One of my favorite board books, Moo, Baa, LA LA LA!, was recently released as a book app. Taking on an app for a review means taking on the topic of ebooks for babies. eEek. But I must, if for no other reason than to get the sand out of my eyes.
First,
My bias:
Board book or bust.
Babies are natural scientists who form attachments. You can't test gravity with an ebook without weighty consequences. You can't tease out its compression strength with a good bang or a bite. You can't hug an ebook. You can pat one, GENTLY. You can' t take an ebook to bed.
I downloaded Sandra Boynton's app, tapped the screen, and fell in love.
Her e-animals MOOve, bleat, and multiply. QUACK! says the duck. A horse says NEIGH. Tap the duck. He quacks! A second duck appears. Tap. QUACK! A third duck, and so on, until you're just shy of a dozen Peking dinners. Tap the eleventh and a baby duck shoots across two pages to the horse on right. Tap. A baby quack sends mane and tail flying. Riveting! Why do I find that worrisome?
There is a musical score. You control the volume. You can choose to read the text independently or have a "big guy" read it for you. He starts with the book cover. As he reads, each word brightens, calling attention to book print. If you read on your own, you can tap into a single word or single sentence pronunciation. These are wonderful features for pre- and new readers.
The book app costs $1.99, $2.99, or $3.99 depending on purchase source and electronic platform. A new board copy costs $5.99.
A stack of ebooks is mobile. Imagine - a library in your diaper bag!
But,
Babies, 0 to 2, partner up, play, and learn in the rebound zone. They throw, catch your reaction, and throw again. A board book is stiff, but resounding. Fun bounces off of it.
A board book is static, but a baby is not: No two reads are alike. Each is tailored to the changing mood and abilities of a baby that day. Parents supply sound effects: Raspberry kisses, toe tickles, and fanfare. The child, not the book, is center stage.
The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends limiting screen time - TV, DVDs, videos, and web-based programming "viewed on either traditional or new screen technologies" - for children under two.
The BBN (That would be I.) also recommends postponing ebook fun till baby's second birthday, when they are better able to process screen images. Common sense prevails. Most electronics are not baby proof, thus close supervision and assistance during ebook sharing is a must. Familiar board titles make appealing first reads. Four boysterous Boynton apps are available in total, all based on previously published books, including: Blue Hat, Green Hat, Barnyard Dance, and The Going To Bed Book.
What does an ostrich say?
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