Family Fun Winner! 

VTech Electronics, 2008; $79.99; www.vtechkids.com; for ages 4 to 7. Requires: Windows 2000, XP or Vista; Internet Explorer 6.0 or above; Adobe Flash Player 9; and a TV with audio and visual cable input jacks (A/V and USB connection cables are included).

This all-in-one art studio includes a small desk unit that connects to a TV or PC, a built-in digital camera and art palette. Billed as a “junior Photoshop,” little users snap photos, edit them and display their work on a TV or PC screen. This smart toy is all about “hands-on creativity,” ranging from basic drawing to photo stamps, from digital frames to “wacky” effects. Kids save, share and print their work when the unit is connected to a PC. One favorite feature is that users can send personalized e-cards. As our young testers evaluated other games, one tester entertained the group by creating a super-duper enhanced self-portrait on the TV screen.

 

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