This week Apple is promoting some strong new content for young readers in its iBookstore on the iPad and iOS devices – Children’s Picture Books. Here’s the elevator pitch for the new content, via Apple’s promo email on this:
For young readers, pictures and words are equally important. Now, with the latest version of the iBooks app, you can enjoy your favorite children’s picture books in gorgeous, full-color, two-page display on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.
Download iBooks 1.2 and browse our collection of newly added picture books, from Ian Falconer’s Olivia and Jane O’Connor’s Fancy Nancy to Nancy Tillman’s heartwarming classic, On the Night You Were Born.
I’ve only had a very quick look at the new section – but it looks good so far. You can browse by age groups – 0-2, 3-5, and 6-8 – And there are popovers for each title when you tap on it, as standard in iBooks.
There are definitely some titles in the featured area that are (or used to be) favorites of my daughter’s, so I’ll be giving these a closer look with her later on.
The books on the first featured page range in price from $3.99 to $12.99 – and the handful I searched and compared on seem to be priced the same as the Kindle edition.
You can check out the new Children’s Picture Books area under the Featured section of the iBooks app now.
Let us know what you think of the new titles? And what are your thoughts on your kiddos reading these on the iPad / iOS devices versus in a printed book?