LeapFrog intros Tag Junior reading companion for children

LeapFrog's really into this learning stuff, apparently. Their latest offering, Tag Junior, is for the two- to four-year old age range, and it builds on the company's previous Tag Reading System tech. The toy "reads" aloud (via downloadable MP3s) using an infrared camera that can recognize letters and words on the page, and can store up to five books' worth of material at a time. The custom-made books for the device include such august characters as Winnie the Pooh and Dora the Explorer. Tag Junior will be available this summer for $34.99, with each book running $10.99. Anything that keeps them off the video games for a few hours a day is probably pretty cool.

[B3astofthe3ast @ Jan 27th 2009 6:47PM]

Would be way cooler if it could actually read any English text. Hell, lets go all out and make it read all languages, wiith translations and all!

[Jon A. @ Jan 27th 2009 6:53PM]

How would that be possible without using something the size of a desktop? But I understand that you're not saying that they should actually do it. Just that it would be cool. That cool... I guess.

But seriously, Engadget, what is up with the Sphere box?

[James @ Jan 27th 2009 7:45PM]

Or you could learn to read...i hear leapfrog can help you with that.

[Saad @ Jan 27th 2009 11:42PM]

I would never buy this for any kid. These gadgets have a tendency to sound a lot like satan in a box. Case in point, remember Speak and Spell?

[Decoy @ Jan 27th 2009 6:51PM]

Another great substitute for being there.

[B3astofthe3ast @ Jan 27th 2009 6:56PM]

Pretty soon the only things parents will ever need to do is not use birth control!

[BigD145 @ Jan 27th 2009 8:42PM]

Only if it can also change diapers.

[Jared @ Jan 27th 2009 7:04PM]

What the hell does "august characters" mean?

[Jon A. @ Jan 27th 2009 7:16PM]

The adjective "august" means majestic or divine. Maybe you need one of these...

...Or the ability to use an on-line dictionary.

[Tankyu @ Jan 27th 2009 7:20PM]

How is this different from books that read the pages out loud? I have a Winnie the Pooh book that does that, but nothing is as good as actually being there to read the book for your kid.

[Tohe @ Jan 27th 2009 7:51PM]

Why are Parents and LeapFrog mutually exclusive to you? I think it is great for both parent and child to interact together, and lets face it this toys are as much fun for you as they are for your kid, maybe more lol.

[Tankyu @ Jan 27th 2009 9:35PM]

@Tohe

I'm not knocking the idea, I was just stating that (in my opinion) reading a book to your child is better than the book reading itself. Plus, there's less rechargeable batteries to try and keep track of.

My personal favorites are the Scanimation books, which are great because they don't require batteries and are really cool.

[KissedToad @ Jan 27th 2009 7:20PM]

Really? So parents don't have to read to their kids anymore? I guess it is time to have a kid, SIGN ME UP!

[Tom G @ Jan 27th 2009 7:35PM]

Ive got some disappointing news for you about the process of signing up

[James @ Jan 27th 2009 7:47PM]

I hope you mean adoption because i dont think youre going to be getting laid anytime soon.

[xWhit3Devi1x @ Jan 27th 2009 7:31PM]

Does anybody except me think this thing looks like a white version of alien Hominid?

[garganananana @ Jan 27th 2009 8:57PM]

Alien Hominid FTMFW! But no, it looks completely different. Your eyes must suck. Should get them checked out.

[Tohe @ Jan 27th 2009 7:46PM]

I heart LeapFrog :)

[MikeB54 @ Jan 27th 2009 8:16PM]

When my kids were growing up, and using their first PC (an old 386, remember those?) the only things I let them use as "games" were things like Broderbund's "Living Books" series. They were great, and they really did a good job of teaching them to read. While a parent reading to a child can't be replaced, parents usually aren't patient enough to sit with a child and let them read through a passage, going through repetitious correcting of mispronounced words, etc. The Leapfrog stuff (which I have purchased for the kids of relatives and friends) do a fantastic job of doing what a parent usually doesn't do. I wouldn't use one in place of reading "Goodnight Moon" to my daughter to put her to sleep, but they are far, far better than sitting a kid in front of a video game.

If you trashed the concept, I think people should know if you have kids or not.

[papercu7 @ Jan 27th 2009 8:27PM]

Dude this reminds me of those awesome books I had when I was little, with the little disk looking things on each page, like a mini vinyl, and you put this yellow and red gadget over it and hit play and it read aloud. I used to read berenstain bears with that all the time when I was really little and thought it was awesome.

[Pxpioneer @ Jan 27th 2009 9:20PM]

You are all missing out on the magic of a literate butt plug

[Bad Beaver @ Jan 28th 2009 6:44AM]

Agreed. I can't wait for the upcoming video of someone proving it is well possible to talk from your ass...

[Jamus @ Jan 27th 2009 11:32PM]

The majority of the LeapFrog items are a HUGE cash sink ala razors and razorblades. The initial device is almost cheap, but those damned "books" are what kills you. They may be going for the $10 range with these, but some of their other items are in the $20+ range. After getting 5 or 6 add up the cost of the whole thing and you can easily hit the cost of an iPod Touch. Grab a Touch then load it up with the freebie learning apps. Kid gets bored? Grab a new app. Muuuuuuch better than the LeapFrog items when it comes to long term use (plus it can grow with them a bit more).

[Tankyu @ Jan 27th 2009 11:52PM]

You may be comfortable with giving your 2-yr old an Ipod Touch, but my money is not so disposable. What's the recommended age limit for the touch anyway?

[Bad Beaver @ Jan 28th 2009 6:42AM]

You know who should read to you? YOUR MOM! There's no substitute, no matter how eco-buttpluggish it looks. If folks at LeapFrog had any shame, they would at least sell this with a recording function so YOUR MOM can record some of her reading to be played to the sprogling while she's a away. But that would not milk 10.99 for a meager MP3 out of YOUR MOM's purse. Bleh.

[cocoa-loco @ Jan 29th 2009 7:01AM]

why not just read to your kids yourself?? Maybe it's just me but I think my son would like to hear my voice a lot better.

[Master Bruce @ Jan 28th 2009 1:46PM]

In the words of the great Bender: Have you ever tried simply turning off the TV, sitting down with your children, and hitting them?

[Steve @ Mar 26th 2009 1:44PM]

had to stifle a laugh - I'm at work... just glad to see the great works of modern culture still matter to someone!

[Steve @ Mar 26th 2009 1:50PM]

I think a lot of products from LF are the unfortunate result of very clever and thoughtful groups of people with generous and entrepreneurial intentions. Many parents are uncomfortable about this kind of thing because of guilt - shouldn't I be reading to the kids myself? Then we go buy them out of a feeling of obligation and keeping up with the Joneses (who bought their second level of this LF gadget for their kid the same age just last week - what's wrong with our kid?), and it turns out to be a dud for our kids because every person learns differently.

LF product design is way ahead of its research, and parents are ill-equipped to understand what works without time-consuming trial and error or money-consuming trial and error. Guess which they choose. There's the LF business model.

[Toy Whimsy @ Mar 31st 2009 7:00PM]

We have just posted the first review of the Tag Junior which includes video and a lengthy parent review. http://www.toywhimsy.com/2009/03/tag-junior-exclusive-tiny-toy-tester-review.html
Enjoy!