old son was so excited when he saw it for the first time. It is spacious and well constructed. The compartments are large and there are multiple options for use with each piece. The kids (ages 3-5) in his preschool class went crazy when he brought it to school. It is a one of a kind.

Retro cool
I gave this 5 stars for fun, because my son loved it from day one, and would not leave the store without it. He played with it for days while we waited for school to reopen after Christmas.

I rated it 5 stars for educational value, because it made him want to go to school, which is a significant educational achievement indeed.

Unfortunately, I had to mark it down, because the water bottle is already broken at the point where the button to press it open meets the cap. Also, the straw is hard to clean, especially after a young child eats a cheesy snack and nibbles on the straw.
Lastly, the front compartment is very difficult to open, especially for a young child, so you end up not using that section at all.

Other than these, it's tough, it's cute, and it's a retro look that parents remember all too well. Substitute another bottle, and enjoy.

now in its fifth year of use and still going strong!
This is THE lunchbox to get! My six year old son received this as a gift for his first birthday. I didn't think much of it at the time. HA! Little did I know how much we would use this durable and practical lunch box set! I can pack his lunch everyday without one piece of plastic wrap or one plastic baggie! A sandwich fits perfectly in the tray provided and stays fresh and soft until lunch time! Under the sandwich I pack fruit, pretzels or other snacks....again without any plastic wrap or baggy! I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!

Cute item for your Thomas fan, but...
A friend of mine bought this lunchbox for my son and he loved it as soon as he got it. He's 4 and not in kindergarten yet, so this only gets used from time to time when we go out to lunch, etc. It can also be used to carry along small toys, trains, or whatever. Another reviewer has said hers cracked after it was dropped. I can't really comment too much on that since ours hasn't been dropped (yet). The lunchbox is pretty roomy on the inside and even has a side compartment too! There's a snack box inside with a little tray which basically divides it into two compartments. I usually put a sandwich on top and put other things underneath. The biggest problem with the whole set is the cup that comes with it. It is really cute, but leaks into the lunchbox frequently and is a MAJOR PAIN to clean. There's a little spring loaded straw that pops up when you open the top, and goes back down when you close it. You basically have to disassemble these parts each time you clean it and let them dry, then put the whole thing back together again. I think they could've included a simple thermos or something that would have been much easier to use and clean. My son loves the design of the box, so I would recommend this lunchbox. However, I would leave the cup at home and throw in a juice box or something instead!!

The Thomas Lunch Box
My 3 year old son has this lunchbox and he dropped it and it cracked. It's not very durable. Also, it has a compartment for an ice pack, but didn't come with one. It is very difficult to find an ice pack for the size of the compartment. On a good note, he loves the drinking cup and snack box. ... Read more