In a world of smartphones that do everything but part the Red Sea, it was only a matter of time before toy manufacturers came up with a toy based on these devices. Enter LeapFrog's Text & Learn (ages 3 to 5, currently on sale at $17.59 direct). LeapFrog bills the Text & Learn as a learning PDA for the kiddies with an emphasis on spelling and basic computer activities.

The Text & Learn isn't an actual PDA: It doesn't connect online and can't actually store any data. It's just meant to look like one. The toy measures approximately 6 by 3.75 inches (HW) and comes in LeapFrog's signature green and white. It runs on three AAA batteries. The sides have some wide grooves etched into them for better grip.

The On switch is located on the upper right side of the device, with two volume modes (low and high). The LED screen at the top of the device measures 2.5 by 3.5 inches and is reminiscent of those old-school displays that used to sit on top of word processors. Right below the screen are three mode buttons and below that are four arrow keys (left, right, up, and down) along with a button with a paw icon in the middle that functions as the Select or OK button. A QWERTY keyboard sits below the arrow keys.

The QWERTY setup may be difficult for kids to master if they are used to seeing letters in alphabetical order. But I thought it was a smart idea, given that most devices (including laptops and desktop keyboards) have a QWERTY layout. The keys feel softer than typical keyboard keys but are still responsive.

The first mode button, marked by a capital A, brings up Scout's image. Move the arrow keys, and Scout will turn his head in that arrow's direction; press the paw key and Scout does a little boogie.

The middle mode button, marked by a bouncing ball, offers two games: a map game and a bubble letter game. The map game uses the arrow keys to move Scout to the correct shape. In the bubble game, bubbles appear on screen with a letter in each. Kids push the corresponding letter on the keyboard to pop the balloon.

The third mode button, marked by an @ sign, offers a choice of music, text messages, and calendar. The Music choice brings up Scout dancing to salsa, and Text Message brings up an incoming text message from Scout. Kids are then prompted to "send" a text message to Scout by clicking on a letter or typing a word, and push the Paw button. I'd have liked if the toy either sounded out the letters or word typed in, but it simply "sends" the message to Scout, who then thanks the kids.

The Calendar selection has Scout bouncing through every day of the week, and kids are prompted to push the left and right arrows to move Scout to a different day. Then Scout announces what he would do on that particular day.

When kids push the letters on the QWERTY keyboard Text & Learn shows the letter, says the letter, sounds it out, and gives examples of words starting with that letter.

All this functionality is well and good, but will the Text & Learn actually be a hit with the kids? I turned to a veteran tot tester, my 5-year-old son Jake, to find out.

Jake is no stranger to technology, having spent quality time on the family desktop playing games on the Noggin and PBS kids' Web sites (he even has a Favorites folder on our browser). And I know that he's been fascinated by PDAs ever since his uncle Todd let him play with his Treo. When I handed Jake the Text & Learn, the first thing he did was ask me where the On button was. He was soon engrossed in playing.

Jake found the instruction to "press the mode buttons" confusing. It took some trial and error, but he figured his way around the Text & Learn on his own. He wasn't that interested in sounding out the letters, but the games and calendar mode definitely captured his attention.

The Text & Learn is a great toy at what I consider a very reasonable price. It won't, thank goodness, actually function as a PDA, but it does offer enough activities to keep its target audience--3 to 6 year olds--happily occupied. I appreciated that rather than go with the bells and whistles that are prevalent in most "game" devices, Leapfrog stuck with basic graphics and simple games. And I am especially appreciative of the learning component of all the games.

My only real nit: I wish that LeapFrog had painted the mode buttons, and instructed kids to press the yellow key, for example, instead of the mode keys. Overall, however, I think this is a solid educational and fun toy, one that I won't be worried to put into my son's hands.

Now, has anyone seen my CrackBerry? It was just a here a minute ago...

Posted by Laarni Almendrala Ragaza