VTech Bugsby Reading System Pen and Starter Book

I went back and forth between whether I should purchase the Tag or Bugsby reading system. I selected the Bugsby based on the reviews by parents and grandparents. Primarily because my son is so "particular" that I felt if the Tag pen didn't line up exactly, it might be a gift that turns into frustration for my son. I read that someone originally bought Tag over Bugsby and ended up returning it for the Bugsby and that was better for them. My son is very bright, but also a bit of a perfectionist and often a color outside a line can be a melt down because "it's not suppose to be". I was concerned about the number of books available for Bugsby, but then afterall, who can afford to buy every book available any way? There are enough books for Bugsby and popular character selections (Max & Ruby, Bugsby, Wonder Pets, Wow Wow Wubzy) so even though there aren't as many books as the Tag, the selection of Bugsby is still great.My son who turned 4 can absolutely keep himself occupied. The options are easy for him to do "by himself" and he is so glad I don't have to help him. I love the fact that the system tests his comprehensive skills after reading the entire story and has interactive features that encourage him to want to listen and read along. My child seems to feel very good about himself when he gets all the answers right. The Bugsby book that came with it and the Max & Ruby Frog Princess are both big hits! The books have really come down in price too.Finally, he enjoys "reading" to his 85 year old Nana who is also impressed at how well and easy it is to use.

I can't compare it to TAG because I've never used it, but my 5 year old likes it. For under twenty dollars it is a decent toy and if it gets lost or broken then it's not the end to replace. The pen is cute and the books are interactive. The books are aren't too expensive (again nice if they get lost since replacing them isn't going to cost more than $12). Children that enjoy playing school would likely enjoy this product.

This product is terrible. The audio quality is poor, the stories are weak and the educational lessons are not sound. We went to a friend's house where my son played with their Tag and he was hooked. I finally broke down and got him a Tag and now he plays with it every morning before the rest of us are awake. The Bugsy is an expensive chew toy for his 1 year old brother.

We have been through 2 Bugsby Systems in one week. As an educator, I had very high hopes for this product and was impressed with all of the activities offered. However, we cannot seem to get a pen that functions correctly. I turned the volume down on our first pen, but the volume up button did not work to turn it back up. VTech was no help in this situation. After attempting all of the strategies to fix the problem, they told me I could send the product back in and receive a replacement "similar" toy--not a Bugsby. Apparently they did not have any available, which makes me suspicious of the quality of the toy. Thankfully, Amazon was very responsive to our problem and had a new Bugsby delivered within 48 hours.Our second Bugsby has mysteriously quit working. The sensor will not recognize the hot spots on the pages in the book. I'm very disappointed in the seemingly poor quality of this product. My son (nearly 3 yrs) loved this toy. Although many activities were too advanced for him, there was plenty for him to do and a great range for various abilities. I'm not sure if we'll give a 3rd one a try or move on to the TAG system. I hope there are improvements because this has the potential to be a great product.

I've bought 3 Bugsby reading pen for my son who is 4+,and non of them lasted for a maximum of 5days.Just after reading 2-3books then the battery can function again,if U recharge it doesn't work,if U buy a new one it repeat the same problem.It could have been a nice educational tool but looking at its AAA Battery life,it makes it seem like a toy with no use.I'm not gonna buy a forth one and I'm not recommending it.

I am writing this review as my child is playing with the Bugsby book. We bought it for her birthday after she couldn't keep her hands offer her cousin's. She is two, and at first she didn't quite get it, but very much enjoyed pressing things and having sounds come out. Now, she seems to sort of get some of the games, but she'll sit there and play with it for 15-20 minutes at a time, which is longer than she'll play with anything else. It also seems to be helping her with associating letters and sounds, which is an important preschool skill. So, a good purchase that will grow with her. I'm already contemplating some more books. I only gave it three stars in terms of durability because while bugsby himself seems durable, as with all paper books, the pages are quite easy to rip. HOwever, placing tape over the rips doesn't make the book stop working, which is good to know.This is a fun toy that seems to have some good educational value.

I purchased this item for my 6 year old nephew who is learning to read. Once he understood what it was and how to operate it, then it was a BIG hit. The amazing thing is that my 3 year old nephew got a hold of the item and just went right to town on it. Very helpful in learning to read.

My 4 year old little girl got this and several books for Christmas. She was instantly drawn into the stories and enjoyed her independence. I chose this system because it was much less expensive than others. I know that the library is limited, but it has all the features I want at a much lower price. I like that you don't have to download anything because you have everything you need in the cartridge. I was concerned that the pages would get torn easily, but they have held up very well with a lot of use. It's just the right thing for us.