November 2011 Notable Toys — Electronics

These walkie-talkies with cool LEGO styling stay connected up to a mile away. They are easy to use - one channel, simple push-to-talk-button and volume control.
— As of 10/26/2011 this product had 3.9 out of 5 stars from 37 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Easy to use; fun design. Cons: Batteries run out quickly.

TeeGee is a fully interactive, customizable stuffed animal capable of telling stories, singing songs, and playing games with children. TeeGee is able to interact with the world through smart accessories, speech recognition, and other modes of communication. Parents can customize TeeGee's behavior by downloading age-appropriate apps from our online app store or the iTunes app store. Launch date: August 2011.

This updated Password Journal includes a new look and feel with some of the cool features tweens love most about previous versions including a microphone to record voice for security access. Also, a voice recording alerts you when intruders have tried to access your journal. This version has a new feature: a hidden compartment that only the user can access by using a second voice—activated password. The Journal comes with a pen and an assortment of fun stickers to decorate with. Light allows girls to share special messages with friends.
— As of 11/04/2011 this product was 19.99 on Amazon.com
— As of 11/04/2011 this product had 3.2 out of 5 stars from 26 reviews on Amazon.com. Cons: Sound quality is poor; batteries ran out quickly.

AnyBook Reader is a reading enhancement and reinforcement tool enabling language and reading enjoyment and improvement. This flexible record and playback tool with 60 hours of recording time enables read-out-loud record and playback by parent and/or child, building experience, confidence and reading ability. By recording their own reading voice the child can reinforce their own reading performance and the ability to record and playback any book or text tailors the reading and learning experience to the individual child. With ease parents can “read” to their child whenever he or she desires. The AnyBook Reader uses a simple touch, record, playback process that allows users to record the words on any page of any book so they can read to their children or grandchildren even when they’re not there. The AnyBook Reader comes with a selection of AnyBook Reader stickers. Each sticker uses a unique code which allows users to associate different recordings with every page of the book. These stickers use special glue that won’t damage the book so they can be removed and re-used at any time.
— As of 10/25/2011 this product had 4.8 out of 5 stars from 6 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros:  A great way for distant family members to stay connected with kids; can be used with any book; stickers are reusable. Cons: Takes a little while to set up.

AnyBook Reader is a reading enhancement and reinforcement tool enabling language and reading enjoyment and improvement. This flexible record and playback tool with 15 hours of recording time enables read-out-loud record and playback by parent and/or child, building experience, confidence and reading ability. By recording their own reading voice the child can reinforce their own reading performance and the ability to record and playback any book or text tailors the reading and learning experience to the individual child. With ease parents can “read” to their child whenever he or she desires. The AnyBook Reader uses a simple touch, record, playback process that allows users to record the words on any page of any book so they can read to their children or grandchildren even when they’re not there. The AnyBook Reader comes with a selection of AnyBook Reader stickers. Each sticker uses a unique code which allows users to associate different recordings with every page of the book. These stickers use special glue that won’t damage the book so they can be removed and re-used at any time.
— As of 10/25/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 2 reviews on Amazon.com. Pros: Easy to use; Can be used with any book; a good way for parents and family members who live far away to connect with children.

The Wow! Stuff My Keepon is the dancing robot that moves to any music. The tiny microphone in My Keepons nose allows him to hear the music kids play or even the rhythms they make themselves. My Keepon listens for the tempo of the music and matches the beat with an uncanny sense of timing. My Keepon can dance to any style of music, from slow ballads to pop music. Each performance is an original and unique interpretation. With an array of touch sensors underneath his playful textured skin, My Keepon responds to poking, patting, squeezing or tickling by looking around, showing his mood and making expressive sounds. As soon as My Keepon wakes up, he wants to play and will try to attract attention. My Keepon sits on top of his very own performance stage, which contains most of the robotic mechanism, so My Keepon himself can be soft and squishy to touch. Launch date: October 2011.
— As of 10/18/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 1 review on ToysRUs.com.

A fun way to discover 100 everyday sounds. Children will be delighted to hear sounds that come to life when bar codes are scanned by using the Smart Pen.  Crystal clear technology teaches animals, musical instruments, vehicles, machinery and nature sounds. The sounds are recorded in high fidelity and are very realistic. 50 double sided learning cards are included for hours of learning fun. Launch date: July 2011.
Awards: 2011 Creative Child Toy of the Year

The HEXBUG® Larva is a micro robotic creature that slithers forward on smooth surfaces using a slow, rhythmic flexing motion. Just like real larvae, each of these creepy crawlers reacts to its environment, instinctively changing direction upon sensing an object in its path and wriggling off to explore a clear, undisturbed path ahead. Its behavior is eerily mesmerizing to watch and interact with. The HEXBUG Larva is CPSIA approved for kids ages 8 and up. The HEXBUG Larva features a forward facing infrared sensor that allows it to detect fellow squirming larvae and other objects in its path. When the HEXBUG Larva encounters a road block, it spins around on two micro robotic wheels hidden beneath its hard exterior shell and heads off in a new direction. Three button cell batteries are included. Available in various translucent colors including Red, Green, Indigo, Orange and Black. Launch date: mid-August 2011.