LeapFrog Breaks New Ground with New Products

Feb. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LeapFrog today announced a wide range of additions and updates to its award-winning learning platforms, including notable new product and technology advances, new age category products, an expansion of the rich library of titles and new second language learning products. With more than 15 new learning products and 74 additional software titles, LeapFrog continues to lead the electronic learning market with innovative learning products that engage children from birth to high school.

"LeapFrog products represent the gold standard in educational toys. When we entered the toy industry almost ten years ago, we set the bar for educational toys high because our products offer a proven approach to learning," explained Tom Kalinske, Chief Executive Officer of LeapFrog. "And the learning does not stop with one product because we have built a product line that children can grow with."

"LeapFrog helped define what educational toys mean in today's world. Through fun-based, engaging play that capitalizes on children's natural curiosity to support learning, the company has established itself as the category leader," said Chris Byrne, toy and children's lifestyle expert. "Since its entree into the industry, the LeapFrog brand has established itself as a brand that's synonymous with learning and fun with parents, and most importantly, with kids."

LeapFrog Infant and Toddler Line Proves It Is Never Too Early To Learn
LeapFrog baby products encourage the development of essential learning skills that help build the foundation for learning that eventually leads to preschool readiness. In 2004, LeapFrog extends its commitment to early learning with five new products for the Infant/Toddler category:

Learning Band Walker -- The Learning Band walker encourages baby's first steps with upbeat music, learning songs and band instruments that move when baby pushes along and encourages baby to learn the alphabet, counting, colors and shapes.

Learning Friends Phonic Bus Interactive Vehicle -- The Learning Friends Phonic Bus introduces letter names, letter sounds and music through friendly, interactive characters and vehicle play.

Baby Counting Pal Plush -- The Baby Counting Pal plush is an on-the-go, multi-sensory learning toy that attaches almost anywhere and encourages hands-on, tactile play. It teaches early learning concepts such as numbers, counting and colors through songs and a colorful garden theme.

Fridge Farm Magnetic Animal Set -- The Fridge Farm magnetic animal set introduces animal names, animal sounds and colors through silly and creative match play with a farm house that attaches to the refrigerator or that can be played on the floor.

See & Learn Driver -- The See and Learn driver introduces toddlers to imaginative play through five learning activities, lively animations, realistic car sounds and cheerful learning songs. Through driving play toddlers learn uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, first words and music appreciation.

LeapFrog Preschool Line Teaches Eager Learners
LeapFrog preschool products teach the way children like to play by combining a comprehensive preschool curriculum with children's natural play patterns, including role-play, animated game play and music. The latest line of preschool products takes learning to the next level by identifying the key skills and learning concepts to prepare a child for Kindergarten. LeapFrog introduces one new product and two new learning videos in its preschool line for 2004, including:

Super Saver Teaching Bank -- The Super Saver teaching bank teaches children the importance of saving money to an established goal by allowing them to set their own personal savings goal and measure progress towards that goal.

Learning Videos -- One new video, Math Factory, joins the popular Letter Factory and Talking Words Factory home video titles that engage and educate the preschool set.

Letter Factory Game -- Based on the Letter Factory video, the Letter Factory game guides pre-readers through letters and letter sounds in an auto-leveled, multi-player board game. This educational game uses responsive technology to teach letter recognition and phonics adjusted to each player's own skill level.

Leapster Multimedia Learning System Keeps Reeling Them In
The hot, award-winning Leapster educational handheld is now reaching a wider range of ages with an expanded library of 13 new software titles for kids from four to ten years old. This five-in-one multimedia system enriches learning through cartridges for educational games, electronic books, digital art, interactive videos and, in 2004, a new homework helper category. One of the most consistently rated top-selling toys on Amazon.com, the Leapster handheld has earned dozens of five-star reviews from parents and teachers on the Amazon Web site. In addition, it was recently named Toy Wishes Hot Dozen award winner and selected as the best video game player and game software by the Common Sense Media Awards for excellence in kids and family entertainment.

LeapFrog introduces new additions to the Leapster handheld in 2004, including:

Expanded Curriculum -- With new interactive software titles, the Leapster handheld extends its reach from 3rd to 4th grade skills and curriculum.

All-New Homework Helper -- This new software category takes the work out of homework by allowing children to enter their own homework problems and receive help in finding the answer.

