Top 12 LeapFrog Leapster handheld games

For backseat travel and plane trips, the Leapster system -- for ages 4 to 8-- has popular animated characters, but with an educational twist: kids play learning games, read electronic books, create art. (They can also do stuff like watch videos.)

Travelers will also want a carrying case, and a recharger so you can stop feeding AA batteries. The system is sold without cartridges but does come loaded with educational games. And for home use, a gadget can do a hook up to a tv screen.

1. LeapFrog Leapster - Multimedia Learning System

Here's the actual game player, with color display screen, control pad, and (physically attached) touch-sensitive stylus. The games themselves are sold separately (although it is possible to buy a unit bundled with one game.)

2. LeapFrog Leapster L-Max Learning Game System Pink

Of course the Game System comes in gussied-up guises too. This one is going for good looks, in pink.

3. LeapFrog Leapster Book: Finding Nemo

The "Finding Nemo" movie was one of Disney's big successes, thanks to several memorable characters. Swim along with Nemo's overprotective father, Marlin, and comically forgetful friend, Dory, as they try to find Nemo. This electronic book helps teach Pre-K and Kindergarten phonics and reading, math, science and reasoning.

4. LeapFrog Leapster Educational Game: SpongeBob SquarePants Saves the Day

SpongeBob SquarePants may be silly, but that doesn't mean he can't be educational. When a new restaurant in Bikini Bottom brings too much competition for the Krusty Krab, SpongeBob needs help to make a new, improved Krabby Patty sauce. Five "action-packed" learning games teach skills in phonics, money concepts, science, addition & subtraction.

5. LeapFrog Leapster Educational Game: Dora the Explorer Wildlife Rescue

Dora the Explorer is a popular character with a Spanish flair, on Nick Jr. TV. In this Wildlife Rescue game, Dora and Boots need help rescuing animals. Choose from 5 learning games and 3 interactive storylines teaching pre-kindergarten and kindergarten skills.

6. LeapFrog Leapster Educational Game: Disney Princess

Both Ariel (The Little Mermaid) and Cinderella appear in this set of games: 5 games teach Pre-K and Kindergarten skills as the player progresses from Little Lady to Her Royal Highness.

7. LeapFrog Leapster Game: Pet Pals

Target age is for to seven years old, for this game that combines kids' love of pets with some reading and math skill-building.

8. LeapFrog Leapster: Mr. Pencil's Learn to Draw and Write

For ages 4 to 8: Leapster's Digital Art Studio: Mr Pencil's Learn to Draw and Write Let your imagination run wild! Mr. Pencil Learn to Draw and Write has over 150 step-by-step lessons showing how to draw animals, objects and characters, and upper andlower case letters and numbers.Also has dozens of art tools.

9. LeapFrog Leapster Book: Spider-Man

It's an action-packed story, with some educational activities thrown in, for Grade 1 and 2 reading skills.

10. LeapFrog Leapster Educational Game: Kindergarten

Carnival Marvel has 6 learning games that teach kindergarten reading and math skills. Play learning games to buy monster parts: bring your monster to life at the theatre show. There is a First Grade title as well: six "action-packed learning games" with interactive pals at the Beach Boardwalk teach First Grade reading and math skills.

12. LeapFrog Leapster Recharging Kit

It's all about power, when you travel with kids: and there's nothing worse when you run out of it. The Leapster Power Dock Recharging System includes Recharging Dock, rechargeable battery pack, and AC adapter for plugging Leapster into an AC outlet. Recharge time is 3 hours.

Tip for car trips: I love the modest-priced general-purpose power adaptor I bought, that plugs into any car lighter; you can plug any regular plug into the other end-- cell phone chargers, laptop, hair stylers, whatever you like.

* products sometimes change! Please check the Leapster site, at Leapfrog.com.