We are all passionately committed to the idea of literacy, and sometimes we worry about the future of reading in an increasingly digital world. Here is a refreshing, positive look at the what might lie ahead, from Kristin McLean, executive director of the Association of Booksellers for Children. The Kids Are Alright! Why Digitization and E-books are Good for Literacy from the Publishing Perspectives.
I especially like this quote:
Picture books are actually a very sophisticated learning tool — readers control the story, absorb information visually, immerse themselves in an alternate world, scroll back and forth, touch and point, anticipate developments, and ask thoughtful questions. This creates great analytical skills and an empowered reader, the kind of reader that will hopefully go on to ask better questions of all media, and make thoughtful decisions about what is worthy of their attention.
Comments
Great article
I loved the quote you picked out too. I think of Eliza Dresang's book Radical Change, which was published ages ago-- 1999 would you believe. That book was the first time that I heard someone takl about how the changes in the media and the speed of communication was changing books and how the changes in readers was allowing hugely inventive steps to be taken. One of my favorite picture books, "There Are Cats in This Book" by Viviane Schwarz is not a book that would have been published twenty years ago. It is just such a learning tool as described above. About an alternate universe, a place where cats in books tell the reader what to do, and readers can stay or go, turn the page or not, as they desire. As we create these empowered readers, I am still reminded of those Choose-your-own-Adventure books that came out when I was young. We all want to choose our adventures.