How will iPad picture books affect young reader’s literacy?
Unwrapping Literacy 2.0
This post is part of a community effort to discuss literacy issues this week through “Share a Story – Shape a Future”. It’s sponsored by a group of “blogging librarians, teachers, parents, illustrators, authors, and literacy passionistas,” and represents “a collaborative venue to share ideas and celebrate everything reading has to offer our kids.”
I have been thinking a lot about the topic of literacy as I review iPad books at Digital Storytime. As the mother of a preschooler who is just now learning to read, the idea of digital books both delights and terrifies me. When I first read an iPad book to my son, back in April of 2010, I had a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. What did these new picture books, with their instant appeal, mean for print books and more importantly, for reading as a pastime? Would my son ‘read’ or would he instead be distracted by books he could passively watch, or even worse, books that were more like toys and less like educational tools for literacy?
The first books I read with my son on the iPad were more of the ‘toy’ variety, which is probably why I was initially so distressed. As the spring turned to summer, I began to search for more variety in the iPad books I downloaded. The uneasiness I felt about the iPad and digital books in general began to gradually turn into excitement. By Autumn of 2010, I had already found a favorite developer, PicPocket Books, that had the kind of picture books I could actually read with my child at bedtime. My child’s favorite title, The Lucky Escape, is simply narrated, without any animation or interactivity. And my son has plenty to choose from with a mom as an app reviewer. This fact alone gives me hope for his future as a lover of reading.
Among the reasons I now feel so comfortable with the transformation in how my family reads picture books, is the long list of ways iPad picture books don’t feel like other kinds of digital media, particularly when I am sharing a story with my child. For instance, most digital books don’t turn my child into ‘zombie’ the way other media does. My son also doesn’t ‘beg’ for ebooks except as a way to extend bedtime – something that also happens with print books.
But the most important thing digital books provide that print books also offer, is space for conversation. Until I began to read digital books with my child, I wasn’t conscious of the importance of page turning. It is never ‘optional’ in print, of course, and therefore not a subject to ponder. I have discovered over this past year, though, that page turning is one of the essential qualities that makes something a ‘book’ – both in print and in digital form.
Most iPad books, even the animated ones, have settings for manual page turning. This may seem like a small thing, but this tiny act of turning the page, in and of itself, provides an opportunity for a different kind of engagement with an app. It gives a moment for reflection. I often ask my child questions about the story we are reading – the motives of the characters, the plot or related topics and his answers show real comprehension. If a book is mesmerizing, the fact that everything stops until a page is manually turned also gives an opportunity to repeatedly re-engage with the app in a way that discourages passive or unconscious entertainment.
There are even a few advantages to ebooks . It’s great to have easy access to a library of books on vacation, or to have a favorite book to share when stuck waiting for the doctor or between errands with your child. Many iPad books are also narrated with text highlighting as each word is spoken, giving a child the chance to make the connections between written and spoken language in a way print books never could. We still read a lot of print picture books with our child and don’t plan to give up print anytime soon, but iPad books have become an amazing addition to my child’s regular supply of books from our local library.
After giving this some thought, I came up with the following ways books on tablet devices may increase children’s literacy, not decrease:
- They offer a rare alternative to other digital media, right on a highly desirable digital device and in a way that actually gives books a fighting chance to be equally appetizing to our media-savvy kids.
- They are the only way digital media for kids, an already growing category of time in our children’s daily lives, might truly give back by sharing time with reading.
- Most book apps have a ‘Read Myself’ option and even when they don’t anything with a text story can always be muted and still have some of the magic of the iPad by having high resolution, back-lit illustrations. This means books at bedtime, a naturally dimly lit environment, can be particularly enchanting just from the color and light.
- Tired parents can more easily have a book read to both parent and child and may share more books with their kids as a result. Instead of 1 or 2 books at bedtime, a parent can share 3 or 4, for instance, which is no small thing in the lifetime of an early reader’s experience.
- In households that are not reading to children (1 in 5), these ebook apps represent one of the most realistic ways to quickly increase exposure to children’s picture books by children not even in school yet. The ease of use, instant gratification and reasonable prices for digital book apps, in addition to their high-tech appeal, makes the transition to reading easier for families that haven’t been reached by our otherwise extensive efforts to increase young children’s literacy.
