My First Story Reader - EC
Common Sense Note
Parents should know that this interactive reader not only lets kids hear stories and music, but also allows them to interact with the book. It could help parents learn new ways of reading to their kids. It comes with three stories, but parents will have to buy additional book sets (some of which include popular characters, such as Pooh).
Families might want to consider this type of reader if they have older siblings that want to interact with toddlers. Parents can watch how their kids use the reader, then replicate some of those same mathods when they read stories the old-fashioned way.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Jinny Gudmundsen
Reading books with babies and toddlers just got a little easier. With MY FIRST STORY READER, parents or caregivers of children under age 3 can participate in a multimedia story-reading session where a book is read aloud accompanied by music and sound effects.
My First Story Reader is a clamshell-shaped unit that measures roughly 9 by 9 inches. When opened, the plastic unit has an indentation in which to securely place plastic-covered cardboard books. The unit comes with three interchangeable Baby Einstein books: Discover Colors, Discover Music and Discover the Sky.
When a parent places a book inside the reader, it automatically reads aloud any pages that are open. The three Baby Einstein books, in rhyme, are accompanied by classical music and end with a sing-along song. Kids can add their own sound effects by pushing on one of three large geometrically-shaped, colored buttons located beneath the book.
My First Story Reader also offers a second mode of play: By pushing down on a toggle switch located on the right-hand side of the unit, kids can hear questions about things on the opened pages of the book. Children respond by hitting the requested button. If kids don't know their colors and shapes yet, the unit adjusts to ask open-ended questions for which any button is correct or causes the correct button to blink.
My First Story Reader can help first-time parents learn how to read to their children. It also allows older siblings to help to entertain and interact with their younger brothers and sisters.
My First Story Reader is a new version of the company's Story Reader and targeted to a younger age group; it is less expensive alternative to Fisher Price's PowerTouch Baby or Leapfrog's LittleTouch LeapPad, two interactive reading systems that respond to touches on the page.
Since babies and toddlers constantly touch objects on the page, some families have disliked the vocal repetition that these touch-sensitive systems produce. With My First Story Reader, toddlers can touch the pages as much as they want, and the interactivity only occurs when they hit the three big buttons located below the book.
My First Story Reader is an excellent addition to any toddler's reading library.
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CommercialismAdditional stories need to be purchased. Books include popular characters, such as Pooh. |
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