Interactive educational toy

A plush toy having an exterior and an interior surface, the plush toy comprising:

• a) indicia on the exterior surface of the plush toy, wherein the indicia comprise a plurality of shapes;
• b) switching circuitry coupled to the indicia;
• c) at least one light associated with the indicia;
• d) a sound synthesizer;
• e) a speaker;
• f) a logic circuit comprising a microprocessor and a memory, the logic circuit having input terminals electrically coupled to the switching circuitry and output terminals electrically coupled to the sound synthesizer and the speaker;
• g) means for declaring the names of the shapes;
• h) means for (i) providing a visual stimulus that automatically moves from shape to shape, (ii) allowing a user to respond by pressing one of the shapes while the visual stimulus automatically moves from shape to shape, and then (iii) providing appropriate feedback to the user as a function of the user's response to the visual stimulus;
• and
• i) means for allowing a user to select a song from among a plurality of songs stored in the memory.

An interactive learning device comprising:

• a) a figure having an exterior surface, and wherein the figure is a plush animal having a chest, hands and feet;
• b) indicia on the chest of the figure;
• c) switching circuitry coupled to the indicia;
• d) a sound synthesizer;
• e) a speaker;
• f) a memory;
• g) a plurality of preprogrammed instruction modalities in the memory, wherein the plurality of preprogrammed instruction modalities comprises a first preprogrammed instruction modality comprising quizzing and a second preprogrammed instruction modality comprising declaratory instruction;
• and
• h) a logic circuit having a microprocessor, input terminals that are electrically coupled to the switching circuitry, and output terminals electrically coupled to the sound synthesizer and the speaker,
• wherein the logic circuit controls interaction between the switching circuitry and the plurality of preprogrammed instruction modalities.

An interactive learning device comprising:

• a) a figure having an exterior surface, and wherein the figure is a plush animal having hands and feet;
• b) indicia on the chest of the figure;
• c) switching circuitry electrically coupled to the indicia;
• d) a sound synthesizer;
• e) a speaker;
• f) a logic circuit having a microprocessor and a memory, input terminals that are electrically coupled to the switching circuitry, and output terminals electrically coupled to the sound synthesizer and the speaker;
• g) means for quizzing a user;
• and
• h) means for providing declaratory instruction to a user.