LeapFrog's My First LeapPad learning system was chosen as Best Educational Toy of the Year by the Toy Industry Association.

The My First LeapPad learning system, from LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc., a leading developer of interactive learning products, received this year's Best Educational Toy Of The Year (T.O.T.Y) award, which is sponsored by the Toy Industry Association (TIA). This is the second year in a row that the company captured this prestigious honor; last year LeapFrog's LeapPad learning system was chosen as the first annual Best Educational Toy of the Year, as well as the People's Choice Toy of the Year.

LeapFrog was also a T.O.T.Y. award finalist for the People's Choice award (Imagination Desk learning system), the Most Innovative Toy (iQuest interactive handheld) and Best Marketing Campaign (Learn Something New Every Day).

"We are proud to have won this prestigious award two years in a row. This continued recognition from the Toy Industry Association speaks to LeapFrog's winning combination of fun, innovation and learning," said Mike Wood, LeapFrog's president and founder. "My First LeapPad learning system is yet another example of our commitment to developing and delivering the highest quality educational products for children of all ages."

Educational Toy of the Year

LeapFrog repeated its success in the Educational T.O.T.Y. category by capturing the award with its My First LeapPad product, an interactive learning system created to nurture children as they take their first steps toward reading. Leveraging the same patented technology in the popular LeapPad learning system, My First LeapPad learning system provides an engaging learning experience for younger pre-readers. Developed with three- and four-year olds in mind, My First LeapPad learning system is designed for little hands and is small enough to fit on a child's lap.

The My First LeapPad library introduces children to a rich preschool curriculum, which includes pre-reading, pre-math, and preschool discovery. Each book helps them develop distinct educational skills within the context of story themes and interactive games. In 2002, LeapFrog will expand the My First LeapPad library of interactive books with titles such as, "I Know My ABCs," "Tad's Silly Number Farm," "Once Upon A Rhyme," "Dora the Explorer," "Bob's Busy World," and "Thomas and the School Trip."

Established in 1995, LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. is a premier educational products company with a guiding philosophy to inspire a lifelong love of learning in children and families. Based in Emeryville, Calif., the company's product line is comprised of 50 interactive learning products and 40 interactive books, covering important subjects such as phonics, reading, math, music, geography, social studies, and science. All products contain educational curricula and reflect a teaching style that is fun, engaging, and extremely effective.

LeapFrog products have received more than 100 toy industry and media awards, including the most coveted award in the industry, the first-ever PEOPLE'S CHOICE TOY OF THE YEAR (T.O.T.Y.) AWARD in 2000 for the best-selling LeapPad learning system, as well as the 2000 BEST EDUCATIONAL T.O.T.Y. AWARD. LeapFrog products also received accolades from the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, the Great American Toy Test, Toy Wishes Magazine's Holiday Hot Dozen and the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval.

In addition to national distribution at retailers across the United States, LeapFrog products are available in 32 countries and produced in six different languages.

Michael Wood is the President and Founder of LeapFrog. In 1997, through a recapitalization transaction, the company became an affiliate of Knowledge Universe, a global education company dedicated to building businesses that help individuals of all ages to develop new skills in the pursuit of lifelong learning. Former Mattel, Sega and Universal Matchbox president Tom Kalinske is CEO of Knowledge Universe. Larry Ellison, Michael Milken and Lowell Milken founded the company in 1996.