This is a great tool for teaching young kids the alphabet and sounds the letters make. It’s got over 500 three letter words which is plenty for the child just starting to learn to read. I do wish they would have mixed in at least a few four-letter words (not that kind of four-letter word), and maybe even some elementary five-letter words.

It features a standard 1/4 inch headphone jack; raised tactile letter keys that light up during game play; 7 interactive beginning reading games; 20 colorful double-sided word cards; 28-page reproducible book with assessments sight word cards, and simple storybooks students can make and read themselves; and a Teachers Guide.

From the manufacturer’s description of the GeoSafari Phonics Lab: “Seven fun learning games: 1) Alphabet Song - Sing along and learn the ABCs! 2) Lets Learn the Alphabet - Learn as you light up the letters! 3) Lights Out Alphabet Search - Test your Alphabet I.Q. as you switch off the lights! 4) Lets Learn the Sound Alphabet - Discover letter sounds as you light up each letter! 5) Lights Out Sound Search - Check your Sound Alphabet I.Q. 6) Secret Word Maker - Learn to spell 120 three-letter words! 7) Word Explorer - Spell almost any three-letter word (word bank has over 500 words!).”

Overall, this is a pretty nice learning toy. It made at least one top 10 list of the best selling Christmas toys of 2008.