Thirteen New Software Titles -- A range of 13 exciting new software titles, including games, books, art, personal videos and homework, helps boost the Leapster handheld's electronic library to 21 titles.

LeapPad Learning System Family Gets Smarter
The LeapPad platform family features the only multimedia learning systems that help teach the 3 "R"s -- reading, writing and arithmetic -- and offers effective and engaging learning experiences for children from six months to ten years old. This year the flagship product line is getting smarter with new technology dimensions, new play patterns and popular new licensed titles and interactive books.

The new advances to the family of LeapPad systems provide more depth of content to bring electronic books to life, allow kids to personalize their LeapPad systems with their own voices and handwriting, and offer learning opportunities beyond the book -- with educational board games and playing cards that work with the LeapPad system to stimulate learning. In addition, new LeapPad products sport a sleek new "laptop computer" design with a sturdy, built-in handle for easy transport. LeapFrog introduces new and enhanced LeapPad learning platforms, 36 new interactive books based on licensed characters and popular movies, and five brand new games in its family of LeapPad products for 2004, including:

LeapPad Plus Microphone Learning System -- The LeapPad Plus Microphone system brings the LeapPad system to life with the child's own voice and personality. There are seven new microphone-enabled titles that take advantage of the new product features.

LeapPad Plus Writing Learning System -- Now with Handwriting Recognition Capabilities -- LeapPad Plus Writing system has been turbo-charged with the ability to recognize handwritten letters and numbers, while teaching three core learning fundamentals: reading, writing and math. There are three new titles due for 2004 that take advantage of the unique technology and expand the library to a total of eight LeapPad Plus Writing titles.

All-New Licenses and Interactive Books -- With 36 new interactive books, including books based on licensed movie characters launching in 2004, kids will have a choice of more than 100 books for the LeapPad platform family. Books will be based on popular licensed titles such as Dr. Seuss, Shrek II, Spider-Man and The Incredibles.

Games for the LeapPad System -- These new play patterns expand the options for learning and play with the LeapPad platforms. The Letter Factory, Mind Wars and Mind Wars Jr. games include a cartridge and game board that attaches to the LeapPad system. Another new way to play with the LeapPad system is the two sets of playing cards being introduced that add even more curriculum depth and fun. The new playing card sets are Leap and the Lost Dinosaur and Stanley's Surprise Safari.

LeapFrog Grade School Line -- Fun, Fast and Effective Homework Helpers
LeapFrog ushers in an entirely new way to study for grade and middle school students with the only electronic products that make studying fun, fast and effective. These contemporary tools transform old style methods into action-packed games and activities that make learning curriculum and core school subjects engaging. LeapFrog introduces one new product and one newly designed product for 2004, including:

Turbo Extreme Handheld -- The Turbo Extreme handheld is an expandable handheld that reinforces core school skills through an all-in-one unit for math, spelling, social studies and science. The product, featuring a new design and larger screen, offers a fast-paced, arcade-style way to help improve basic skills and memorization.

iQuest Handheld -- LeapFrog's iQuest handheld is the ultimate learning device for middle school students, based on textbook curriculum for math, science and social studies. Coming in 2004 is the newly designed iQuest handheld, a thinner, sleeker model than the current iQuest handheld, which will include new, stylish faceplate options for personalization.

Bilingual Initiative Strengthened With New Products
Stressing the importance of second language learning, LeapFrog has a variety of new learning toys, books and videos that feature English and Spanish components for an early second language learning experience. LeapFrog launches four new products and new books that introduce second language learning in 2004, including:

Learning Friend Lily and Learning Friend Tad -- These new plush toys are soft, huggable characters who sing learning songs to teach letters, numbers and colors in English by touching their tummies and Spanish by touching their feet.

See & Learn Driver -- The See & Learn driver toy uses simulated driving fun and engaging learning songs to teach letters and numbers in both English and Spanish.

Explorer Globe -- LeapFrog introduces a new second language-learning version of the popular Explorer Globe -- the only intelligent talking globe that identifies and teaches interesting facts about countries, continents, cities and oceans around the world in Spanish and English.

For pricing and availability information on all new LeapFrog products for 2004, please refer to the product fact sheets at www.leapfrog.com

Source: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.