Brian the Brain

Winner of Dr. Toy's 100 Best Products award, this is Brian the Brain, an animatronic brain that uses voice-recognition technology to respond to verbal prompts and engage children with trivia. An interactive roommate as well as an academic resource, the device is programmed with The Concise Encyclopedia from Britannica, a dictionary, and a world-history timeline that support the integrated word, memory, and trivia games, or the unit can ask a child his likes and dislikes and use his responses to personalize conversations and to tell jokes. Its database stores telephone numbers, and the device connects to a phone jack to become a child's personal operator that dials the phone numbers of friends in response to verbal commands. With digital clock, calendar, MP3 player jack, and retractable keyboard for text communication with the device. Includes a free three-month subscription to Britannica On Line, Student Edition. Requires four AA and three AAA batteries. Ages 5 and up. 13 3/4" H x 11 3/4" W x 10" D. (4 lbs.)