We’re huge fans of picture books here, and also of LeapFrog products. We’ve got a LeapReader, which Smallest very much enjoys, but this is our first encounter with a LeapReader Junior, and I have to say, I’m sold on it, as is Tigerboy. It’s just the right size for his chubby gorgeous little hands, *and* it knows his name!
(You have to connect it with the downloadable LeapFrog Connect app to get the name set up, and also to download audio for books. Tip: do this *before* your child sees the toy! You’ll thank me for that one 😉 )
The picture book itself, Animals around the world, is definitely up to being read as a normal board or picture book. With 11 double page spreads taking you on a journey around the world, from day to night, it would make a good bedtime story, and the easy rhyming makes it a good read aloud. There’s also a glossary page at the back of all the animals, which tells you their names and asks you questions about them. The pictures do look a little fuzzy at a distance (it’s not just my camera work!), this is (I assume) because of the way they’re designed for the LeapReader junior to interact with them as it’s held over the book.
This interaction is when the book and toy come into their own. As well as the text that you can read aloud with your child, there’s all sorts of extra interaction sprinkled through the book. From the very first page where there’s a farm which has pigs that oink and chicks that cluck, there is huge amounts to explore. You can count octopus legs, learn what the young of each species is called, and explore habitats all around the world, from deserts, to the Antarctic, under the sea to domestic animals in the bedroom. And of course, Scout will read the text out too 😉
The books come in at a similar price to many standard board books, and the
LeapFrog LeapReader Junior
is currently on offer at £14.99 at Argos (affiliate link)
They have some books on offer too, starting at around 5.99
You can find out more about the full range on LeapFrog and don’t forget to check in on Facebook and Twitter.
Disclosure: The LeapReader junior and book were supplied as part of my involvement with the LeapFrog ambassador scheme. Links are affiliate links.
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