Blogger: Etta Wilson
Location: Books & Such Nashville office
Weather: Low 90s and muggy
A sentence on page 20 in Publishers Weekly‘s recent July 19 issue on children’s books for this fall caught my eye: “…It’s unclear whether parents will fork over the money for kids to use a $499 iPad that might easily fall into the toilet or sandbox.” I hadn’t thought of that!
It’s one thing for a child to leave a $14.95 hardcover or even a $6.95 paperback out in the rain or let the dog chew it, but it’s quite another for him/her to do the same with the expensive hardware needed for an electronic app, no matter how cheap the app. I should have thought of this because one of my young grandsons is not the most careful, and I bet lots of parents will have the same thoughts.
Regardless, it does seem clear that creators of content for children–that’s you authors–must at least try to think of interactive product. The closest we have come at this point is in lift-the-flap books, cut-outs with texture (think Pat the Bunny) and multi-novelty creations like Paul Zelinsky’s The Wheels on the Bus. Now, the emphasis seems to be on converting formerly published titles with sales vitality into something that “comes to life” through technology, puts children in the content and to some extent lets them have control over it.
The writing in the sand points to a reinvigoration of content for all readers, but not necessarily new content. Rick Riordan’s 39 Clues Series, launched in 2008, is telling in this regard. The series included books, cards and online games with a designated website. But the series, written by four different authors, all had some reference to historical characters. It was new technology applied to conveying existing knowledge. Incidentally the final book, Into the Gauntlet, will be published at the end of August with a print run of 750,000. I’d like to see the number of hits the website gets.
One more quote from the article: “Publishers will focus on producing the best possible stories–and then making them ‘discoverable.'” And we know who writes those stories, don’t we?
How do you feel about making the shift from writing for the page to writing for the screen?
Personally I don’t have any problem with writing for the screen. It’s all writing. There will be authors who stick to print and authors who embrace every new technology that’s out there, and they’re both correct – because they’re doing what works for their style and their readership. I am starting to review e-books as well as tree books now.
And as for the iPad… I live in a fairly affluent neighborhood, and have come across an iPad left on the grass while the kid was playing nearby. Around here iPads are considered a good buy for middle school age upwards, but I’m expecting to see 3-year-olds with them any day soon. I imagine that there are already waterproof/sandproof cases out there.
Very informative post, Jane. Thanks. You remind me again of the scare in publishing when audio books became such a hot item on the market. Contrary to the gloom and doom comments, they actually increased the sale of books. We can only wait and see and keep writing as we are led.
With India just announcing that it has the prototype for a $35 computer, it seems reasonable to foresee someone manufacturing a simple interactive reader for even the preschool cohort. Parents may not fork out the $35, but grandmas will. 🙂
Actually, as a parent, I’ve forked out $$$ in the hundreds for my kids’ electronic stuff. The Nintendo DSi XL costs over $200 and that’s just for the gaming system itself. Add in a carrying case and games, and we’re over $300. Multiply by 2 for 2 kids… and…
They also have portable DVD players. Don’t forget the Wii or the PlayStation, or other non-portable stuff.
I can see forking out more $$$ for a computer-device like iPad, because I want them to stay on top of the tech-curve.
Plus I want to play with their iPad when they finally get one.
So far, no splashes into the toilet… (though it’s a constant issue to make sure they don’t leave their gadgets behind somewhere)
P.S., both my kids are readers. They love good books and are excellent readers, writers, and — yes — great grammarians.
Etta,
Speaking of “writing for the screen” how about “cover design” for Amazon and iTunes?
The first view most readers will have of our books is that small icon they see on Amazon, et. al. The cover needs to look catchy when reduced to icon-size.
Just a thought.
Bill, you’re way out front in many areas, and I’m glad your kids have access to so many forms of technology. And how good of you to confess that you want to play with their iPad. I am concerned about parents and even whole school systems that can’t afford all the technology for children, and the possibility that raises for creating further division in US culture.
Brian, you’re so right. All us grandmas will fork out for the kiddos, and a $35 computer is unbelievable. I’m on my way to the store now!
Hi Etta,
Not sure if you’re still reading comments but I’m just catching up after being in LA for the Summer Conference last week. Rubin Pfeffer gave a well-received keynote on the very topic of electronic publishing (unfortunately,I missed it as I was doing homework for the Arthur Levine class I signed up for!) But in PW’s Children’s Bookshelf today, there was a good write-up on it. By now, you may have seen it. If not, be sure to look for it. It’s a thought-provoking topic, for sure. We had Jean Gralley at our WI SCBWI conference a couple years ago, and she had a great power point presentation on this, too, showing us what the possibilities would look like. I imagine the generation of new parents will embrace this readily and think nothing of giving their kids this kind of reading experience. As for me, I’m glad I grew up reading all those Beverly Cleary books curled up under a shade tree, letting my fingers feel the paper.
Pam
Pam, I wish I could have been in LA myself and heard Pfeffer’s keynote, but I’m glad you were there. I’ve just heard a Cameroon missionary talking about the expense and difficulty of getting paper in that country for printing–another reason why electronic publishing may be he coming thing.