Educational toy designer LeapFrog Enterprises is taking to the tablet market with the official release of the LeapPad, a personalized touch screen learning tablet designed for kids ages four and up.

The five-inch tablet is now available for pre-sale online and at major retailers in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland for US$99.99. The device holds 2 GB of memory and more than 100 learning-based games and apps as well as a camera, microphone, video recorder and stylus.

In terms of personalized features, kids can customize interactive book content according to their skill level and create their own stories in a Disney-themed animation studio. The story studio, for one, allows kids to create their own stories using the built-in camera, personalize artwork and narrate using their own voices. There are 27,000 story combinations available through this feature.

The existing library of Leapster Explorer game cartridges and apps is cross-compatible with the LeapPad, and downloadable apps are priced at US$5 and up. The tablet will be available at major retail locations beginning August 15 and in other countries such as Australia and New Zealand later this year.