Electronic books are ubiquitous and there are many ways for us to read them, ranging from our phones, to tablets, to our computers. E-books with embedded “special effects” are also marketed for toddlers.  How good are these e-books for encouraging dialogue and nonverbal interactions between parents and toddlers?  Munzer et al. (10.1542/peds.2018-2012) investigated this by comparing verbal and nonverbal interactions in 37 parent-toddler dyads who were asked to interact around (1) the reading of an e-book with enhanced sound effects and animations, (2) a standard e-book without enhancements, and (3) a print book.  Each dyad was given all three versions of books in random order and verbalizations and interactions between parent and child were videotaped and measured.  While one might think the enhanced e-book on a smart device would spark more verbal and non-verbal interactions, the opposite turned out to be the case—the print book resulted in the most verbalization and connection between parent and toddler when compared to the standard or enhanced electronic book.

Why might this be?  We asked Drs. Suzy Tomopoulos, Perri Klass, and Alan Mendelsohn, children’s literacy experts from NYU, to provide an accompanying commentary (10.1542/peds.2019-0191).  They reiterate the role that a print book can play more so than an electronic book in strengthening cognitive skills, language, early literacy, and social-emotional development. While these commentary authors do not favor the current e-books for young children that are available currently when compared to print, they do not close the book on technology. Drs. Tomopoulos, Klass, and Mendelsohn challenge the technology world to continue to work to design an electronic book product that is just as effective as a print book for toddlers in promoting parent-child interaction, something that electronic books, at least those used in this well-designed study, have not yet achieved. Read this article electronically or in print and then talk about it actively with a peer to fully appreciate what this study has to offer.