- In households that don’t read enough to their kids, likely more than the 1 in 5 figure, digital book apps in particular can reach more families than ever with a product that feels cutting edge while delivering on most of the old-fashioned goals of reading.
And these books will likely become very accessible to families across the income spectrum as the tablet devices drop in price. They could provide inexpensive ‘entertainment’ in the minds of many parents, and even substitute for some of the other media currently being consumed by children. The number of good titles under $2 in our database alone shows that these ebook apps can be price competitive with used picture books, a staple for low-income households. And the barriers to access for families are much lower – the apps can be downloaded and shared at home without a trip to a bookstore, library or waiting for a delivery from an on-line print retailer.
And why does the effect of digital app books on literacy really matter? Only 3% of kids in a recent Scholastic study were reading on iPad’s in 2010, for instance. However, having talked to many parents with iPads, the transition from print to digital has been so natural compared to reading ebooks on a laptop, that I suspect it will be the wave of the very near future. I found reading ebooks on my laptop to be fun once in awhile with my child before I had an iPad, but with the iPad our family made an almost seemless transition to reading digital books nearly every day. The size of the device, the touch screen, battery life and of course the selection and ease of downloading book apps has made digital picture books a natural substitute for print books for the first time for many families like ours.
And this wave is not just for those that can afford an iPad. Right now a tablet computer may seem like an unlikely device for a low-income family, but consider how few poor Americans go without TVs, DVD players and other types of mainstream media. Inexpensive tablet computers won’t be far behind the TV in wide-spread acceptance across all income levels. I am particularly excited about the trend for titles to appear on Android devices as well, and really like the direction Oceanhouse Media, with their extensive selection of Seuss & more, has taken with their app development on multiple platforms.
I give it 2-5 years, tops, before some form of touchable tablet device will be a very normal way that picture books, full of timeless and modern stories, will be shared with children across the globe. And I’m not scared about this anymore. How about you?
For further reading, more blog posts from Share-A-Story:
- Daniel Smith from There’s a Book (http://www.theresabook.com/2011/03/share-a-story-literacy-2-0-taking-the-gift-of-literacy-into-the-future/) Taking literacy into the future.
- Eric Van Raepenbusch from Happy Birthday Blog (blog address: http://www.happybirthdayauthor.com/)
Using video to extend the meaning of a book beyond its pages, teach basic skills, entertain, and provide primary sources of information. The post includes examples of all these ideas, plus ideas to produce your own video as a literacy activity. - Chris Singer from Book Dads (blog address: http://bookdads.com/)
Using the Nook Color with young, beginning readers. - Pam van Hylckama Vlieg from Bookalicio.us (blog address: http://bookalicio.us/category/blog/)
Using technology to foster a love of reading in the home. - Holly Slotkin from LitLad (blog address: http://litlad.blogspot.com/)
Using apps/iPhones/iPads/Tablets/etc. - Susan Stephenson from the Book Chook (blog address: http://www.thebookchook.com/)
Online Resources for Reading and Writing. - Melissa Taylor from Imagination Soup (blog address: http://imaginationsoup.net/)
Reading On the Go! Reading in the Car, at the Doctor’s Office, at Grandma’s House . . . Books, eBooks, Playaways and more! - Jonathan Auxier from The Scoop (blog address: http://www.thescop.com/)
Hasta la Vista, Hardy Boys: No e-reader can compare to the beauty of a book on a shelf, ready to be re-opened at any time … but what about books you don’t want on your shelf forever? (direct link:http://www.thescop.com/2011/03/hasta-la-vista-hardy-boys/) - Paul W. Hankins from Mr. Hankins is Reading and Writing in Kentuckiana (blog adress:http://paulwhankins.edublogs.org/)
Digitizing the classroom. How digital media can be used in a classroom setting to enhance the literacy experience. - Mary Ann Scheuer from Great Kid Books (blog address: http://greatkidbooks.blogspot.com/)
E-books for children, tweens and young adults - Jennifer Vincent from Teach Mentor Texts (blog address: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/)
Using technology to encourage kids to read. Specifically by having a blog for students and offering books in different formats like on the Nook and as audiobooks. - Miss Remmers from Miss Remmers’ Reviews (blog address: http://www.missremmersreview.com/)
Taking a classroom into the digital realm with limited funding. Stop by to see which teaching tools Miss Remmers uses on a daily basis.
