This past year it seemed like many of my daughter’s third grade classmates were including e-readers on their holiday wish list. One mom posted to her Facebook wall about how her voracious reader wanted a Kindle for instant gratification of downloading a new book immediately upon finishing one.
With children who are avid readers, who love to have a great selection of books to choose from, I love the convenience of e-readers because they hold a wealth of content, customized for my kids’ reading levels and interests. They’re also great travel companions that take up far less room than a stack of books!
In the past two years, the selection of e-readers has increased, and there are more devices available at varying price points.
It’s not surprising that new research published in the fourth edition of the Kids & Family Reading Report indicates that the percent of children who have read an eBook has almost doubled since 2010 (25% vs 46%). What is shocking is that half of children ages 9-17 say they would read more books for fun if they had greater access to eBooks.
E-Books are widely available on e-readers such as Kindles or Nooks, as well as on tablets and laptops. Interactive e-books apps provide affordable titles for all ages with gorgeous illustrations, interactive pages, text that is highlighted as it’s read, and titles in foreign languages.
Published by Scholastic biannually, the Kids & Family Reading Report is a national survey that uses responses from kids ages 6-17 and their parents to assess views on reading in the digital landscape. The survey also gauges the influences that impact kids’ reading frequency and attitudes toward reading.