VTech’s new portable Whiz Kid Learning System lets kids choose from 40 activity pages, place the page into the Whiz Pad, and it comes to life with more than 120 activities. The Whiz Kid grows with young readers through a series of learning curriculum that meets the user’s skill level. The “Story Bytes” activity, for instance, encourages beginning readers to read along with the story and sound out words.  Kids can also connect the Whiz Pad to their computer to play activities, track their progress or replace lost or damaged activity pages by printing out new ones.  Whiz Kid includes the Wondertown Whizware™ (software) title, which features a focused reading program and activities that help teach counting and encourage creativity.  Older kids can even transform the Whiz Pad into a piano keyboard or typing keyboard. Additional Whizware titles include character favorites such as Bob the Builder, Dora the Explorer, Spider-Man and Friends, Scooby-Doo, and Thomas & Friends (ERP: $19.99 each).  Launch date: Fall 2007.

This kid-friendly digital and movie camera hooks up to the computer or TV for photo and video playback. This multimedia device has 16MB of built-in memory, which is enough to store more than 120 photos or five minutes of digital video. It also features an editing tool with wacky effects, preschool games, two interchangeable face plates and headphones. Launch date: Fall 2007.

It's a digital camera, movie camera, MP3 player and FM radio in one small, well, gadget. It can also be used to send and receive both voice and text messages, download from the Internet and play games. It features a color hi-res screen and storage space for 100 photos, 26 songs or 20 minutes of digital video. After kids have used Gadget to create their latest masterpieces, they can attach the gadget to a printer or the TV for instant viewing of photos and movies. Launch date: August 2007.

This colorful system comes with a colorful panel that fits in the child’s lab and connects wirelessly to a receiver that hooks into the TV. The signal work from 9 feet away, and parents can choose from three grow-with-me play modes – Play Time, Watch & Learn, and Learn & Explore. The system works with Baby Smartridges, which each feature five learning games with 10 different baby signs. This product was named one of the Top 100 Best Children’s Products of 2006 by Dr. Toy, and requires 4 AA batteries.

Parents can give boring paints and pens the brush off and add some dimension to their child’s designs with the V.Smile Art Studio. With this powerful electronic palette and pen, children can project their creations right onto the TV screen. The kit includes 12 art activities that allow kids to not only mix colors, create shapes and animate, but also to take drawing lessons. The Studio allows kids to save their work. It connects directly to the V.Smile TV Learning System to create virtual art on the TV screen.

Parents can get their children’s legs jumping and hearts pumping with the V.Smile Jammin’ Gym Class. This high-energy toy is a jam, bam and slam with kids — and with parents who want to give their children a jump-start in sports. The soft, oversized exercise mat gives children room to zoom and connects easily to V.Smile for beginner and advanced level lessons in letters, numbers, colors, spelling, health and more. It’s never too early to encourage a healthy lifestyle with the V.Smile Jammin’ Gym Class.

The Write and Learn series emphasizes writing skills. Released at the end of July, it starts children with doodling and guides them to writing letters and numbers. As part of the series, the Lightboard features a chunky stylus perfectly sized for a childīs hands. Itīs 14" x 12" x 15.7".

The top-selling V.Smile from Vtech now comes in a pocket-sized version. This handheld console, fueled by five AA batteries, plays the same smartridge cartridge games which run in the V.Smile. This system is ideal for long car trips and pre-bedtime fun.