With more information and texts being accessible on digital devices is creating a constant change of how we enjoy our reading material. Having a physical copy can still be incredibly beneficial as it seems more concrete and encourages the thought that people of all ages can bring a personal opinion when referring to a book in this wonderful pastime. I honestly think it’s great that there is a shift between the physical and digital as it provides both children and adults with the opportunity to enjoy their text no matter the circumstance (whether enjoying a book at home or while travelling on a plane).
The physical copies certainly encourage the idea of creating a personal library that can be accessible to others if need be; particularly if you talk up a new text to a friend and they immediately want to read it. However the digital platform is now creating more ease for saving both space and time when it comes to accessing these sources of information and stories. This means that people are constantly needing to find their personal balance as screens have become an incredibly crucial part of the world today. Information and stories can be portrayed in lots of digital formats which is now changing the future of reading and comprehending meaningful texts or current news events.
Harvey (2015) highlights these main points as part of the interaction between children and their reading:
- Print is alive and well in the children’s book space
- Board books are the fastest growing print product among juvenile titles
- Media tie-ins play a significant role in juvenile book growth
- Personalization is the trend to watch in 2016
- Interactivity needs to be additive to the story
I think it’s interesting that all of these points create new meaning to link personal preference, whether it be physical or digital, with growing attraction to new series or books by particular authors. The future of children’s literature certainly is going to always change to suit the user, but does that necessarily mean the Teacher Librarian (TL) has to be the only person to encourage other readers? Contact with literature can be demonstrated in numerous settings, whether it be in the various classrooms during their school years as well as through connecting with friends to encourage one of the best pastimes – reading!
Reference:
Harvey, E. (2015, December 8). Five trends affecting children’s literature. In Book Business. Retrieved from https://www.bookbusinessmag.com/article/what-we-learned-from-the-top-trends-in-childrens-literature-webinar/
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