Camille Matthews knows a thing or two about books! She is the award-winning author of the Quincy the Horse books. She was an avid reader as a kid and in addition to writing, Camille provides Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) using rescue horses. She is a licensed social worker and psychotherapist.
In May 2012, Camille wrote a guest post for the MCA Matters blog: eBooks and eReaders for Kids: Three Issues to Talk About. With everyone re-tuning their routines to back-to-school, we thought it was a great time to republish this post, as students are growing accustomed to using an eReader for classroom and homework.
Children’s books are not just books. They are works of art that create a world the child can enter. They go beyond words to provide a child with an artistic experience through imagery and illustration.
However, today everyone is talking about eBooks and eReaders. … but are they a fit for young children (preschool to fourth grade)? Let’s have that conversation.
As an author myself, I will share some of my thoughts related to eBooks for children:
The reading experience
I am a fan of the classic, keepsake type of book and I was not sure I wanted to make my books available in an eFormat. Then one day I was at a book festival and a mom asked if the books were eBooks yet. She explained that her daughter, who was not that comfortable reading, had made great progress recently because it was a special treat to share her dad’s eReader.
About the same time I learned that eBooks were going to be available at public libraries. I realized everything has its place and use and I was excited to learn more.
How does art translate into a digital format?
I knew that books with illustrations and photos were not as readily available on eReaders yet, but I did not understand the technology. Then I learned about a format called “fixed pagination.”
This allows the open book to be seen as a two page spread on the screen. It is the best because some illustrations are over both pages. I also learned that the iPad is the only device that supports this technology at present.
AChil d’s use of an eReader.
This thought put me back in touch with my years as a parent of young children. I remember managing TV time and then the use of the computer. By the time cell phones came along, my children were approaching adulthood and making their own choices for the most part.
With an eReaders, is “screen time” unlimited if your child is just reading age appropriate books? How are parents today dealing with these issues?
Yes, there are lots of pluses to the availability of eBooks and eReaders. They are here to stay and are gaining incredible interest along the way. Whether or not – and how – your preschooler to fourth grader uses them adds another layer to the issues modern parents face.
So let me ask: Do you see an eReader or eBook as an entertainment device or a book? Are eReaders or eBooks appropriate for bedtime stories? Do you plan to continue buying print books or will you buy your children’s books in digital / eReader form only?
Camille is the author of the The Mom’s Choice Award -winning books [amazon_link id=”098192400X” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Quincy Finds A New Home[/amazon_link] and [amazon_link id=”0981924018″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Quincy Moves to the Desert[/amazon_link]. Both will be released for iPad in summer 2012. Please join us at www.facebook.com/quincythehorse to follow Quincy as he gallops to the iPasture.