Sitting with my 5 year old this morning for our daily coffee and conversations, we were enjoying Between The Lions (PBSkids.org) and as he was listening to the book being read and watching the character come to life from a 2 dimensional image on a book cover to real moving, talking, dancing person; I thought that’s an ebook! Meaning, mothers watch stories being read on show like this and Reading Rainbow, Blues Clues, Sesame Street, and Word World; but it is not perceived as an ebook, its perceived as a story on TV which somehow makes it different.
Putting the two together the same animation and sound that is being played for our pre-schoolers and young children on TV is being focused for ebooks. Mothers I asked about ebooks for their children, were most hesitant about letting a computer do the reading, but they said they allowed their children to watch some of the programs mentioned above for a small amount of time. When asked why most said something along the lines of it was only for a select about of time and in conjunction with the one-on-one reading they did with them.
Ok, so I think we need a new perception of what educational partners are. If we allow our children to watch programs that assist in their learning and then allow then to go to the computer to play the games provided by those television shows to again partner with parents in the name of education, we should be willing to cut out some of the middle man. Ebook sites, especially Wizz-E.com provide education through books with or without sound, games, and only accept books from the best of authors. This way publishers of ebooks can provide the education and entertainment that goes side by side with learning to read.
I am not saying that educational shows are not valuable, but I will take books over TV any day. I know that this morning while conversating with Chandler (5 year old) he gets the most out of Between the Lions when they show stories coming to life and talking to him. When words and music are showing him something, he locks into it. I love PBSkids and the shows they provide, it gives us a block to stand on for reaching the top shelf of books. But, I also love great ebooks that come to life, they give me as a parent another tool to show how fantastic and magical books are.
What do you think? Have you ever looked at books/TV this way?
After polling several mothers and fathers, asking them how the like to enjoy reading to their children and would they consider using ebooks in conjunction with traditional paper books most were unaware that ebooks had advanced to a child level. Interesting idea, advancing to a child’s level.
I introduced them to Wizz-E.com and asked if they would share a moment with their children reading ebooks and report back their findings.
Here are their words:
I prefer paper books, but as our society is growing more electronically inclined I think it’s great that we’re keeping books in that process. At least the kids are still reading! That’s what’s most important.
I really think anything that gets kids reading is great.
-Vanessa T. Oklahoma
Putting ebooks in the hands of kids is a great way to blend technology that they are bombarded with daily and the excitement of reading. Which I believe todays kids are losing touch with. Meeting kids where they are will always prove more results than trying to force feed them something that they feel is old or out of touch with their lives.
Sarah P. California
We haven’t tried ebooks but I can’t say I find it appealing. I enjoy cuddling up w/ the girls to read in their beds or on the sofa. Putting them in front of the computer screen just doesn’t do it for me. They do some computer at school and a little at home, but there’s nothing like reading together and turning actual pages. Both peanuts are starting to read on their own now and enjoy quiet time in their room with books… it’s lovely. Then again, this is all coming from the least techy person out there. I don’t own a cell phone, have tivo/dvr (nor cable!) or whatever else it’s called. Bluray? What’s that? Twitter - huh? Just old school that way
-Susan J. South Carolina
Like anything else we expose our children too, ebooks should be a relationship between parent and child. Communication is important. The whole idea of ebooks if faster put into the hands of young people to give them a different source for material and education. I love the idea that ebooks could replace DVD’s in cars. Could you imagine giving your child a gift card to download the Titles the have been wanting to read just before a long car trip and then as the trip goes on allow them to read aloud or share the story they chose.
I think that as parents we are quick to give something to our children that will occupy them so we can be more comfortable. The easier the access to that comfort the better. DVD, video games, music they all are quick ways to entertain. But what if we changed the idea of entertainment. If a child is given the access to a book, one that will read a loud if he is not yet reading with sounds and animation - that becomes a game. Then they hooked on a story and they want to read more. Just like if you allow your child the taste of sugar before they experience broccoli most children will forgo the green for the yum.
My long point is this. Give your child the good stuff and they will grave knowledge instead of fillers. They world has enough ridiculous fillers, allow them to experience the magic of a book and the total losing of the time that comes from passion in literature. Ebooks are a great way to do that - like hiding broccoli in pizza.
-Tom H. Texas
In no way do we at Wizz-E.com feel that ebooks should deter moms and dads from page-turning-time with their little ones, but use the technology that is available and of the best authors and animators/illustrators to allow for educational time in a way that uses what kids already experience. I love what Tom said “…like hiding broccoli in pizza.”
Ebook “Pizza!”
§ Download books to your smart phone and use then in waiting rooms, while grocery shopping, running errands, in the dentist chair - since ebooks are much cheaper than paper copies, allow your child to download a new story for each outing.
