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Version History · October 11 · 1 hr 5 min

LeapPad: Book smarts

For multiple years, the hottest toy in the United States was a book. But not just any book: a smart book, which could play sounds and respond to taps and help kids learn to read. David Pierce is joined by The Verge’s Andru Marino and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy to explain how the LeapPad worked, why it was so enticing to both kids and adults, and why the company that made it could never quite follow it up. Vote for us in the Signal Awards! ⁠Vote Vergecast: Best Technology Podcast⁠ ⁠Vote Version History: Best History Podcast⁠ ⁠Vote Decoder: Best Business Podcast⁠ We’re also on video! ⁠Check us out on YouTube.⁠ We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to ⁠vergecast@theverge.com⁠ or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 For multiple years, the hottest toy in the United States was a book. But not just any book: a smart book, which could play sounds and respond to taps and help kids learn to read. David Pierce is joined by The Verge’s Andru Marino and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy to explain how the LeapPad worked, why it was so enticing to both kids and adults, and why the company that made it could never quite follow it up.


Vote for us in the Signal Awards!

We’re also on video! ⁠Check us out on YouTube.⁠

We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to ⁠vergecast@theverge.com⁠ or call us at 866-VERGE11.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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