I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who isn’t a fan of the LeapFrog line of learning toys and accessories. We bought the LeapPad years ago along with the original Leapster. Since then I’ve reviewed the Zippity Learning System and Tag and Tag Junior Learning Systems and my kids are still enjoying “reading” books with those nifty handheld devices.

When I heard about LeapFrog’s new Leapster Explorer, I jumped at the chance to review one…in pink, of course. We already had a green Leapster for George, so it was only fair Livi had one to call her own as well! (Green Leapster Explorer pictured below.)

Before I tell you how much both my kids love our new Leapster Explorer (and play it all the time and beg me to “buy” more shampoo for their dogs and fight over whose turn it is to play), here are a few details about this new LeapFrog learning tool:

• LeapFrog’s most powerful gameplay yet; includes Flash and 3D graphics and the biggest, brightest touch-screen.


• Children can create a personal on-board pet, take it with them into LeapWorld and back again onto Leapster Explorer, earning treats and accessories for their pet along the way.


• Auto-leveling gameplay; the system stores information about a child’s progress and adjusts game and challenges so kids can learn at their own pace.


• Variety of experiences (literacy skill-building, phonics, mathematics, music, animals and geographical landscapes to name a few).


• For children ages 4 to 9.

That’s a lot of good stuff in one little handheld device! And that good stuff has kept my kids, especially Livi (only three but super mature for her age) occupied for hours on end.

Wait, I don’t let them play the Leapster Explorer for hours, promise. But with only three games (Penguins of Madagascar, Disney Princesses and Toy Story), it’s pretty impressive they have yet to tire of it. Like I mentioned before, Livi is constantly asking for more shampoo, which I can buy on LeapWorld with tokens she’s earned playing the games.

At less than $60, Leapster Explorer is a fabulous holiday gift, especially if you want to keep the kids entertained while you take that much needed Christmas Day nap!—Emily

I. Love. LeapFrog. That pretty much says it all. The company has sent me their Tag Reader and Tag Junior to review on Boutique Cafe’s Daily Dish and adore them both, as do my kids ranging in age from 2 to 12. Okay, so maybe the 12-year-old doesn’t use the Tag Readers but she did think they were super cool. Basically, whenever LeapFrog has a new product they want me to review on the Daily Dish I’m all over it…because I know my kids will be too.

The latest addition to LeapFrog’s line of electronic learning products is the Zippity Learning System. This not-so-little gadget is sort of Dance Dance Revolution meets Wii meets old-school Atari controller—but for 3- to 5-year-old children. The set consists of an interactive mat and “bopper” plus a small console that plugs into the television. The console has places for extra games but already comes with 8 games (2 levels each) featuring fave Playhouse Disney shows like My Friends Tigger & Pooh, Handy Manny, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Little Einsteins. (Anyone else absolutely adore Little Einsteins?) You can also purchase separate games with other popular characters like Lightning McQueen and those ever-effervescent Disney princesses.

George was so excited to try out his new Zippity he kept asking how soon ‘til Dad was home he could play it. (Yes, I could have set it up but I love giving Dad a chance to get involved with these reviews.) But George couldn’t wait so big sister got it all plugged in and set up for him. After that it only took a few false starts to help George understand how the mat and bopper worked and away he went trying out each game (easy level only) and finding out his faves; he really enjoyed making June and Goofy dance and helping Handy Manny’s tools fix things. Don’t believe me? Here’s a little video for you:

And just like the Tag Reader and Tag Junior, the Zippity offers the built-in Learning Path so you can track the skills your child is exploring as they learn and play. It’s really pretty cool. Though I love the Zippity I will say a couple things bothered me. One, the amount of batteries this puppy takes. I think it’s like 4 C batteries for both the console and the mat…and I have yet to find rechargeable size C batteries. (We’re big fans of rechargeable batteries around here.) And two, even though the games are geared towards 3-year-olds and up, the easy levels moved a bit too slowly for both George and me. Touted as an “active” learning system, the only time George really got moving was when he free danced with June, and he was moving way too fast for the game to keep up with him!

