Posted on 4/8/11 by Bryan Keithley · Comments
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Child's Play: E-Reading for the Little Ones
The Kindle and other popular e-book readers are great for grown-ups, but what about the kids? You remember being a kid: a wall of text isn't that interesting, whether it's in a book or on an LCD screen. A great e-reading option for kids has to have a sense of fun, and it definitely has to have some multimedia dazzle to spice up the text—but not too much, of course, as you want your kids learning, not just looking at pretty pictures. We think the V.Reader by VTech does the job admirably.
Designed for children three to seven, the V.Reader is more “interactive learning tablet” than a straight-up e-book reader. Nonetheless, the device puts the focus where it needs to be: the text. Kids can read the story line by line and page by page, and can choose to have the text read aloud (via built-in speaker). They can also use the included stylus to tap words on the screen and have only those words read aloud. A dictionary comes along with the story, ready to help your child out with any tough words.
All along, the text is accompanied by fun music, sound effects, and animation, just to make things interesting. And VTech has an A-list cast of characters along for the ride, including Dora the Explorer, Elmo, the Disney princesses, Spongebob Squarepants, and Shrek, virtually eliminating any “this isn't cool” naysaying. And along with storybook tales, readers will be treated to related games that put their reading comprehension skills to the test.
The V.Reader features a colorful, kidproof design, with friendly curves and rounded edges. It's also more durable than your Kindle, perfect for the... enthusiastic... handling it will endure. The device retails for $59.99, though it can be had for around $49.99 on Amazon and elsewhere. Stories come on cartridges that sell for $19.99—a little pricier than a normal new e-book, but considering the interactive games and multimedia presentation, not terrible. You can also download books online—even free ones—via the V.Reader's USB connectivity.
Note that VTech's answer to an “ipad for kids,” the InnoPad, is announced and slated for a Fall 2011 release. Also an interactive learning tablet and e-reader, it's skewed for slightly older kids—four to nine—and it has more robust touchscreen features so the young'uns can feel like a real iPadder. Do you wait for the InnoPad, or go with the V.Reader? It depends on the age of your child or children—older kids might think the V.Reader is “for babies,” while the InnoPad looks a little more grown-up—but honestly the two tablets look to offer very similar e-reading experiences.
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