While many digital publishers are reaching out to their audiences—and the parents who ultimately make the purchasing decisions on which content to buy—with standard add-ons such as voice-over narration and full-color high resolution illustrations, Sourcebooks unveiled a new digital project that will foster an even greater connection with the story. By allowing parents to customize nationally published titles with their readers’ names and photos, regardless of the original publisher of the title, consumers can personalize the book for their children.
“We started with two very distinct challenges: how do we create a more meaningful bedtime reading experience for parents and their children and, as a publisher, how do we build a digital future for children’s book authors and illustrators,” said Dominique Raccah, publisher and CEO, Sourcebooks, in a press release. “With Put Me In The Story, authors are allowing users to customize their copyrighted, bestselling books to create the ultimate gift. This has extraordinary impact on the industry as well as the consumer, and the next evolution of the book-gifting experience.”
Beyond other publishers whose titles allow for incorporating a name or photo, Put Me In The Story will eventually work for any title in the platform. The app launched with three bestselling titles: Dream Big, Little Pig by Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi and The Night Night Book and If I Could Keep You Little by award-winning author and illustrator Marianne Richmond; the publisher plans to add at least one new title per month following the launch. The iPad app and one title—The Night Night Book—are free to allow parents to experience customizing the book, and remaining in-app books can be purchased for $4.99 each.
Mercy Pilkington is a Senior Editor for Good e-Reader. She is also the CEO and founder of a hybrid publishing and consulting company.
