V-Tech DigiArt Spirals and Sounds ($19.99) • This is an electronic art board that includes four animal stencils, five spiral gears and one marker. You add a piece of letter-sized paper under the frame and insert the marker into one of the gears and create the design. The talk button shares fun facts and rhymes about animals, and music mode plays melodies. This could be a fun toy for a budding artist.

Leapfrog Go with Me ABC Backpack ($29.99) • This is a portable, pack-up-and-go learning toy that helps reinforce letters and sounds for young children. There are seven different activity modes in this compact learning game. It is colorful and visual and easy to follow along with the instructions. However, many of the preschool-aged children in this age group were already very familiar with their alphabet and lost interest after a few minutes. It may be better suited for those who are just beginning pre-literacy skills.