While I'm still not ready to plunk down $500 for an iPad of my own (and will make do for the time being with my beloved iPhone and the iPads my school has), as a long-time techie, I am very, very interested in book apps. While many are rather limited and seem to be one-shot experiences for kids, others are innovative and exciting. Yet it can be hard to find them as the various app stores have yet to provide what the older sites provide -- a relatively easy way to know what is what. And so I'm very appreciative that the established review publications are coming on board to help.
- Kirkus, for example, is reviewing iPad apps, discussing them, and highlighting the best that they find. Great food for thought (and may cause me to change my mind about getting an Ipad now rather than later).
- Publishers Weekly continually has interesting pieces on this burgeoning area as well as a weekly apps round-up.
- Librarian Betsy Bird's recent SLJ cover story, Planet App, provides a great overview that is well worth a gander.
- And the venerable Horn Book Magazine is also taking a careful and smart look at them.
As this new world of apps and ebooks keeps building and building I for one am glad the old world is keeping apace.
Also at educating alice.