Category: 100+ Reviews ... What I've Learned So Far, All About Apps, iPads in Education
I had not even thought about the idea of lower light levels … talk about the modern flashlight under the covers
Having always thought of digital reading at the laptop or desktop as an awkward situation, the tablet PC has already made that obsolete. Now, to save my pennies and buy one!
Thank you for being part of Share a Story. We are all richer for your observations and thoughts.
I am not sure where I stand yet either. We received an iPad as a gift at Christmas time. It was given to us as a “Family” gift. With the idea that our children would use it as much as we would. The kids do like to use it, but more for learning games. We have many of the OceanMedia Dr. Seuss books, but are afraid to invest much more money into book titles because they seem to click on the games first.
Only a few times have I read the book to them from the iPad. Our routine of reading lends itself to reading our library books and books from our home library.
Yet, with all that being said, I think there is a definite place for eBooks. I just am not convinced it is on the iPad for my children.
Note: I am usually a late adopter of technology. I was one of the last to get email in college. Still don’t have a cell phone! And didn’t like Twitter/Facebook at first but use them every day. So…take my comments with that in mind
Great post! I would love for more people (and schools) to have access to iPads or other tablets.
My grandson, who has down syndrome, loves the iPad for playing games and listening to the ebooks that are narrated and animated. Because his reading skills are limited this is a great way for him to interact with and get more out of the books. He also loves to sit on the bed with me and “read”, or have me read print books to him, so I believe we have the best of both worlds and we love our iPad and our print books, too.
Such a thought provoking post. Thanks for giving us all a lot to think about. The iPad has been a reading miracle in our household for my son who is dyslexic. An exciting new way for kids to have fun reading!
When I got the iPod Touch nearly two years ago, I never intended to let my two preschool girls touch it, much less use it during the sacred bedtime story session. Needless to say, they now use it for much more, and we have found some truly wonderful storybook apps that have become favorites.
You mentioned that the option of the voiceover can assist tired parents–I admit I’ve used this tactic more than once. It also comes in handy those times I have a bad cold/sore throat and wouldn’t be able to read to them myself–now we can still experience storytime anyway!
And finally, you touch on a very important point that I hadn’t given much thought to until now: the notion of the page turn really defining the book experience. It really turns a passive experience into an active one, and I like how you mentioned the manual page turns allow families to discuss/experience the story at their own pace. I think this will be recognized as significant more and more–especially as the lines between book/video/game continue to blur in the app space.
Thanks for this excellent post!
I recall having those initial thoughts 16 years ago when I saw Mercer Mayer’s Just Like Me book on a CD Rom. It didn’t see the point of CDs as storybooks and couldn’t quite understand their role in literacy. I now see some of the simple ebooks in the same light. I don’t really see a lot of value in an electronic version of a book. However, Daniel Donohoo from Wired. com discusses “second wave” apps which will support critical thinking and the development of literacy skills. These interactive book apps provide students the ability to interact and learn about the topic they are reading about. I teach second and third grade and I’m using some ebooks and interactive apps in some of my guided reading sessions. I still use a wide range of other texts such as storybooks, nonfiction texts, posters, brochures, menus and other texts. I think the key is to ensure students are read to and have experience with a wide range of texts.
Parents, continue to use ebooks and interactive reading apps with your children. Look for texts that your child is interested in. The most important thing is parents spending time with their children discussing texts, regardless of the format of the text. Lets read with kids, not stress over the format of the text.
My thoughts,
Angie Harrison
From my perspective, I think the current crop of early childhood literacy hasn’t really progressed much from a CD-ROM, per Angie’s suggestion. The context of having a device that you can read on the couch, or the bed makes it very different, but that’s the context of “the device”, not the context of the app. I think we can go much further in promoting and developing literacy for kids.
