To follow up on insights revealed in our Print vs. E-books QuickStudy, the Joan Ganz Cooney Center conducted a second QuickStudy to survey parents about reading books with their 2-to-6-year-old children. In this survey we assessed family ownership of devices on which e-books can be read and included a set of questions about reading e-books with children since market research indicates these are emerging trends (Rainie et al., 2012). Because the Apple iPad has demonstrated a quick rise to dominance in the tablet marketplace, this report delves into iPad owners’ practices and perceptions surrounding the use of e-books in their kids’ literacy development. We found noteworthy patterns of perceptions and use of e-books among the families in this sample who own iPads. These patterns warrant broader conversations and pose important questions for researchers and designers.
