Catherine Stine's IDEA CITY

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Monday, May 16, 2011

Digital Books for Kids & Kids do Reviews!







I’ve been hearing more and more about new digital directions for the children’s market, including apps for the iPad.

In addition, more and more kids are blogging, and writing their own book reviews, which is very cool.

Here are two fun, cutting edge links. One is called KidsWriteReviews.com, where I just got a five star review for my choose-your-own adventure book, A Girl’s Best Friend. Thanks to my reviewer, KK!

The second is a link to an article a friend turned me onto called The Future of Print: 21 Interesting E-Books for Kids, by Scott McLeod. Scott hosts this site called Dangerously Irrelevant, which is dedicated to exploring the technological and educational needs of schools. The amazing array of apps and eBooks cited in his article will expand your thinking about what is possible for the children’s market going forward. He provides examples of everything from 3D interactive online pop-up books, to science apps. Take a look here.

Finally, take a peek at Tumble Books, a site that many libraries use, where trade books are transformed to digital talking books. Boy, I would have loved this as a kid.

On a different but just as important note, I want to thank Krista M for awarding me the Stylish Blog Award! I encourage you all to visit her thoughtful blog, The Jelly Beans of Writing. As far as me citing seven more blogs, I’ve recently awarded two big batches of them, so I will sit this round out, as I don’t want to bore you by being redundant. But I promise, in time, I will be recognizing more great blogs as I discover them.

What do you think of the move toward eBooks and apps for kids? Have you seen any great sites that you would add to my list? Do you have kids, and if so, do they have any favorite apps? How about blogs written by kids?

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17 comments:

  1. Kelly HashwayMay 16, 2011 at 8:43 AM

    I love the idea of kids writing blogs and reviewing books. That's just great. Word of mouth is how most kids decide what to read. Having a blog to share those recommendations will reach many more kids.

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  2. cleemckenzieMay 16, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    Congratulations on that review! And I think when kids are encouraged to write anything it's wonderful. So much learning happens when thoughts have to go onto a page as words.

    Hope you'll stop by the Write Game and pick up the Stylish Blogger Award I've passed on to your wonderful Idea City.

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  3. BethMay 16, 2011 at 11:27 AM

    Congrats on the review and ty for the awesome links. I review kids reviews for flamingnet, lots of them are really good. And you know, a lot of the big book blogs out there are ran by teens!
    bethfred.com

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  4. Catherine StineMay 16, 2011 at 11:46 AM

    Aw, thanks C Lee!

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  5. Scott McLeodMay 16, 2011 at 1:54 PM

    Thanks for passing along my post. Much appreciated!

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  6. Catherine StineMay 16, 2011 at 2:08 PM

    Ah, yes, Scott, it was great! I'll be checking back on your site for more good posts.

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  7. Scott McLeodMay 16, 2011 at 2:13 PM

    Thanks! Here are a few to get you started! :)

    http://bigthink.com/ideas/30671

    http://bigthink.com/ideas/31604

    http://bigthink.com/ideas/30727

    http://bigthink.com/ideas/31773

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  8. Jessie HarrellMay 16, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    I'm a little torn about turning books into Apps, but in the end, I probably think it's a good idea. Kids love technology so much and if that encourages them to read earlier, then who am I to complain?

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  9. Kristen KittscherMay 16, 2011 at 9:48 PM

    Wow - great links! Thanks for getting me thinking, Catherine.

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  10. Author Dawn BrazilMay 17, 2011 at 2:54 PM

    Congrats on the review!!! I have kids and I'm sure I'll find some useful things on these sites. Can't wait to explore these with them.

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  11. UnknownMay 18, 2011 at 7:21 AM

    How wonderful, Catherine! It is exciting to see how these things are evolving. Like Jessie H. I'm a bit torn, too. However, it's what our "techie" generation kiddos are doing. We have to keep up!

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  12. Catherine StineMay 18, 2011 at 8:23 AM

    Yes, we do, or we'll be like most of our parents, who gape in confusion at facebook etc.

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  13. Komal MansoorMay 19, 2011 at 6:31 AM

    I think if kids review, that would be most honest and innocent reviewers and the MOST fun to read those reviews!:)

    Great post!:)

    Komz@thereviewgirl
    http://komzreviews.blogspot.com/

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  14. Catherine StineMay 19, 2011 at 7:54 AM

    Yes, Komal, love the kids' reviews!!!

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  15. AnonymousMay 19, 2011 at 3:05 PM

    Congrats on the 5-star review from an actual child! Parents may worry about the implications of the e-book trend, but kids will take to it like fish to water. Writers just have to keep up!

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  16. BethMay 23, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    I received your Thank you card. It made my day. That was very thoughtful ;).

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  17. Catherine StineMay 23, 2011 at 8:15 AM

    Aw, glad to do it.

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