There are so many enchanting, engaging children's books, but V.Tech seems to think there's a market for a kiddie Kindle. They've recently introduced the V.Reader to "make storytelling come alive with animation and sounds."
V.Tech suggests the pint-sized e-reader is ideal for children learning to read, but what most troubles us is that the reader features "your child's favorite characters" which, from what we can tell from the website, includes Buzz Lightyear and Shrek not Pippi or Harold and his purple crayon. The Times just reviewed the V.Reader and not very favorably citing "sluggish page turns and choppy animation." The Frugal Novice, who was given a V.Reader by V.Tech to review, offers a more favorable review.
For now, the V.Reader is available exclusively at Target and costs $60. Additional "books" for the reader are purported to cost $20 each (not yet available) while some stories will be offered by V.Tech as a free download.
Learn more at V.Tech.

Shaw's Original Fir...
$20 a "book"?
I think I'll let my kid keep playing with my iPhone. Oh, and read real books.
Ugh. This completely disgusts me.
REAL BOOKS
LIBRARY
FREE
Yes- how about just reading a book. Even the iphone might teach more "life skills" than this thing.
http://thesweetest3.com/
my son loves it.
it turns my stomach. books- real books- read and enjoyed by real humans is what children need. this is junk.
Oh please... Like this is any different than children using technology in any other way. Great idea, but yes rather expensive.
FYI Shrek was a book before a movie... We looked at this at Target today and there were plenty of real books to select from.
My parents buy my daughter a VTech book and husband and I buy her board books. Sometimes she'll go to the VTech book, but she'll mostly gravitate to her board books and sit down on our laps so we can read together. It's whatever gets your kid wanting to read and learn.
I'd be interested in hearing the sounds and voices. VTech has a history of irritating the heck out of me.