The “game” aspects of some storybooks have some benefit, in that they can engage young reluctant readers, but I think that they can become gimmicks. For me, the true test of a “classic” piece of literature, in any form is whether you’ll return to it again. Some of these bookapps do, in that their literary stories are evocative or their “games” are fun, but how much further do they develop literacy skills?
I can see a world of “second wave” apps that open up the power of these devices. Not just recording your voice into the app to play back, but really leveraging the opportunities that the technology brings. The apps can tell time, they know where you are in the world, they’re networked, they have cameras. Why not introduce some of those aspects into the books, and transform “static texts – kidslit books that have been crammed into an iPad” and allow the children to contribute to the stories. Why not allow them to share with other children and families? Why not use all the research in cognitive studies done in learning over the past 20+ years and bring them into constructing new ways of reading? It’s not just a piece of paper anymore.
The other thing that does strongly concern me about the move to digital particularly in the areas of childrens’ literature is the digital divide. As paper books become increasingly expensive because of a wholesale move to digital, families who rely on libraries for picture books/popup books etc will be adversely affected. Books *will* be more expensive. In the US, when public spending on libraries is being heavily cut, and publishers (like HarperCollins last week that enacted a 26-only loan for eBooks before they auto-delete), there needs to be a viable way for childrens literature on paper to not only survive but thrive. There are many things that cannot be done in digital, like board books and popup books. It would be tragic to see that become unaffordable for families and libraries.
I think we’re starting out with baby steps – looking forward to collaborating with many people to build wonderful new things to help develop young readers’ literacy.
Best,
- Ian
Thank you so much for asking this question. It is definitely one that has been on my mind. I am a technology teacher for grades 3-5 that collaboratively works with colleagues to integrate technology effectively. In the evening, I review and search for educational apps that apply to my students as well as my son. On that exploration, interactive books are always apps that I look into. My sentiments are the same with you on those developers – PicPocket Books, Mabel and Lulu, and Oceanhouse Media. Our device also has books from OkenkoBooks and Clever Tales. Reading should be both independent and collaborative between a parent and their child(ren). When I explore and download ebooks to my iTouch, I take into consideration certain things: my sons interest level, vocabulary building, ability to open conversation as we navigate through a book, interactive and offering another opportunity for quality time. eBooks should not be seen as a babysitter for our young readers. With eBooks, a readers experience can change each time they read depending on their ability. Each reading opportunity will encourage your son/daughter as they progress on the road of literacy. Because my son is still young, I feel it is important that he experience books in multiple ways – hard cover and through the integration of my Apple device. Sharing with him/her the love of all types of books!
I absolutely see no negative impact on the implementation of iPad picture books and our young readers literacy.
What an excellent post and discussion! I’m so happy you accepted the invitation to participate because I feel as though you represent the majority of parents out there today. Many of us are at least somewhat tech savvy ourselves and it’s only natural that our children would be as well, but where does literacy & learning fall into that? Your points were right on and as time goes forward I can see many of the points made by Ian being incorporated in the very near future. Look at all that has been accomplished in the last couple of years. To expect all of the problems to be worked out immediately is impossible, but it’s up to us as parents and educators to fill in the gaps.
I was definitely one of those on the fence initially about eBooks and incorporating them into the learning experience, but I too have been completely changed. It’s incredible what’s happening! Just look at the video from Apple that I posted on my site that shows public schools using them everyday to help children learn. And this isn’t a “privileged” community, it’s Chicago’s Public School district! It’s amazing! I can’t wait to see where this all takes us in the future! Wonderful post!
As a former Publisher I have to admit this is my biggest fear. However, you have presented some very valid reasons to why we shouldn’t worry about digital children’s books and literacy. I still watch and wonder everyday. I don’t know where it is all going, but I would really like to see the old ways of reading come back on top.
I think that in order to get a better handle on whether or not table based reading (be it pure e-books or gamebooks or interactive picture books or whatever) has some effect on children’s literacy, we need to roll the conversation back a few steps and take a look at what it is to be literate today.
