The iPad has certainly changed the way we read books. We can now purchase books right from the device and have our entire library at our fingertips wherever we go. Amazing Books has taken advantage of the iPad’s capabilities and created its first digital book in 3D. Three Little Pigs 3D ($2.99) offers children a much more engaging way of reading than the standard paper pop-up books. It really does seem like the future of children’s literature is here.
The book may be viewed in standard 2D, or 3D with the appropriate glasses. Obviously, the book is that much more fun to read with 3D glasses on, but 3D isn’t really the important concept here. The digital book not only tells the story of the Three Little Pigs, but also provides brief animations on each page. By sliding the icon on the bottom of the screen, the reader controls the animation’s speed. You can show the action fast or slow, and also have the option to play it in reverse as many times as you’d like. Now, instead of just seeing a static picture or pop-up presentation, the reader gets fluid motion of the action. It’s a very engaging concept that really works well on the iPad.
Each page of the story has multiple options for viewing the content. You can tap on the audio icon to have the words read aloud. The audio is high quality and is a recording of an actual person reading the text. Or, you can tap on the paper icon to see the words on the screen. You can also have the audio play and the words shown at the same time. However, the printed text takes up to 90 percent of the screen, so you can’t see the animation while the words are up. It would be nice if there were an option to have the text on the bottom of the screen so you could see the animations as well.
You can read the story at whatever pace you’d like. Nothing happens until you press the audio or text button, and the animation is only done manually. This really gives the reader the freedom to control how fast or slow they would like to read the book. Throughout the entire adventure, soft music plays in the background that matches the story’s theme.
The concepts presented in this type of digital book are really incredible. Not only will children love to read stories in this format at home, but as an educator myself, I can also see the elementary classroom teacher using this technology in school. Can you picture a kindergarten class sitting on the carpet, gathered around the teacher while she reads this book to her students who all have 3D glasses on? The idea is really exciting and I hope Amazing Books receives the support they need to pump out as many children’s books as possible.
