What do you think of kids using ereaders?

Okay, I have a two-fold reason for starting this thread. One, I just received permission from author Brett Battles to give away a Kindle version of his new middle grade novel, Here Comes Mr. Trouble (which is fantastic!) on my blog and I'm very excited about it. I know, borderline spam, but it brings up a legitimate question:

What is your opinion about kids using ebook readers like Nook and Kindle?

 

Why not? If kids are reading, I don't really care if they're using book or electronic form. I do think that proper precautions in terms of eye strain should always be in place, but that's just as true for hard copy books.

 

I'm not excited about them. But that's probably my reluctance to accept change, so take it with a grain of salt!

 

I have both apps on DH's iPad and I can't find any books for my kids that don't cost an arm and a leg. I'm sure if I had older kids (tweens or teens) there'd be more selection.

Also...
Our local news had a report this week about kids being able to use eReaders to access pornography. And since they are portable and small, it's difficult for parents to keep an eye on what their kids are doing with them.

 

I wouldn't mind as long as I knew the only thing they were doing on them was reading.

 

Here's the story they did on the eReader porn issue.

 

I let my girls use mine for reading the classics we're studying together. All of the true classics are free and they LOVE reading on my Kindle and now the i-pad. Had no idea of the porn issue though. That's scary!

 

Two years ago, I was the mom who didn't want her kids on eReaders.

Now, four out of the five in our family have them.

This has been a HUGE benefit to our family. The storage space is SO much less for "school stuff" (some how, we still seem to have hundreds of books all over!)

Most of the books we use are available for free online. Google Books, Project Gutenberg - there are quite a few sources. For myself, I am finding more often that authors are self-publishing - "click here and download my book."

Between the four of us, we have two different types of eReaders, neither of which are the types the OP mentioned. I have a Sony Touch model, and the kids have LookBooks. Mine has the e-technology, which I prefer; the kids' is backlit (not my preference), in color (great for the early reading, esp phonics books) and best of all, will re-size pages from image based pdf files. My more expensive eReader will only resize pages from text based pdf files.

At first, we only used free books. A few months ago, I invested in Yesterday's Classics massive collection of books available in epub (they are also available in Kindle) format. Worth the money to avoid reformatting the books available from them online, plus there were many books included that are not available (free) online.

I read the article Amie posted. Hm. The Sony has no internet access; the LookBooks have wifi. Sadly that is the ONLY way to update the OS is via wifi. Right now I have them set up under *my* account, for which I have the password. This is definitely something to keep in mind, though.

FWIW, although the LookBooks meet out needs now, I cannot endorse them. We got them because they were cheap and the kids had buckets of gift cards from holidays and birthdays. The kids use them alot, but the devices themselves are cheaply made (no surprise), the USB cables that come with them don't work (not just me - I read online this is a common problem), the power cables are tetchy, and, oh, yeah, the manual actually has incorrect information (per the support line). At the rate my boys are plowing through books ("real" books, chapter books), I have no doubt at some point they'll be replaced with something sturdier. In the meantime, SD cards are the way we go in terms of loading books.

And, for those with concerns, hard copy books (as I mentioned) remain a staple around here. I do have one son who seems to prefer magazines, but that's okay that's reading, too.

 

Being that I am a sucker for the smell and feel of a good old fashion book, I am against ereaders. LOL

 

we love books here, real paper books. However, if I can get a book on my Kindle that the boys will read then I am all for it! Anything that gets a child to read is a good thing in my opinion. Especially when you have a reluctant reader like my oldest. I'll do anything to get him to read a book!

 

Patty, if you could see the hundreds = probably thousands - of books at our house - all bookcases filled, books piled on top, books snuggled in a large hutch, piled 15 high on my & DH's end tables, overflowing the kids' shelves, scattered throughout the kitchen, even regularly found in the toy basket...you'd know that no eReader is any threat to a hard copy book. There's no comparison. There is a nice convenience aspect. If I have a book I really care about, I leave it at home where it's safe, and use an e-version. Also - I find it much more convenient to carry one eReader than umpteen books.

As for the novelty factor, from what I've observed, that wears off after a bit. At some point, the kids figure out reading is reading.

 

Your house sounds like ours!
We have books all over the place and then some. As to the threat factor; there is no threat. I know what I like and stick to it. As a matter of personal preference, I enjoy carrying books around with me. There is no inconvenience in doing so and I have never had to carry more than one book at a time; except when I was in college. Ems will use a backpack if necessary. Is it heavier than carrying an eReader. I am sure it is but we do not mind. Again, it isn't an inconvenience.

 

I never would have bought myself an ereader, but my husband got me a Kindle for Christmas. I love it! It really isn't any different than reading a book, and it packs nicely. I found the free classics right away, and I get lots of freebies from authors looking for reviews.

Getting a Kindle was also the push I needed to finally self publish. Very exciting! I've met some incredible authors through this whole process (moms of tweens, you really should check out Brett's book on the blog in my signature!!)

My tween daughter likes to borrow my Kindle. I say, if it gets kids reading, go for it! I didn't know about the porn thing. I'm going to read that article right now.

BTW, if anyone wants to take advantage of all the free ebook or the convenience of downloading but doesn't want to buy an ereader, there are options for pcs. Amazon has free software to read kindle books on any pc (http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000426311). And Bookworm is a free online platform for storing and reading epub (Nook)books (http://bookworm.oreilly.com/), just to name a few.

 

Amie, You mentioned finding little selection for ebooks for young kids. Have you ever checked out any forums for books for young kids? Here's one example. http://www.amazon.com/forum/childre...Thread=Tx28V17F2B6U20F#CustomerDiscussionsNew

Often you'll meet authors on here who are promoting their work for one or a few dollars. Or post a new thread like, "looking for suggestions under $5 for young kids". You'll probably get scores of replies.

 

By young, I mean toddlers. I want books with vibrant colors and interesting pictures. I know they have them for the Nook, but they aren't any less expensive than buying the regular book.

But I will check out this forum for more ideas for my 9yo and 7yo.

 

And I somehow don't see a preschooler "reading" her Nook (or whatever!) to a classroom of dolls!

 

I met a really personable author from England, a grandpa who has five books on Kindle that he wrote for his granddaughter. They're cute, rhyming, full color and only 99 cents each. (We had a chuckle over one instance where the words rhyme in England but not here.) These are the "youngest" books I've purchased. It was fun for my kindergartener to have them on my Kindle when we went on vacation. Here's the Amazon link. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=digital-text&field-keywords=eric+pullin Other than that chance meeting, I haven't looked into really young books.

 

We have a Kindle, but my son and I much prefer to hold a real book. If we preffered the ereader it sure would save space in the house. I have a feeling we may need to have a second home just to hold all our books. lol I feel like every few months I need to buy another bookshelf.

 

Um... Kindle in color???? My Kindle app isn't color and from what I can tell, there isn't a single picture anywhere online showing a Kindle with a color image. I'm confused.

 

I love to hold and read the real deal but times changing and in the long run I am personally gonna bit the bullet and purchase one. I just ordered 24 books and half of them could be ebooks. My tween can use her own ereader with all the books we wants my yougner two still read picture books but are starting to read or be read to chapter books.
I am holding off on buying because my parents have mentioned buying everyone their own ereaders for Christmas/Birthday combined present.