Why the LeapPad couldn’t survive the iPad
On Version History: Jennifer Tuohy and Andru Marino learn how a book became one of the top-selling toys in the US.
by Verge Staff
Oct 11, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC
Amelia Krales
For multiple years, the hottest toy in the United States was a book. But not just any book: a smart book that could play sounds and respond to taps and help kids learn to read. However, buying it came with a high price and big parenting questions.
On the next episode of Version History, David Pierce is joined by The Verge’s Andru Marino and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy to explain how the LeapPad worked, why it was so enticing to both kids and adults, and why the company that made it could never quite follow it up.
We’re almost finished with our fifth season of Version History, all about the most iconic school tech. We’ve heard...
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