My young son doesn't like my e-reader

[ProfCrash]

Pop Up books. They are a ton of fun, easily destroyed, very expensive, and very popular with young kids.

[Shimarenda]

I love my Kindle; I'm amazed by it. But in our love for the possibilities of the new technology, I think we sometimes forget that books are really cool. They're tactile. Each one looks different on the outside. I can look at a book and think of all that it contains as if knowledge is about to burst from between the covers (especially the nice, thick ones). And the book at this point in history is a highly developed medium when done correctly. My Kindle looks the same on the outside, I push little buttons to use it, and I already have so much on it that the very volume of its contents can make a particular book seem small and hidden rather than an exciting possibility.

Don't misunderstand me: I love my Kindle and look forward with a smile to reading from it every evening. But it's maybe not an experience that appeals as much to a child who has seen paper books.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Pop Up books. They are a ton of fun, easily destroyed, very expensive, and very popular with young kids.

Right! My mom was always scared of me when reading those. But amazingly, I did not destroy them, neither my die cast model matchbox cars, hahaha... and talking about 30 something years ago. Gave some to my nephew and he destroyed those in a min.

Actually, I had a Spider Man comic that was 30 years old, mint condition. My mom made the mistake and gave this to my nephew when he was like 10? He damaged the pages and spine! So sad ...

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by queentess

Perhaps he meant "something with pictures".

That would be my guess. My kids are much more concerned with whether or not the book has pictures they can look at while I read to them. They don't seem to care whether it's paper or electronic.

[Shaggy]

Originally Posted by jocampo

Right, as a matter of fact, I read here in the site, from a professional writer and expert on the topic (unfortunately do not remember his nickname) that 3 to 4 lines are recommended, with plenty of pics (for kids under 6 or 5 years old I mean.) I cannot confirm or deny if that's true, but it worked for me when I was a kid and the reason why I love reading.

I'm sure that's true, but I don't think it has anything to do with what media the book is on. IE, what's wrong with an eBook that has 3 to 4 lines and plenty of pics? What you're talking about is not a limitation of paper vs electronic.

[jocampo]

@Shaggy,

Well, you can achieve a similar experience with an electronic book, but the child won't feel the glossy paper, the texture of the real book, even the smell of the new book. So far, those cannot be replaced by an ebook. For a child, in my opinion, those are important experiences.

[GeoffC]

From what I can recall young kids seem to like physically turning pages, and peeping ahead to see what's next - especially if they've seen the book before and know what is coming they still feel the urge to look.
Even if one is reading to them there is that inquisitive nature in them.

Perhaps, also, the pictures are important at that young age, and especially those in full colour....

[elemenoP]

My daughter is six and she is only recently ready for short books with no pictures (to be read to her, not to read).

Personally, I don't read her books on my reader anyway because it's mommy's toy, not her toy.

eP

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by elemenoP

My daughter is six and she is only recently ready for short books with no pictures (to be read to her, not to read).

Personally, I don't read her books on my reader anyway because it's mommy's toy, not her toy.

eP

safety first

[kjk]

My son is 16, and an avid reader. He's not resistant to eReaders (he has used them since the REB1100, and has also had access to a Sony 550, and an iPad), he's just not enthusiastic about them He just prefers having his paper books around him...he also prefers hardcovers, actually.

[SeaBookGuy]

Originally Posted by jocampo

I do not know how you call that in English, but I remember some books that when you open or turn pages, the silhouette or person came out of the book, pop up, like a spring? The paper has been cut and gives some kind of 3D effect.

I still can see some of those on bookstores like B&N. To me, those are fantastic and very easy to read for some kids.

Those are known as "pop up books".

I fully agree the child wants the actual print book to be read from - it's part of the "being read to" experience.

[queentess]

Originally Posted by jocampo

Call me old school ... but for a very young child, I would like to introduce him or use regular pbooks. The paper feeling and real interaction with the book maybe will stimulate him a bit more. Books with lot of pictures and just a few lines per pages also keep the motivation at a very high level. That's what my dad did to me when I was about 6 , lol ... it worked!

I am very pro technology, but I do advocate for regular pbooks for children. Same for electronic games. I do not have kids, but I would not give an electronic game to my kid until he learns and enjoy the real stuff 1st.

Right, but in a pinch, reading out loud to them from a "grown-up book" isn't bad. Shoot, I read Asimov to my daughter sometimes (though she seemed to like it better when she was, oh, about 4 months old... ). But we also 'read' a lot of picture books. And she frequently will go get a book and climb up in my lap and babble to me as she turns the pages, or flip through the pages by herself while sitting on her little couch. Much as I love my ereader, she won't be ready for one for a while yet.

I present: evidence!

Spoiler:

[Tome Keeper]

Perhaps try one of those electronic toys that act like an e-reader.

I think for children you need colour and pictures, and the Kindle (even with pictures) just doesn't deliver.

[queentess]

Originally Posted by Tome Keeper

Perhaps try one of those electronic toys that act like an e-reader.

I think for children you need colour and pictures, and the Kindle (even with pictures) just doesn't deliver.

A little steep in price, but looks cool: Fisher Price iXL
(it could use a catchier name...)

[crich70]

Try the Wonderland books, they have pictures throughout, though they are probably too long to read at one sitting easily.

Originally Posted by avantman42

Possibly. I may have to try reading something with pictures to him from my Kindle and see what the response is.