For most of the book publishing world, the move to digital technology is all centred around e-books, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that children’s publishing has also taken on e-books, with publishers turning their books into apps. Publishers are now making interactive e-books, apps and learning products for children to use on tablets and smart phones.
Many publishing companies have already released these interactive stories, I SEE ME! Inc who publishing personalized children’s books has released its first personalized iPad app called ‘My Very Own Name’ which is based on the award winning book. (1) This app is able to change the story and the illustrations every time a new name is typed in.
StarWalk Kids Media is a publishing company who only publishing e-books. The company is set up by a group of ‘educators who are trying to instill their students with 21st century digital literacy skills.’ (2) StarWalk were co-founded by the former creative director of ‘Sesame Street’ and have just announced that their new StarWalk Kid’s e-book platform is now up and running with over 140 e-books available. The catalog is mostly nonfiction which ranges from the age of pre-K teaching to eight grade. Each title is available as an e-book or as an audio and all the titles have ‘teaching links’ documents to accompany it. (3)
Children’s publishing has not only taken on e-books as a digital technology they are also creating websites which include activities, features, downloads, online fan clubs and games all related to books created and read. For example book brands like ‘Beast Quest’ and ‘Young Bond’ have their own websites. (4) As children have grown up with technology they are now expecting for not just a book but the accessories around that one book, even the traditional ‘bed time story’ is being read from iPads now.
This could all be seen as a good thing that children are being taught modern technology from a young age, however if children are being brought up with technology like this could this lead to traditional reading and writing which are essential skills to have in this day and age being lost as technology in the future will be able to do everything for them?
1. http://www.prweb.com/releases/childrens-books/custom-childrens-books/prweb8940609.htm (accessed on 26/10/2012)
2. http://www.starwalkkids.com/about-us/our-mission.html (accessed on 26/10/2012)
3. http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/54311-children-s-digital-publisher-starwalk-launches-with-150-e-books.html (accessed on 26/10/2012)
4. http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/issue/176/childrens-books/articles/other-articles/digital-developments-in-children%E2%80%99s-publishing (accessed on 26/10/2012)
Many publishing companies have already released these interactive stories, I SEE ME! Inc who publishing personalized children’s books has released its first personalized iPad app called ‘My Very Own Name’ which is based on the award winning book. (1) This app is able to change the story and the illustrations every time a new name is typed in.
StarWalk Kids Media is a publishing company who only publishing e-books. The company is set up by a group of ‘educators who are trying to instill their students with 21st century digital literacy skills.’ (2) StarWalk were co-founded by the former creative director of ‘Sesame Street’ and have just announced that their new StarWalk Kid’s e-book platform is now up and running with over 140 e-books available. The catalog is mostly nonfiction which ranges from the age of pre-K teaching to eight grade. Each title is available as an e-book or as an audio and all the titles have ‘teaching links’ documents to accompany it. (3)
Children’s publishing has not only taken on e-books as a digital technology they are also creating websites which include activities, features, downloads, online fan clubs and games all related to books created and read. For example book brands like ‘Beast Quest’ and ‘Young Bond’ have their own websites. (4) As children have grown up with technology they are now expecting for not just a book but the accessories around that one book, even the traditional ‘bed time story’ is being read from iPads now.
This could all be seen as a good thing that children are being taught modern technology from a young age, however if children are being brought up with technology like this could this lead to traditional reading and writing which are essential skills to have in this day and age being lost as technology in the future will be able to do everything for them?
1. http://www.prweb.com/releases/childrens-books/custom-childrens-books/prweb8940609.htm (accessed on 26/10/2012)
2. http://www.starwalkkids.com/about-us/our-mission.html (accessed on 26/10/2012)
3. http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/54311-children-s-digital-publisher-starwalk-launches-with-150-e-books.html (accessed on 26/10/2012)
4. http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/issue/176/childrens-books/articles/other-articles/digital-developments-in-children%E2%80%99s-publishing (accessed on 26/10/2012)