Fisher-Price, a unit of number one toy maker Mattel, is teaming up with publisher Scholastic on interactive DVD toys using classic children's books. The Read With Me DVD product is aimed at children three to seven years old and is designed to help with story comprehension and building vocabulary. Kids will watch a special animated DVD version of classic books like Miss Spider's Tea Party or Curious George Goes to a Chocolate Factory. The books-on-DVD format will give kids the option of playing games and interacting with the story, or just having the story read to them.

Other available titles include Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

Fisher-Price will add five to 10 new titles each year.

"We have other educational things we are unveiling this year, but this is our lead new platform," Fisher-Price president Neil Friedman told Reuters.

Fisher-Price and Scholastic will unveil the new product at the American International Toy Fair in New York City later this month. The Read With Me DVD product will be available in mass market toy stores and in bookstores this fall.

In the item's primary mode, words and illustrations of the books appear on the television screen as the story is read aloud to the child. At certain moments in the story, children are encouraged to stay and play on the page where they can learn the new words and respond to questions about the characters and story.