Do your kids read ebooks? -

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Simon Cheshire

08 Jul 2012, 10:38 AM | Post: #1

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Do your kids read ebooks?

I'm a children's writer (www.simoncheshire.co.uk) and I'm trying to research the impact ebooks are having on the children's book market. There doesn't seem to be a clear picture yet - some say kids are taking to e-reading with enthusiasm, others that kids are barely aware of ebooks yet.

What's your experience? Do your kids read ebooks? If so, on what sort of device (a phone or iPod, I'm guessing)? Do they prefer to e-read or will they be sticking with dead trees?

I visit a lot of schools up and down the country, and I often ask children about their reading. I've been struck by how very few of them - so far - are the slightest bit interested in the whole e-reading revolution! This seems so strange when adult e-reading has turned the entire industry on its head!

Thoughts, anyone?

My website is at www.simoncheshire.co.uk
My blog on literary history is at bookhistorystudies.blogspot.co.uk
My How To Write A Book blog is at howtowriteandpublish.blogspot.co.uk

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J.S.Egan Reading

08 Jul 2012, 10:50 AM | Post: #2

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RE: Do your kids read ebooks?

My nine-year-old boy does - on his iPod touch. But don't get too excited - he has never spent any money on books - he just cruises the free stuff, as he does for games.

www.jsegan.co.uk

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J.S.Egan Reading

08 Jul 2012, 10:52 AM | Post: #3

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RE: Do your kids read ebooks?

PS - My son's school just bought a 'fleet' of e-readers for the library. (I think they are Sonys, but not sure.) They are very popular, but again no one is actually buying content for them - they are seen as an economical way to consume out of copyright works mainly.

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J.S.Egan Reading

08 Jul 2012, 10:53 AM | Post: #4

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RE: Do your kids read ebooks?

PPS - This...

http://thewingtoheaven.wordpress.com...

... might interest you.

www.jsegan.co.uk

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Dorte Hummelshoj Reading Winterlude by Quentin Bates

08 Jul 2012, 01:02 PM | Post: #5

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RE: Do your kids read ebooks?

My kids are not kids any more, but I teach. I don´t think many Danish teenagers (this is upper secondary school) can afford ereaders yet. I often publish material in pdf format for them, and most of them read it on laptops, a few on iphones. So for the majority, ebooks would mean having to read on your computer screen.

Dorte H.

Writer of traditional crime fiction. My blog

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Katherine Roberts Reading Katherine by Anya Seton

08 Jul 2012, 05:10 PM | Post: #6

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RE: Do your kids read ebooks?

Hi Simon, all the kids I know who read ebooks seem to do so on their phones... don't know if they pay for their ebooks (or how). I did meet one 12-year-old girl at a Welsh school earlier this year who was very proud of her Kindle and really into ereading, but she was definitely an exception rather than the rule.

Interestingly, I was talking to an American lady on the train recently and she said Kindles are seen as being for "rich kids" over there, and Apple are apparently supplying ipads to disadvantaged kids!

So I really don't know much more than you, but my feeling is that Kindle is mainly an adult market at present. I know my own "middle grade" books sell very few copies as ebooks... and I think those are mostly being bought by adults.

http://www.katherineroberts.co.uk
http://reclusivemuse.blogspot.com

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Rosen Trevithick Reading

08 Jul 2012, 05:26 PM | Post: #7

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RE: Do your kids read ebooks?

I know one child who has a Kindle because of an eye condition, but apart from that, I only know adults who have Kindles.

www.rosentrevithick.co.uk

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L K Jay

08 Jul 2012, 06:01 PM | Post: #8

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RE: Do your kids read ebooks?

I'm an English teacher and the whole ereader thing in schools is really interesting. Last year I worked in a school with mostly middle-class children and when I used to take my kindle into school, the children were fascinated by it. I'd let them have a look and I think there were a few kindles on Christmas lists that year!
However, I noticed, especially at the school I'm working at now, the children tend to consume books the traditional way (if they will read at all) and are not that interested in owning a kindle. I think most of the children are getting the books from the school library rather than buying or downloading books - there's a lot less money around. If they do download a book, it will more likely be on their ipod or smartphone rather than on a specific ereader.
The kindle itself is also probably not that attractive for younger readers - they appear to be for adults and are therefore used by adults. Perhaps the Amazon powers that be could bring out a kindle for children - easy to use and bright colours etc.

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frogplate Reading Scar Night - Alan Campbell

08 Jul 2012, 06:39 PM | Post: #9

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RE: Do your kids read ebooks?

Both my kids (15 and 19) are active readers but pour scorn on my use of the Kindle. They claim I'm missing out on the smell, texture and other physical attributes of dead trees. Although they were quick to move from physical media to downloads for music and video they are actively hostile to e-books.

Chris (15) says that a few kids in his class do use Kindles, but he thinks they belong to their parents. Rachel (19) is at university and doesn't think anyone on her course uses e-book readers. However this may be because they are doing Art and Graphical Design where e-books don't yet compete with their older brethren for illustration and typographical quality.

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davidwailing Reading The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov

08 Jul 2012, 06:57 PM | Post: #10

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RE: Do your kids read ebooks?

It does seem that Kindles appeal to adults much more than children. But then, I'm not convinced that reading appeals to the majority of modern children. There is far too much visual-based media around, and it's so much easier to watch than to read!

However, I think what might draw in younger readers is when ebooks start becoming more interactive and multi-media, as I'm convinced they will. There also needs to be a common platform for social sharing and discussion of ebooks, as part and parcel of the actual reading experience - in the same way you can share and comment on YouTube videos, for example. All of which will come in time. We're at the beginning of the ebook revolution, not the end.

In fact, I have a short story planned that will look at the future of ebooks! Big Grin

www.davidwailing.com

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