Jason Boog - Born Reading: Bringing Up Bookworms in a Digital Age—From Picture Books to eBooks and Everything in Between

I would like to thank the librarians of the Lyons Township District Library in the village of Lyons, Michigan (population 789). This library opened when I was a toddler, and I will never forget the thrill of exploring those seemingly endless shelves. This book (or any book, for that matter) would not have been possible without the librarians, teachers, parents, and other literary angels among us.

I also need to thank all of the authors, app makers, librarians, child-development experts, and parenting experts who helped me during my research. I stumbled into parenthood without a clue, but I found the most amazing people to guide me on my journey. Every single person quoted in these pages generously shared their guidance and support, making me a better father and making this a better book.

I am especially grateful that Betsy Bird, Cen Campbell, Stephen M. Tafoya, Anne Hicks, Betsy Diamant-Cohen, Carissa Christner, and Genesis Hansen helped me polish my lists of book and app recommendations for children. When it came time to choose the best books and media for my child, two websites were especially valuable: Common Sense Media and Parents Choice Foundation. Both sites offered hundreds of useful recommendations for parents and they took the time to answer all my questions. I also need to thank Fazia Eltareb for helping me build my research and Sita Patel for connecting us.

This book would never have happened without the inspiration and guidance of my literary agent, David R. Patterson. Michelle Howry and the team at Touchstone believed in my book from our earliest conversations, and I am so grateful that they took a chance with a first-time writer. Id like to thank Robert Boynton, Brooke Kroeger, and the rest of the NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute family for their mentorship when I first arrived in New York City. I also need to thank Alan Meckler, Chris Ariens, Rebecca Wright, and Laurel Touby for all their support during my unforgettable years at Mediabistro.

I want to remember Amy D. Hayes, my old writing friend who helped me make it this far. I wish she could read these pages. I owe a debt to my parents, Mike and Joan. They raised me as a born reader and inspired me to follow the same path with my daughter. My siblings Jeff, Mark, Matthew, and Becky were reading alongside me during those weekly library visitssharing a lifetime of books and stories together. I also want to thank my Los Angeles family: Megan Williams and Michael, Jacob, Carla, and Lulu Shamberg.

Most of all, I must thank Caitlin Shamberg for reading every single draft of this book and helping me find time to write every weekend. And I need to thank Olive for reading and writing with me for the last three years.

Recommendations for Two-Year-Olds

The Monster at the End of This Book by Sesame Workshop Apps

Fiete by Wolfgang Schmitz

Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton and Loud Crow Interactive

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss and Oceanhouse Media

Sago Mini Music Box by Sago Sago

Pango Book by Julien Akita and Studio Pango

StoryKit by International Childrens Digital Library

Endless Alphabet by Originator Inc.

ArtKive by The Kive Company

Wheels on the Bus by Duck Duck Moose

Recommendations for Three-Year-Olds

Toontastic Jr. by Launchpad Toys

Theres No Place Like Space!: All About Our Solar System by Oceanhouse Media

Bizzy Bear on the Farm by Nosy Crow

Sesame Street Family Play by Sesame Street

Draw and Tell by Duck Duck Moose

Felt Board by Software Smoothie

Toca Band by Toca Boca

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss and Oceanhouse Media

My StoryBook Maker for Kids by HiDef Web Solutions

Roadtrip Bingo by Bright Bunny

Recommendations for Four-Year-Olds

Alien Assignment by Fred Rogers Center

Montessori Numberland HD by Les Trois Elles Interactive

Bedtime Math by Bedtime Math Foundation

Little Red Riding Hood by Nosy Crow

Toontastic by Launchpad Toys

i Learn With Poko: Seasons and Weather! by Tribal Nova

PBS Kids Video by PBS Kids

Sids Science Fair by PBS Kids

ABC Music by Peapod Labs

Pigeon Presents Mo... on the Go! by Mo Willems

Recommendations for Kindergarten and Beyond

Free Books for Children by International Childrens Digital Library

Rounds: Parker Penguin by Nosy Crow

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn and Oceanhouse Media

Storybird by Storybird Inc.

Daniel Tigers Neighborhood by PBS Kids

Montessori Geometry by Les Trois Elles

CarTOON Makers by TOON Books

Super Why! ABC Adventures: Alphabet by PBS Kids

Toca Builders by Toca Boca

Endless Reader by Originator

JASON BOOG s work has appeared in The Believer, Salon, NPR Books, The Los Angeles Review of Books, Peace Corps Writers, and other outlets. For five years, he served as the publishing editor at Mediabistro, leading the GalleyCat and AppNewser blogs. Boog lives in California with his wife and daughter. www.jasonboog.com

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American Academy of Pediatrics. Healthy Children Ages & Stages. http://www.healthychildren.org/english/ages-stages/. Accessed January 2014.

American Academy of Pediatrics. Policy Statement: Children, Adolescents, and the Media. Pediatrics 132 (2013): 95861. Accessed January 2014.

American Academy of Pediatrics. Policy Statement: Media Use by Children Younger Than 2 Years. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/10/12/peds.2011-1753. Accessed January 2014.

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Bentley-Flannery, Paige. Poetry Paige. http://www.deschuteslibrary.org/kids/poetry/about.aspx.

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Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, Alliance for Childhood, and Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Childrens Entertainment. Facing the Screen Dilemma: Young Children, Technology and Early education. Boston, MA: 2012. http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screendilemma. Accessed January 2014.

Christakis, Dimitri, and Ari Brown. Media Use and Early Brain Development. HealthyChildren.org. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Sound-Advice-on-Media-Audio.aspx. Accessed January 2014.

Clark, Lynn Schofield. The Parent App: Understanding Families in a Digital Age . New York: Oxford University Press, 2012.

Common Sense Media. http://www.commonsensemedia.org/.

Cordes, Colleen, and Edward Miller, eds. Fools Gold: A Critical Look at Computers in Childhood. Alliance for Childhood. http://drupal6.allianceforchildhood.org/fools_gold. Accessed January 2014.

DeBruin-Parecki, A. Assessing Adult/Child Storybook Reading Practices. CIERA Report #2-004, 1990. http://www.ciera.org/library/reports/inquiry-2/2-004/2-004.html. Accessed January 2014.

Flood, James E. Parental Styles in Reading Episodes with Young Children. Reading Teacher 30 (1977): 86467.

Frauenfelder, Mark. Apps for Kids. http://boingboing.net/tag/appsforkids.

Fred Rogers Center. http://www.fredrogerscenter.org/.

GalleyCat. How a Modern Baby Thinks About Reading. http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/how-a-one-year-old-thinks-about-reading_b40042. Accessed January 2014.