I think back to when I was reading these sorts of paper books, in the 70s and early 80s. Back then, to be literate was: being able to read as well as being able to find information, knowing how to do basic things like count my money and know how to multiply 12 x 7 and do long division. I remember learning about table of contents, indexes, how to use encyclopedias, how to find books in the library, card catalogs etc… all of those things started with picture books and popup books. Reading those ‘starter’ books when I was young is what made it possible for me to become literate as I grew up.
However, nowadays the idea of a ‘literate’ person has quite dramatically changed. Much like I never used a slide rule (except to get extra credit, because I was a huge nerd
I imagine that kids today will never need to use a card catalog to find a book, and using a glossary or an index to find content in a book will feel downright old-fashioned.
I did have to memorize the multiplication tables and learn how to do long division, but then in high school we got to use calculators, and later in college graphic calculators. As a result I generally get out a calculator (app) to do basic math. However I don’t think of myself as less literate because of that.
Ultimately, when I was growing up, being literate meant that I know how to find the information that I needed. And that is still the case today, only the methods for content discovery have changed.
So, instead of card catalogs, kids will use search engines to find content and information. They will be raised with the internet as a tool and literate kids will become masters of that information tech.
So, rounding back to the point
iPads and tablets today will sow the seeds of technological understanding, just like paper books did for us when we were young. If you treat the technology as something to be wary of, then that is what your kids will learn. If you were to disallow ebooks and interactive apps in preference for the ‘old way’ of paper books, then you are doing your children a disservice and they will not become literate in today’s world. (this is not to say that paper books are to be avoided, just not treated exclusively
Cheers!
-Ben
Clarissa, this long articles explains beautifully the advantages of a new medium. To think my son became a fluent reader (all by himself) 2 years ago thanks to electronic reading pencils like the Leapfrog TAG….a predecessor in the word-by-word read-aloud books. This was before the iPad. People who are afraid of this technology shouldn’t be…little by little people will discover the advantages, and the educational side of what some disdainfully call “screen nannies”.
It unbelievable how times have changed. It should, in my opinion be innovative reading, better simulation and an interesting approach. Children are enthusiastic about technology. To experience an ipad story book! That should capture, the curious mind of an emergent learner.
This was a wonderful article. As an iPad Evangelist and mom of 2 preschool boys, I wanted to strike a balance between the interactivity and engagement of the device and using the device to support literacy skills such as critical thinking and discussion. I appreciate the framework that you have laid out on this topic. I
Thank you, Carisa.
Once again you’ve put into words a lot of what I believe to be true. It is a changing world, and technology doesn’t have to mean the end of books or reading; in fact, it can be an extension, reaching into homes and to children who aren’t getting enough book and story exposure.
Great article. I have shared your same sentiment at times about the eBook taking over, but I agree with you that I definitely see perks. I personally see digital story time as a way for my sons and I to spend time together – we don’t read eBooks instead of traditional ones at this point, we read them in addition to… I think if we as parents continue to use good shared reading strategies with our kids when reading eBooks (questioning, prompting, predicting, etc.) then I don’t see why eBook sharing would be grouped in the *bad* category that screen time has become in our society (and not that I really agree with that, either. It is all about interactivity, I think!)
Hi, I’ve been following your posts and must say this one says everything I’d like to say about iPad and reading for kids. My 2 year-old now reads picture books WITH me, we also talk about subjects that come out of sounds of effects on the illustrations, and I sensed she stays more time focused on the history when engaged on the iPad. For us non-English speakers, the “mute” option is great: we can narrate the stories in our own language, and even play a little by changing some names and stuff like that. I’ve written something about that on my blog – but, since it’s in Brazilian Portuguese, I’m afraid it’ll be hard to share. I’ll add your post to the thread, nevertheless. Should you like to see it, here goes: http://ipadfamilia.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/muito-alem-do-caderno-de-caligrafia/
Thanks Maria Claudia! I think you are right … there are so many aspects of reading on a digital tablet that we are discovering.
Carisa
Ironically I came across this post right after I wrote a similar post echoing the same thoughts. Yours is a bit more eloquent though.
We too enjoy reading books on the tablet in the dark.