VTech V.Reader Reading System Review (& Giveaway Ends 7/13)

V.Reader Animated e-Reading System– Ages 3 to 7

ABOUT:

Budding readers hone their reading skills, with great fun, on this touch-and-read e-reader.

Animated Storyteller:
Stories come to life through vivid animation, narration, character voices, graphics, sounds and music. Young children engage with stories by watching, reading and learning. They follow their favorite character’s voice, play reading games and use the story dictionary.

Downloadable Fun:
With a rich download library, more than 100 additional stories will be available via a download library located on the VTech Web site (www.vtechkids.com), including some free titles, more themes and avatars to customize their e-readers. V.Reader is compatible with a PC or Mac computer.

Track Progress:
Parents can join in on the fun and learning process with the features that include progress reports and reading certificates.

Lovable Characters:
Children’s favorite licensed characters come to life and help them learn with 11 software options (with more titles to be added in the near future).

Touch and Read System:
Kids have two play options – listen and follow along to the story as read by animated characters; or touch the screen and play reading games to learn each word or sentence.

Reading Skills:
Your child learns the necessary building blocks to grow into a fluent reader. V.Reader teaches reading comprehension, vocabulary, phonics and word building, along with a story dictionary that describes word definitions in a manner that’s easy for them to comprehend.

MY THOUGHTS:

Okay so I am a book lover, I would read all day if I could, and I hope that some day my boys will be too.  I can’t wait for the days of library trips and seeing my boys smile over a great story.  I am even looking forward to the day of reading my Harry Potter collection to them. For now though I have tried hard to get my 3 year old interested in books and he is such a technology addict that reading a book is not his thing.  Hopefully later on, but for now I am trying to get him interested in reading and the V.Reader by VTech is pretty cool!  It is not only a device that reads a story to your child, but also so much more!

It is touch screen, but does include a stylus pen to use, although I have not yet showed my 3 year old it because I am afraid he will loose it – you don’t need it to play or read that I have encountered so far.  It does have a plastic cover that gets in the way a little bit, but I do love that it protects the screen.  I love the durability of the rubber sides, as it has withstood many drops and abuse of my boys!  I have tried other readers before with my boys and there have been too many components of books, cartridges, and a device.  Now with the V.Reader the books are gone as it is all touch screen, you do still have to buy cartridges but they include so much.  Also, I am very excited about the VTech Download Manager that you can download books to your V.Reader just like a Kindle, with many being Free!  (It is coming in July.)

The V.Reader features stories on the screen, not like a movie which I didn’t want, but like looking at an actual book.  Then you can click on words to hear the definitions, hear the words again, and next you can play games that are of course all educational!  The games are learning games including spelling, sounds and more.

You do get one book with the V.Reader that my son seems to love, but I will definitely be purchasing some new books as soon as they are available as there is not too much to do.  My son will also want the popular characters that will be available in the new books.  Also, my son is just learning but the game is a little hard for him but I know he will pick it up quickly.  He is enjoying the story now and loves to click on the words, and anyways if the game was too easy then he would outgrow it too fast.  I also think it is funny that my son likes the V.Reader so much he is torn between that and the VTech MobiGo.  Overall, I would recommend this device as it is definitely unique and I can see it growing with my child.  The cartridges also improve reading skills as your child grows and again I am super excited about the ability to download more books, especially for free!

BUY IT: V.Reader will be available exclusively at Target stores and online beginning June 21 (some stores may already carry it, but the official date is June 21).

GIVEAWAY: (1) winner will receive a VTech V.Reader Reading System

WIN IT: Comment on what you like best about the VTech V.Reader Reading System or what book you would buy first!

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Please leave me a comment for EACH entry and your email address if it is not in your profile for each entry that you complete above so I can accurately pick a winner. This contest ends on July 13 , 2010. Thanks everyone and good luck! Also, if you just put a generic comment like “I want to Win” then I will have to disqualify you. This contest is only open to US residents.

Mama’s Money Savers Disclosure: I was given a V.Reader by VTech for my review. I was allowed to keep the product, but the opinion I am sharing remains my own.