But all in all the Zippity is a huge hit at our house and would make a great holiday gift for the preschooler in your home. Even Livi had a great time taking a turn on the mat—after she gave her sister the count of three to do something. (Who do you suppose she got that from?) Check out this outtake video:

*** Giveaway LeapFrog is giving away one (1) Zippity Learning System to a lucky Daily Dish reader (and $80 value)! Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway:

•  Visit LeapFrog.com and leave a comment telling us your favorite LeapFrog product.
•  Become a fan of LeapFrog on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you’re their newest fan.
•  Follow LeapFrog on Twitter and leave a comment telling is you’re their newest follower.
•  Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
•  Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL to your blog post.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: November 12, 2009 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

• Congratulations to Sky S., the winner of the Zippity giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

if you’ve read my past LeapFrog reviews then you know I’m a big fan of the Tag reader. My three-year-old loves using the Tag reader to hear the dinosaurs in T. Rex’s Might Roar really roar and the critters in Ozzie and Mack chatter away. The only problem is, he’s still a bit young to truly get the idea behind using the Tag for more than play, and perhaps that’s my fault for not spending more time with him. Then again, I’m all about learning through play so it’s been a great experience so far!

Even so, in the back of my mind I thought it would be nice if there were a similar product for the slightly younger set, of which I have two in our family. Not surprisingly LeapFrog had the same idea and now you can find the Tag Junior on store shelves. This cute, chunky, perfect-for-little-hands reader uses the same technology as the original Tag but its library is made up of board books (yay for board books!) and is designed for children ages two to four. Little ones can hear stories, sound effects and music every time they place, or “stamp,” the Tag Junior on the pages of a Tag Junior book. And the library includes everything from ABC’s to Dr. Suess to Winnie the Pooh.

We received the new Tag Junior for George to review, but alas, we had issues…and not with the reader itself. First we didn’t have any AAA batteries, and then I bout AAA rechargeable batteries but the charger wasn’t working. We finally got the charger working and then couldn’t find the Tag Junior. Found the Tag Junior and then couldn’t find the accompanying book, If I Were…—and we still can’t find the book. But I will say the Tag Junior is still a hit without the book. My almost-two-year-old loves the sounds it makes and its perfect even for her little hands. I so totally love our original Tag I am desperately looking for If I Were…. My little ones (and my older ones) are just as anxious as I am to see this little guy in action!

Like the Tag, the Tag Junior also lets you track your child’s progress with LeapFrog’s Learning Path. Learning Path lets you see what skills your child is learning and find related articles and activities to help them refine those skills. It is truly an awesome product and awesome program. And with weeks still left in summer, the Tag Junior is a great way to mix things up when it’s 100+ degrees outside and Blue’s Clues is no longer cutting it. The Tag Junior starter set is only about $35 for the reader and the book; additional books are only about $10. (Note: As of right now you can not use the original Tag on Tag Junior books.)—Emily

Last September I reviewed LeapFrog’s uber popular (and for good reason) Tag reader. This little handheld reading wonder is still a big hit with all our kids, whether 18 months or 11 years, and we are continually adding books to the collection. Hint: it’s the gift that keeps on giving—and gives Grandma and Grandpa a great idea for birthdays!

Did you know March is National Reading Month? To be honest, I had no clue until I received an email from LeapFrog telling me about its latest effort “to bring attention to literacy and encourage families to make time to read together.” As if introducing the Tag reader to the world wasn’t enough, LeapFrog has launched its 1 Million Reading Hours campaign in conjunction with the NEA’s National Reading Month.

What is the idea behind the 1 Million Reading Hours campaign? By pledging to set aside at least 10 minutes a day, parents can contribute to the national goal of 1 million reading hours. But it’s not just about achieving a goal. When parents pledge to spend more time reading together with their children they reinforce the importance of shared reading time in their own family. So how does the program—and the giveaway—work? Here are the details:

Visit the 1 Million Reading Pledge page on LeapFrog’s site and enter the number of minutes you pledge to read per day. That’s pretty much it! All participants will receive special rewards and offers from LeapFrog—if they give you one on the Tag reader, use it! Now for the giveaway…and this is the super fabulous part. (Okay, spending quality time reading with your child is the “real” benefit, but let’s be honest…a giveaway doesn’t hurt!)

LeapFrog is giving one lucky Daily Dish reader:

• One Tag reader plus 5 books for personal use AND


• One expanded-memory LeapFrog School Tag reader plus 10 books to donate to their local library

To enter the giveaway you will need to visit the 1 Million Reading Pledge page and enter your pledge. (Yes, I mentioned this before but as we all know, some people don’t catch it the first time.) Then return to this post and leave a comment telling us how much time you pledged in LeapFrog’s 1 Million Reading Hours. On April 1st we will draw the winner from the comments posted below. (Please include a valid email address for our drawing.)

P.S. We’re not going to check LeapFrog’s records to see who really visited the site and made a pledge; we’re all about the honor system here at Boutique Cafe. Just know you’ll feel really guilty if you didn’t pledge and end up winning…

• Congratulations to Johannah B., the winner of the Tag Reader giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!