Suzanne Murphy, v-p and publisher of Disney Publishing Worldwide noted:
We were able to turn this around much faster than we would a print book, even though the e-book requires the same editorial care, copyediting, cover design, and all those things required for any good book”On December 20, they plan to come out with a second original e-book, this one a collection of four short stories starring zombie teens. It’ll be called: Generation Dead: Stitches: Stories of the Undead.
These titles are certainly not the old “Disney” books. Things have changed since the Bambi days. But then, so have teens and pre-teens.
To me, this says that Disney believes lots of kids and teens read on e-Readers and that’s where Disney is starting to invest its money. I wonder how many e-Readers will be under the Christmas tree this year? And how many of those will go to pre-teens and teens, pre-loaded by Santa with Disney books?
As a children's author, the e-Readers haven't arrived in any quantity in the UK as yet and having bought one myself, in order to see what my eBooks looked like, I've returned to real books. I love technology, and maybe one day these e-Readers will provide the same experience as the pleasure of a real book with far less errors.
ReplyDeleteSince the US has had Kindle around for several years, unlike the UK, it seems to already be more widespread among teens. I know that 2 of my grandchildren already own Kindles and read more because of it.
ReplyDeleteFrom Bambi to Zombies...I wonder what Walt would think?
Walt's spinning in his grave!
ReplyDeleteHey, the next generation is already so tied to they'll embrace the new eBooks. I've had my iPad long enou to know I'll never go back to print books. Sorry, so much easier, cheaper, and smaller than print books.
Although these subjects are all in demand, I think it's sad that Disney is no longer what Walt Disney dreamed of. I agree that teenagers are more likely to read on an electronic device than a book, after all they rarely raise their eyes from an electronic screen and picking a book up would use up precious "screen" time.
ReplyDeleteAnn
Anything that interests kids and teens in reading is great in my book (pun intended). I think that when more children are equipped with e-readers, Disney will focus again on the classics. Juvenile mysteries would also be nice. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure we haven't even seen the beginning of what will happen when kids and ereaders go global. But Disney clearly has. Interesting post!
ReplyDeleteI do think kids today are more technologically inclined than kids before. We grow and adapt. Television used to be amazing. Now it's almost old. There will come a time when iPads and Nooks are replaced by something else. Print books will become scarce. Not necessarily in my lifetime, but eventually they will be treasured antiques. And eReaders will be antiques as something newer comes on-scene.
ReplyDeleteI see more and more students at my school with ereaders and some type of tablets, usually iPads.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting Susan. I think iPads are more appealing to kids and teens because of the bigger screens.
ReplyDeleteMy youngest childis the one that's most interested in ebooks. The older two still opt for print, though they don't yet have their own readers. I can see them catching on, especially for twwns or tween who own iPads. All the entertainment they want in one neat little package.
ReplyDeleteI hope they could come up with something more original. The title of the first book is not original enough.
ReplyDeleteMy Darcy Mutates
Now that I think about it, Enid, that is an odd title.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting. I bet there will be lots of e-readers under the Christmas tree this year for teens and preteens. Thanks, Helen.
ReplyDeleteAll I know (which isn't much) is that where Disney goes, success follows.
ReplyDeleteKids love all kind of e-gadgets. An e-reader for Christmas present is a good idea >:)
ReplyDeleteCold As Heaven
Amen to what you said, Christopher!
ReplyDeleteThe good news, Cold As Heaven, is that this year there are a lot of choices and a varied price range.
LynNerdKelley, I bet there will be.