§ Long car rides instead of hand-held video games
§ To distract while you are cleaning/preparing dinner instead of TV
§ As rewards, “if you finish this book you can download one of your choice”
§ While you are working on your laptop let your child sit next to your and “work” on his reading.
“parents are just not ready to utilize ebooks for their children.”
I asked the commenter why and the response surprised me:
“Learning is not a game, and how can a child learn from games or electronic books?”
After taking a moment to consider the response I could give I asked myself the same question. The answer came swiftly and strongly. Today’s children are bombarded with electronica, video games, iPods, iPhones, Blackberry’s, Laptops, Wii (Nintendo) and PlayStation.
Those aren’t even the items that preschoolers are using; they are learning to read from Leapfrog’s “laptop”, Leapster Handheld game consoles and even playing Dora the Explorer and Diego games on Nintendo DS they can even “Build-a-Bear” on the Wii.
So I ask you, is learning a game?
OF COURSE!
Ask any teacher how they teach the alphabet - with the alphabet song, or teach kindergartners how to remember numbers, a game, a song or a rhythm. Children learn math from games such as Count the Beans, Stack the Pigs and blocks. So why can’t they learn reading from a book online that is a animated version of the 2D book on their bookshelf?
Children learn through repitition: hearing, seeing, and interacting with information. The more we can visualize the information they are to take in, the more information they will want to take in.
What a great time to show your green by skipping those paper books and find some new reads in ebooks. Not only are they a simple and easy way to catch up on your Spring reading list ebooks are completely GREEN!
The people at All Romance eBooks have launched a site all about going green. Not about authors or stories, but promoting the ebooks and all the glories that come with using them.
We chose to do this because the idea that nature should be preserved is important to us. It is a core value and one of the reasons that we adore eBooks
eBooks are delivered to the end user electronically. They are read electronically. They are disposed of with a push of a delete button, without ever taking up room in a landfill.
Some numbers:
Consider This:
It takes twelve trees to produce a ton of printing paper. Twenty-four trees for higher grade writing paper.
A mature tree can produce as much oxygen in a season as ten people inhale in a year.
Only 5% of the paper used in the book industry is recycled.
Up to 35% of books printed for consumers are never read. They are returned to the publisher and end up in landfills.
71% of the world’s paper supply comes from natural forests, rather than tree farms.
So, this St. Paddy’s day show the world that being green doesn’t have to end on March 18 and those trees can live another day!
Who were these words flying from you ask? Well, upon the launch we sent out emails to moms, dads, grandparents, and friends asking them to check out the sight and email back their thoughts. They had so much to say. Mostly the comments surprised us. As they told of the search for online books that were diverse enough to keep and toddler engaged and challenging enough to keep a young reader interested so they return to the site. Most had been introduced to ebooks before but not in children’s media.
They did have some questions too. Steve from Oklahoma asked “the ebook is great but how can a child learn from this media, also is it your intention to release the traditional book?” I answered “by no means.” We are partnering with parents to encourage and engage children though technology, this to which they are already well versed. Karen from New Mexico asked “what are ebooks? Is it something like kindle books?” I answered, “Yes, Karen they are somewhat like Kindle books, however our books are made for young readers. They are designed with audio and animation to enchant the reader and show then that reading can come to life.” Our books are unique and diverse enough for children ages 3-8.
We encourage you to check out WIZZ-E.COM and let us know what you think of the site!!
Children have been reading through Scholastic for over 87 years. They give opportnites for learning by working with schools, teachers and classrooms to bring books into the hands of children. In addition to their in classroom marketing they are now offering online e-books, that work along side of BookFlix. This new resource pairs a fictional video storybook with a non-fiction ebook, to teach and entertain at the same time. With options to read along and cross refrence the non-fiction e-book.
This new media is booming, the e-book industry is a “35 billion dollar” (cbc.ca) machine. Until recently childrens e-books have not been the majority of the market, it was advertized to adults and college students for a less expensive text choice. However, marketing to children through electronic media is becoming a unsurprising use of resources. With the majority of toys, games and televison shows having a onine counterpart the option for online learning though classic and neo-classic books is not an unwelcome resource.
Suzanne Murphy with Scholastic says:
‘I’d be hard pressed to say there won’t be a time when bedtime reading is with an electronic device.’
Some might be turned away by this fact, and argue that reading to children is one of the most memorable and rewarding parent/child experiences. I agree. I am not trying to say that e-books should replace those moments all togeather, but give another way to experience learning. Just as one uses online resoreces to learn and educate. E-books are another fomat that can inhance reading, learning and bring something different to the way a child recieves the information.
“We’re so lucky to live in an era when kids can have books in multiple formats. Each format offers something that the other doesn’t,” said Francie Alexander, Scholastic’s chief academic officer.
With the market growing this way, in the midst of an opposite economy e-books are something you can feel good about spending the money for; as it will assist our children in becoming a more prepared for what the demand of technology will be.
