Quote:
Originally Posted by Latinandgreek
That said, I'm surprised that no one seems to be marketing e-book readers specifically to children (as far as I've been able to see). I think that e-book readers certainly DO have the potential to be "cool gadgets" for kids - I sure would have loved to have one as a kid. My 8 year old niece has been begging various family members for a reader after I bought mine. I really think that she might like a smaller reader, say the Sony pocket edition, but I am concerned about a lack of age appropriate reading material available for purchase.
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Too fragile. Devices that can't survive being dropped off a table are not good candidates for sales to children. Some kids will be careful enough, but marketing them specifically for kids would require both warranties for screen breaks and more user-friendly software instructions.
The only computer-ish devices marketed at kids under the age of about 15 are very durable, small videogames. I believe there are some simple PDA-like devices--also very durable, with very simple & limited functions.
However, there's plenty of age-appropriate reading material. Fictionwise has solid children's and young adult's section, and there are plenty of good public domain books. Any 8-year-old who *likes reading* will be easy to find content for. (Kids who don't already love to read should not be given ebook readers, unless the reason they don't like reading is "the letters are too small on the page.")