Where Are All the E-Books?!

E-books are becoming an increasingly common read for adolescents and adults alike.  They are instantly accessible, they save your place, and if you have a smartphone or tablet that you bring around with you, they're always at your fingertips.  But where are all the high-quality multicultural children's e-books?

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I am currently taking a course titled Culturally Relevant Materials for Diverse Learners that is geared towards preparing me as a teacher to select and utilize quality chilren's literature that reflects or expands on my students' own stories.  As with any literature evaluation course, I am doing my fair share of reading children's literature.

Being a full time student in a teacher preparation program with a part time job, e-books are a really accessible format because I don't have to go to the library or bookstore on days when I'm low on time.  However, I've found that most of the books on our syllabus, books that have won multiple awards and are extremely engaging and well-written, not to mention culturally relevant enough to be notable, are not to be found in any e-book stores or libraries with which I am familiar (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iBooks, Bellingham Public Library, Seattle Public Library, and King County Public Library).

Students love mobile devices.  For better or for worse, students are using social media every day.  According to Common Sense, social media use typically begins by age 8.  And while I am a believer that screen time should be balanced with real-life experiences and that nothing can replace the feeling of a book between your fingers, I am also aware of reality.  So if young people are using these mediums, why are quality children's books so hard to find?

Some large publishing companies have teamed up with app writers to bring beautiful interactive children's books to the backlit screens of thousands of youths.  Now is the time for more high-quality e-books for children.  While Dr. Seuss has his place in all of our classrooms, I think our students deserve more.

Has anyone found any great resources for interactive (or even non-interactive) children's or young adult literature?  Let me know!  If they are out there, let's make them easier to find, shall we?