We won’t need any more “things” in the basest sense as long as the media we consume is compatible with the things we have. By buying digital, we will point to what formats we want to use.
He has a point. We consume things, collect things, give things; all in the name of gaining more things. The same things to which we consume (gadgets, phones, game consoles, etc.) can be reloaded, so-to-speak with the things to which we bought them for. For instance, giving this holiday season can be maximized by gifting digital formats to be downloaded to the hardware we already own.
John Biggs goes on to say that:
How should you give digitally? Head over to the Amazon MP3 store and gift an album. Buy someone with an XBox a 1-year 1 DVD/streaming only subscription to Netflix (I know it’s cheating, but tell them not to get the DVD).Buy someone some cool ebooks and some software to read it on their phone.
I am facinated by the fact that when I buy a gift not only does the price of the gift factor in but the wrapping, postage, and card; they cost as well. One of the perks of digital giving, card comes with it no wrapping or shipping. Not only is this cool, it contributes to the “green” movement.
The fact is we, people, kids, grandmas, teachers; are all telling the industry what to keep, toss and recreate. Conservation does not have to mean skimp on giving, it’s mearly giving the right thing. We can still give music, books, DVD’s; just in a more conscious way. We need to tell the market that digital downloads are user friendly, more convenient, and better for the wants and needs of the public.
Top 5 Digital Gifts:
Credit to Wizz-e, allowing your child/family member/friend to enjoy the great selection we provide online.
Amazon allows you to download a great deal of various gifts. Video on Demand can be gifted through emailed gift cards. Video on Demand can be played on your PC/MAC or Portable device like TiVo.
eGifts has 100+ stores you can purchase egift cards.
Reading is not just about the story being told. Reading incorporates imagination, focusing skills, interpretation, and reasoning. Literacy starts at birth, and with a head start of vocabulary and language skills the transition into pre-school and kindergarten is easier with a strong foundation for learning.
Some Thoughts:
1. eBooks are interactive. They capture the attention of children, by means of sight and sound. They are able to participate in the flow of the story. Turning the pages by clicking the mouse. Hearing the words and sounds of the chimes, clicks and knowing that they made those things happen. They are in control of the story and where it goes.
2. Access is easier. I know that when my 5 year old wants to read a story and it has been returned to the library, it is war until we get it back. The ability to ask your child what they want to read about, then be able to log on and get it, fantastic.
3. Maintaining motivation to read. There is a big difference between being able to read and enjoying reading. The idea that reading is enjoyable is set at an early age. If it is a pleasurable experience, such as time alone with mom or dad, or a time in which the child has all the attention it is remembered as a happy time. Later when reading is required, those memories are instilled that reading is enjoyable. Even though the child is grown, it still is a happy memory and therefore an activity they are more apt to engage in.
4. eBooks are updated more often, and they come with more features than a print book. Such as, an online version may have bonus material, as well as different endings possible. You may pay a different price for the two but you get more than the traditional print.
5. Portability. The ability to download a book to a laptop and carry that file with you, gives you the possibility to use it while traveling, or long bouts of downtime where the use of toys or other means of distraction are not available. If you have ever had to entertain a young child while experiencing a layover, you know what value a eBook would bring. Even if you are trying to get some work done, it is a easy way to keep track of book for easy access when you take a work break and spend some time with your child.
6. Going Green. We are facing a more conscious environmental state. The use of green products are becoming more and more accessible and user friendly. The cost to print and maintain paper resources is coming at a higher price as the economy is changing. It’s becoming fashionable to be “green.” The nation is taking notice that we have options to stop doing the kind of damage on the environment we have been.
7. The technology will get better. Advances in technology will bring more options as well as more information to be utilized. Children now are preparing for the jobs of tomorrow. Technology will be such a big part of their world, it will be their first instinct to Google before Encarta. I mean, my 8 year old has friends with iPhones and Blackberry’s. Amazing.
8. Device. With Wizz-E there is not a need for another device. You just use your PC/Mac. You don’t have to buy another device to use the eBooks. You can browse using your iPhone then download to your PC, and there they remain.
9. eBooks are not a replacement for reading to your children. They are a way to enhance the learning and attention of children to get them involved in not only books, but computer use and technology.
10. The possibilities are, as they say, endless. You can browse so many interesting topics, search international books, and use hyperlinks to read about something and then go see the pictures, or watch a video. The use of college textbooks online would be great. The ability to read the text online, discuss with others, get insights from other professors using the same text. The learning that would come from a community of readers would be priceless. It opens up a whole world of learning, and seeing the world from outside the bindings of a book. You can teach a child to read, but teach a child to learn and they will always have the confidence to teach others.
Check out some great books online at Wizz-E and be watching for updates here.
Great things are being written and available to discover.
We chose to do this because the idea that nature should be preserved is important to us. It is a core value and one of the reasons that we adore eBooks 
