The other day I was shopping at my local drugstore, and on the outskirts of the greeting card section, I saw this display, selling recordable children's books. There were three books to choose from. As you turned the page of the story, a voice reading the book came from the speaker mechanism along the bottom of the book.
Apparently the book is customizable-- it is recordable and allows you to re-record the text in each spread using your own voice. Each time you turn the page, the book reads to you. This is the same idea and technology that is used in those audio-enabled Hallmark cards. For the purpose of children's books, I think it is a neat idea. It's cool that, even if a child's caregiver is far away, they can still read a story to the child before bed (albeit in a voice that's a little tinny and electronic-sounding, but probably no worse than a phone voice.)
I have to admit that I was disapointed in the one book I looked at. Not only does the art in the book have a similar vibe to one of our PBJ's, but the actual story title, theme, and even the cadence in which it was written, is extremely close to a published children's book which she has illustrated. This was a bummer of a discovery.
Hallmark has the muscle to demand drugstore floor space for their children's books, which is great. And this recordable book certainly has a market.
Now, I'd sure love to see them put some true originality behind it. (Come ON, Hallmark!)
I Love You All Year Round |
Awww, thank you so much Gina!! :o)
I'm glad my book is helping sweet Miles sleep at night. And you too... ;o)
As a Dad of 4 (2 older and 2 younger) I remember my daughter nudging me to wake up during our reading time. I think we have all been there :-)
I swapped with my husband so I could be more productive tonight - we'll see if it has the same effect on him tonight!
What a beautiful image!!