As the availability of tablet PCs increases, the development of enhanced content meant to be read on those devices has been increasing as well. Specifically, a wealth of children and young adult content intended for the full-color touch screens has made it more possible than ever to find engaging digital material to entertain and educate young readers, while providing a tactile and technology-based learning experience.
Annick Press, a thirty-five year publishing veteran that has produced such beloved titles as The Mole Sisters series and The Paper Bag Princess, has now joined with Open Road Media to produce thirty-four digital titles in children’s and juvenile fiction. This new project will also include a digital edition of the aforementioned multi-million bestseller The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch. Open Road already has an extensive history with children’s publishing, featuring titles by award-winning authors like Virginia Hamilton and Jean Craighead George, as well as renowned series for young readers such as The Boxcar Children.
“We believe that as parents share their devices with their children, the popularity of children’s ereading will increase. Children will read a copy of their favorite books on line and have a copy of their books at home. As schools adopt e-reading as a means to teach reading, the comfort with reading digitally with increase,” explained Barbara Marcus, advisor to Open Road Media, to GoodeReader today. “I think that as teens are given devices that are easy to read on like iPads and e-readers, they will increase their e-reading. Open Road will continue to grow its catalog across different verticals, including children’s, and expects to have a steady stream of announcements throughout the year.”
The development of these projects for children will include some favorite material, such as additional titles by Munsch and The Mole Sisters series, as well as some original content from picture book authors.
Mercy Pilkington is a Senior Editor for Good e-Reader. She is also the CEO and founder of a hybrid publishing and consulting company.
