Lately I'm seeing more and more picture books coming out as ebooks, primarily for color devices such as the Nook Color, Kindle Fire, the iPad, and other tablets with color screens.  What I also see a lot of are "book" apps, which are actually more game than ebook, as they are designed to be interactive.

Now, first of all let me say that I see nothing wrong with these apps.  My beef is that they are lumped in with ebooks.  You see, an ebook is still an ebook because you still read it, regardless of whether it's on paper or on a screen.  But picture book apps share more in common with children's educational computer games than actual books.  Just because it's based on a book doesn't make it one.

I think these interactive apps are great for entertaining children, for keeping them interested in reading, and that kind of thing.  But they don't replace real books.  This NPR story, a review of storybook apps by a father who used them for nightly storytime for his daughter, I find hugely disappointing.  How many parents out there aren't really reading to their kids anymore, because an iPad or a Nook will do it for them?  How many kids get bored looking at the pictures in a regular picture book, because they aren't animated or interactive?  (Aside from Pat the Bunny kinds of books, obviously.)

I love ebooks.  I love reading on an ebook reader, and love the idea of someday having kids who use them, too.  I also think computers are great learning tools for kids, and I see nothing wrong with educational apps and games.  But I think it's also worth cautioning parents that just because it's called a "storybook app" doesn't mean it's a book, and doesn't mean it can replace a good, old-fashioned storytime.  No interactive app can compete with the value of interacting with your child yourself!