Gear Diary I Want to Read eBooks When I Grow Up! photo
(image courtesy Kidsbabydesign)

Kids! Tired of having to carry a stack of books with you? Think Mom or Dad’s Kindle is boring, but still want to be just like them? Now’s your chance, with not one but two ebook readers available to you!

Gear Diary I Want to Read eBooks When I Grow Up! photo
(image courtesy Engadget)

First up, we’ve got the Fisher Price iXL. Yes, we stuck the “i” designation in there to help further the illusion this is as cool as an Apple product. Look, we’re even using an icon-based menu screen! And we have ebooks! Plus, what 3 year old doesn’t need to learn how to use a stylus? Play games, read ebooks, listen to music, avoid your chores because you’re busy playing games, just like a grown-up! (via Engadget)

Gear Diary I Want to Read eBooks When I Grow Up! photo
(image courtesy ChipChicklets)

If the iXL is too multipurpose for you, how about a plain eBook reader? VTech has you covered with the VTech Flip! It has color and reads along with you! The Flip is so advanced it’s beaten everyone to the color punch, and guarantees more of its title will offer text-to-speech than the Kindle can! Great for adults too, as long as they don’t mind being limited to Shrek and Mickey Mouse themed titles! (via Teleread)

In all seriousness, it’s exciting to see ebook readers appearing for children. Kids are more comfortable than ever with technology, and if reading a book on a kid-themed ebook reader means a child sits down and reads more than they did with the paper versions, that’s great. Plus I would imagine having the ability to read along with the book, and play interactive games within the book, adds to the learning experience and adds that many more positive associations with literature!

I know when I was a kid I would have been all over these kinds of devices! If you are a parent, is this something you would want your kids to have? Do your kids have any similar devices? Let us know in the comments!

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Carly has been a gadget fiend for a long time, going back to her first PDA (a Palm M100). She quickly went from researching what PDA to buy to following tech news closely and keeping up with the latest and greatest stuff. She loves writing about ebooks because they combine her two favorite activities; reading anything and everything, and talking about fun new tech toys. What could be better?


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