LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book
(LeapFrog $17.99)
This interactive talking book is a responsive toy that will say the name of each image as it is touched. Put the setting on English or Spanish—this is a bilingual toy. Push the setting to the search mode and they get more than the simple name of the image—they get “fun facts.” Push the setting to the musical notes and they get the sounds that the animal or object typically makes. There are pages of animals, foods, clothes, colors, body parts, and more. Modeled after knowing and naming books that are usually shared with toddlers, the pages of this electronic book are sturdy but much busier than a typical toddler book with a single image on each page. There are multiple images on each page, making it harder to focus on for the youngest pre-reader. Like the classic Richard Scary books, these busy pages may be more appropriate for threes and fours, although the toy is marked for 18 months and up. We think older toddlers and young preschoolers will like the independence of using this for solo pre-reading time, once they learn how to activate it. It will not replace Scary's busy books that have a story without words happening on every page. It will not replace real books with an engaging story and handsome illustrations, but it may help stretch their knowing and naming speaking vocabulary.
Ages: Older toddlers, Preschoolers
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2018
