Product Review: LeapFrog Tag Reading System

Product Reviewed: LeapFrog Tag Reading System (picture on right shown with additional Tag Reading System books)

Price: Retail for the Tag Reader is $49.99, but you can find it for less on LeapFrog.com when there's a promo or on Amazon.com it's $46.59. Look for coupons on LeapFrog.com... sometimes they are available.

Books for the Tag Reader retail for $13.99, but same goes... there are coupons sometimes available. We had a $5 off coupon for the Disney book we just bought last night, it was from the Sunday paper a few weeks ago.

Availability: LeapFrog.com, Amazon.com,Toys R Us,Target and I am sure there are lots of others places out there

Suggested Age Range: 4-8 years

Product Features:

• The LeapFrog Tag Reading System is available in green or pink.


• The amazing touch technology of the Tag Reading System encourages a child's love of reading as words talk, pictures sing and stories live out loud!


• The Tag library includes over 20 books and games featuring characters from TV, movies and classic tales.


• Tag storybooks and learning activities help children build vocabulary and reading skills such as word recognition, reading comprehension and phonics skills.


• Children learn to read through an exciting and interactive experience in which they can also earn online rewards.


• Parents can connect the Tag Reader to the online LeapFrog Learning Path to see what their child is learning, and explore ways to expand their child's learning journey.

What the Penny Pinching Parent family thinks....

So you know how you will see an advertisement for a product and think "that looks like a great toy" and then you get it home and you are a little bit disappointed. I think we have all fallen victim to some toy, gizmo or gadget that a company has managed to make look way cooler on TV than it was in real life.

Well, for the first time in I cannot tell you when, I think the opposite happened. I think that with the LeapFrog Tag Reading system they have done a truly awesome job of showing off the product in stores and online at LeapFrog.com, but this is one of those gizmo's or gadgets that you truly cannot appreciate until you get it home, hook it up and start experiencing it. For us, we thought it was even better than we expected.

Here's specifically what we love about the reading system...

Ease of use & set-up: The Tag Reading System was so easy to set-up. It requires 2 AAA batteries, which are super easy to install. It comes with an installation CD for your computer so you can "synch" the Reader and download the audio for your books, as well as keep track your child's progress and have them earn rewards on the Learning Path.

The whole installation literally took me minutes. Within 10-15 minutes I had installed the software, loaded the audio for 3 additional books on my daughter's Tag and was ready to go.

Almost endless possibilities & a grow with your child item: The reader comes with one book to start you off, Ozzie & Mack. There are a wide variety of additional books available, including classics like Dr. Seuss, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, The Little Engine That Could and newer favorites like Disney Princess Underwater Adventure, Cars, Spongebob Squarepants, Scooby Doo, Olivia, Dora & more.

Each book is packed full of not only reading, but games as well. Like I said, there are so many possibilities of what you can do... these books are so much more than books. I think it's the neatest thing that you can touch a word and have the Tag read the word... what a great tool for little ones just learning to read if they get stumped while reading.

The Tag Reader will hold 5 books at a time, so you can change books easily just by synching it and selecting which audio you would like to save to the Reader. It's a really easy process.... I promise!

Encourages parental involvement in reading & monitoring child's progress: I love the whole idea of the Tag synching up to the Learning Path and the idea of parents being involved in the progress their child is making and participating in reading with their child. The Tag definitely lends itself to be a parent/child together system. When you synch your Reader it keeps up with how many answers your child got right and your child can actually earn rewards. So... your child has something to be excited about and work towards, even if they are not a fan of reading.

Overall quality, performance & portability: The overall quality and performance of the Tag Reader is fantastic. The speaker on the Reader gives a nice clear sound that is pleasant and not computer generated sounding like some kids toys.

It's so small you can pack it and go. They make a Tag Reader carrying case... which we will probably look into so that my daughter. Based on her personality, I think having a specific case might help her take better care of it. Plus the case can store books, has a handle and would be great for car rides.

Video Comments & Review...

Just a side note for those of you with tots younger than 4...

My daughter is a wee bit young for the Tag on her own (she's 2), but we were able to try it out and with parental guidance she is able to enjoy it immensely. I think it's great because she is getting reading time and having fun with the Tag at the same time.

I did want to tell you though, they are coming out with a Tag Jr. this summer. It is geared for 2-4 year olds and looks every bit as cool as the bigger Tag. It will run about $34.99 and the books for the Tag Jr. will be $10.99 each.

Even though we have the Tag, I plan on picking this up the minute it hits the shelves.... it's a little chunkier version and would allow my daughter at 2, a little more independence. I think we have plenty of room in our house to be a Tag and a Tag Jr. household!

Disclosure: PennyPinchingParent.com did receive a Tag Reader and three books as part of this review.

Product Review: LeapFrog Tag Reading System