In non-fiction month, the Book Doctor investigates the joy of information books for children and recommends some modern day classics, from fascinating atlases to how machines work
Finding out from books was once thought to be a standard part of any child’s learning. Then, with the coming of the internet, it looked as if finding out would all be done online. The argument in favour was that children could find out more – and more quickly – online; they could access information from a number of sources and, perhaps, most importantly, the internet meant that all children could engage in “research” and not just those who were book owners.
But all those making the argument forgot that publishers have an uncanny ability to reinvent their books and adapt to a new market. Instead of competing directly with the internet by providing as much information as possible, they have come up with clever ways of helping children to find out in an interesting and different ways.
The information may be finite and fixed but it can be has been specially selected which makes it have more coherence. This can give readers an experience that is different from searching the internet but equally satisfying.
More
But all those making the argument forgot that publishers have an uncanny ability to reinvent their books and adapt to a new market. Instead of competing directly with the internet by providing as much information as possible, they have come up with clever ways of helping children to find out in an interesting and different ways.
The information may be finite and fixed but it can be has been specially selected which makes it have more coherence. This can give readers an experience that is different from searching the internet but equally satisfying.
More
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