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On The Road: Portable Playtime By Pamela Brill
Jack Kerouac and Willie Nelson had the right idea…but did they have the toys to take with them? Here’s a sampling of the latest and greatest travel toys that will make your family vacation even more memorable.
 The Tag Reading System from LeapFrog takes reading on the go to an entirely new level. This “smart” pen can “read” words and sentences aloud when kids touch it to the pages of specially printed books, including favorites like Olivia and Walter the Farting Dog. And once you’re home again, you can hook up the Tag Reader to your PC and check your child’s reading progress. Indeed the pen is mightier than the sword. Ages 4-8. www.leapfrog.com $50. |
 Turn off the noise toys and play the old fashioned way—without batteries. Think-ets from Think-a-Lot Toys are great for encouraging kids to jumpstart their imaginations, as they use the miniature trinkets like an alphabet block and straw hat for storytelling and memory games. Think-ets comes with ten suggested game ideas or you can make up your own. Fifteen mini play pieces come in a handy drawstring pouch, making them a snap to pack. Ages 8+. www.think-a-lot.com $13. |
 Jazz up your bike rack with a splash of pink. The Barbie Bike from Dynacraft has an adjustable saddle seat, stylish grips with colorful streamers and purple and pink removable training wheels. How can any Barbie fan live without it? The real kicker is the Bike With Me Barbie mini bike that attaches to the handbars, so that favorite doll can come along for the ride. Available in 12- and 16-inch models. Age 3+. www.barbie.com. $50-$70. |
 Little campers won’t be able to leave home with the Pretend & Play Explorer Set from Learning Resources. Great for investigating plants, bugs and other crawling critters, this kit features all the essential tools for taking a closer look at what kids have found during their camping adventures, including a magnifying observation box, viewer with tweezers and butterfly net. All of the components fit in a handy travel bag. Ages 3-6. www.learningresources.com $33. |
 Playtime is in the bag…literally. The Show Dog Picture Book Package from Kidz Entertainment is all-inclusive plush toy poodle handbag that is stocked with a title-song CD, picture book featuring Show Dog lyrics, coloring book and bookmark to keep your little one stylishly outfitted and entertained. Everything fits inside a plastic Velcro carrying case for safekeeping. Ages 2+. www.target.com $25 |
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