Children’s publishing is another publishing sector that has changed due to the digital age. By entering the digital market they are competing with other media industries (Hall, 2013) such as other app developers, communities and websites. Since the release of tablets, children have gotten more dependent on digital devices and they are spending more time in front of the screen (Gilbert, 2012). Some publishers are therefore now more focused on creating interactive stories through different platforms, and expanding their market by attracting ‘non-bookworms, such as computer and game geeks’ (Karen, 2010).
Nosy Crow is a good example of a successful independent children’s publisher that focuses on creating innovative content, in both digital and print. With the intent to attract all kinds of children they offer books in both print and pixels that encourages children to read for pleasure (Nosy Crow, 2014). The independent publisher has managed to interlace gaming with playing, by producing interactive stories such as Animal SnApp and 3-D Fairy Tales (The Bookseller, 2014). This is quite effective as a Nielsen Report Scan (2014) shows that 26% of children use platforms with interactive gaming features and 20% for animations. However, the report also shows that tablets are mostly used for games: 48% for games, and 4% for reading books/magazines and comics.
More publishers are getting involved in publishing creative digital content, Totally Random Books (Totally Random Books, 2014) is Random House’s imprint, that also focuses on creating more digital content for its readership. Their products are aimed towards teenagers and young adult, and they have several book trailers - which I find a very interesting concept, they provide a visual blurb, capturing potential readers’ attention. Walker Books also jumped on the idea of having a media imprint for children, and launched their new: Walker entertainment, imprint in spring 2014 (Page, 2013). Where their content ‘will include TV and film tie-in titles and celebrity publishing’ (ibid).
It only seems appropriate for publishers to try and generate profit via digital content as it is what our younger generation spend their leisure time doing. However, can they really compete with an old traditional printed picture-book or bedtime-story? When I was a child my reading experience depended a lot on whom I was sharing the story with. It was indeed educational, but at the same time, it was a moment between a child and its parent. The better stories I remember are the ones that I shared with either my mum or my dad. Whilst an interactive app might be fun and educational, it does not hold a candle to those memories that children can create through moments that come out of a bedtime-story.
Word Count: 448
Bibliography:
'Apps to fly first at Nosy Crow' 2010, Bookseller, 5428, p. 5, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 November 2014.
Benedict, P (2013). Walker to launch media imprint, The Bookseller [online] Available at: http://thebookseller.com/news/walker-launch-media-imprint (Accessed: 17 October 2014).
Cocozza, P (2014). Are iPads and tablets bad for young children?, The Guardian [online] Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/08/are-tablet-computers-bad-young-children (Accessed: 20 November 2014)
Gilbert, J (2012). Kids And Tablets: At What Age Is It OK To Buy Your Children Their Own? Huffingtonpost [online]. Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/kids-tablets_n_2280112.html
Hall, F. (2013). The Business of Digital Publishing. New York: Routledge
Springen, K (2010). The Digital Revolution in Children’s Publishing, Publishers Weekly [online] Available at: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/43879-the-digital-revolution-in-children-s-publishing.html (Accessed: 20 November 2014)
Springen, K 2010, 'The Digital Revolution in Children's Publishing', Publishers Weekly, 257, 28, pp. 19-22, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 November 2014.
The Nielsen Company (2014). Understanding the Children's Book Consumer. Nielsen Bookscan, pp 40-84
[email protected], T. (2014). Totally Random Books ~ The best Young Adult and Teen Fiction from Random House UK. [online] Totallyrandombooks.co.uk. Available at: http://www.totallyrandombooks.co.uk/ [Accessed 20 Nov. 2014].
Nosy Crow is a good example of a successful independent children’s publisher that focuses on creating innovative content, in both digital and print. With the intent to attract all kinds of children they offer books in both print and pixels that encourages children to read for pleasure (Nosy Crow, 2014). The independent publisher has managed to interlace gaming with playing, by producing interactive stories such as Animal SnApp and 3-D Fairy Tales (The Bookseller, 2014). This is quite effective as a Nielsen Report Scan (2014) shows that 26% of children use platforms with interactive gaming features and 20% for animations. However, the report also shows that tablets are mostly used for games: 48% for games, and 4% for reading books/magazines and comics.
More publishers are getting involved in publishing creative digital content, Totally Random Books (Totally Random Books, 2014) is Random House’s imprint, that also focuses on creating more digital content for its readership. Their products are aimed towards teenagers and young adult, and they have several book trailers - which I find a very interesting concept, they provide a visual blurb, capturing potential readers’ attention. Walker Books also jumped on the idea of having a media imprint for children, and launched their new: Walker entertainment, imprint in spring 2014 (Page, 2013). Where their content ‘will include TV and film tie-in titles and celebrity publishing’ (ibid).
It only seems appropriate for publishers to try and generate profit via digital content as it is what our younger generation spend their leisure time doing. However, can they really compete with an old traditional printed picture-book or bedtime-story? When I was a child my reading experience depended a lot on whom I was sharing the story with. It was indeed educational, but at the same time, it was a moment between a child and its parent. The better stories I remember are the ones that I shared with either my mum or my dad. Whilst an interactive app might be fun and educational, it does not hold a candle to those memories that children can create through moments that come out of a bedtime-story.
Word Count: 448
Bibliography:
'Apps to fly first at Nosy Crow' 2010, Bookseller, 5428, p. 5, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 November 2014.
Benedict, P (2013). Walker to launch media imprint, The Bookseller [online] Available at: http://thebookseller.com/news/walker-launch-media-imprint (Accessed: 17 October 2014).
Cocozza, P (2014). Are iPads and tablets bad for young children?, The Guardian [online] Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/08/are-tablet-computers-bad-young-children (Accessed: 20 November 2014)
Gilbert, J (2012). Kids And Tablets: At What Age Is It OK To Buy Your Children Their Own? Huffingtonpost [online]. Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/kids-tablets_n_2280112.html
Hall, F. (2013). The Business of Digital Publishing. New York: Routledge
Springen, K (2010). The Digital Revolution in Children’s Publishing, Publishers Weekly [online] Available at: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/43879-the-digital-revolution-in-children-s-publishing.html (Accessed: 20 November 2014)
Springen, K 2010, 'The Digital Revolution in Children's Publishing', Publishers Weekly, 257, 28, pp. 19-22, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 20 November 2014.
The Nielsen Company (2014). Understanding the Children's Book Consumer. Nielsen Bookscan, pp 40-84
[email protected], T. (2014). Totally Random Books ~ The best Young Adult and Teen Fiction from Random House UK. [online] Totallyrandombooks.co.uk. Available at: http://www.totallyrandombooks.co.uk/ [Accessed 20 Nov. 2014].