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Kids and the Kindle

3 Written by: | Wednesday, Jan 16, 2013 11:00am

kindle

There’s a gaping digital divide in my home, laid bare by the kindle my daughter received for Christmas.

But first, some background.

When my kids were wee ones, I began trolling my local library for good lap books to share with them. As my children progressed from picture books to easy chapter books and on to the freaky modern fantasies and beyond, I continued to comb the shelves of the library on a regular basis to feed my children’s book fix—particularly that of my daughter.

A voracious reader, she is the kind of kid who naturally gravitates to a comfortable couch and a good read. I, in turn, have enjoyed funneling her with what seems like an endless supply of library books in which she can lose herself. But since the Kindle came along, her flow of books has dried up.

From the time the Kindle first came into our lives, I regarded it with skepticism. I’m a print gal. I like to hold a book in my hands, to feel the pages as I turn them with my fingers. Handling what looks like a mini-computer reminds me of my lap top, which makes me think of work. And when I’m engrossed in a good book, I don’t want to be reminded of work. All that aside, I just plain don’t know how to access children’s book via a Kindle.

As it turns out, it’s a valid complaint. After some resistance, I did my due diligence by asking the librarian at my local library to show me how I could search for and access children and teen books for the Kindle. After showing me the relatively easy process, she sheepishly admitted that the selection of these genres wasn’t very strong, then attempted to assure me it would get better. I left feeling defeated.

In the meantime, my daughter has decided that it’s cool to be seen with a Kindle, whereas she was always hunched over hiding her (print) books when in public. But with the less-than-bountiful selection of books available on Kindle, coupled with her natural reticence at choosing her own reading material—I guess I’m to blame for acting as a mobile library for her all these years—she has reverted to re-reading all the Harry Potter books on her Kindle for the umpteenth time.

I’m ready to open myself to the world of 21st century reading and conquer this digital divide, really I am. That said, I welcome anyone’s suggestions on riveting “tween” books available on a Kindle.

 

 

Leave a Reply

  • KImmy

    amazon has monthly deals on 100 books for less than 3.99 and daily deals for less than $2 that often feature books for tweens, kids, etc. you can sign up to receive the daily deal on the Kindle page.
    Perhaps suggesting that she ask for Amazon gift cards, etc. would be good so she can download new books. Some magazines and newspapers are available as well but not sure which ones are available for teens specifically. She may also enjoy some of the classics that are available for downloading free through Amazon.

  • anies45laura

    The kindle books are great for the children! My little boy loves reading Harry Porter on his kindle book.



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