Ripple Keeps Kids Entertained for Hours and Makes Reading Cool Parents and Grandparents Eye Ripple as a Must-Have Gift This Holiday Season

DENVER, Nov 03, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- As you head into the holidays and begin your shopping list, check out www.RippleReader.com, which launches in the U.S.

today. This new online service equips people to make personal audio recordings of children's pictures books for the special kids in their life.

Children who used the product prior to Ripple's launch say it passes the "cool" test. "My grandpa lives in Nevada," says Lauren, an eight-year-old in Montana.

"With Ripple, it's like I can have my grandpa with me whenever I want." Kids love hearing stories, particularly when they are read by a favorite adult.

And research shows that read-aloud time in the early years is vital for later school success. Children can listen to Ripple recordings over and over again at home or on the go, and they follow along with the actual book in hand.

Parents are intrigued by this new alternative to television and electronic games. "Sometimes, I need to keep my son occupied while I am talking on the phone or feeding the baby," says Tara Fluent of Watsonville, California. I don't want to park him in front of the TV. He is mesmerized by Ripple recordings, and I like that he's spending more time with books." Business travelers and soldiers are using Ripple to read stories to their kids back home. Relatives are keeping in touch with grandkids, nieces and nephews long distance. Parents are recording stories to leave with the sitter on date night. Teachers are reading to students and including literacy instruction in their recordings. And kids themselves are making recordings for younger siblings or to practice their read-aloud fluency.

Users can buy a single recording session for $9.95 or a package that brings the per-recording price as low as $4.58. The Ripple Reader, which children use to listen to Ripple recordings, is a free download. To learn more, consumers can visit www.RippleReader.com.

Ripple's mission is to promote children's literacy, strengthen U.S. schools and foster connections between children and the important adults in their lives. For more information, visit www.RippleReader.com or call 888-339-0950, extension 708.

Note to editors: images are available at http://www.ripplereader.com/press.html.

SOURCE: Ripple CONTACT: Ripple Leigh Steere, 888-339-0950, extension 708 [e-mail] Copyright Business Wire 2009 -0- KEYWORD: United States

North America

Colorado INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Seniors

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Online Retail

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Children

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Retail

Preschool

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