A1 Journal article (refereed)
The Playful Affordances of Picture Book Apps for Children (2021)


Järvenpää, H. (2021). The Playful Affordances of Picture Book Apps for Children. Eludamos, 12(1), 149-167. https://doi.org/10.7557/23.6367


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Järvenpää, Hanna

Journal or series: Eludamos

eISSN: 1866-6124

Publication year: 2021

Volume: 12

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 149-167

Publisher: A. Jahn-Sudmann c/o Zentrum für Interdisziplinäre Medienwissenschaft

Publication country: Germany

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7557/23.6367

Persistent website address: https://www.eludamos.org/index.php/eludamos/article/view/vol12no1-8

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/77941


Abstract

The tradition of children’s literature has evolved side by side with the market of children’s entertainment, games, and toys. The selection of contemporary print products includes a wide variety of materially or technologically enhanced picture books. This background is rarely considered in the examination of children’s book applications that have attracted scholarly interest after the arrival of smartphones and tablets during the early 2010s.

The relationship between picture book apps, mobile games, and digital playthings requires further examination that considers the specific affordances of the mobile platform. Leaning on five case studies, this article examines how picture book apps afford opportunities for a reading experience that contains features characteristic for children’s digital play. For this purpose, I adapt a specific model of close reading that focuses on the visual, auditory, tactile, and performative elements of children’s video games.

On the basis of the case studies, it seems that navigating a picture book app requires balancing between different modes of action: reading, playing, and exploring. Engagement with picture book apps has different forms that resemble the features of both traditional print reading and digital play. However, further examination of children’s playful reading practices and intergenerational play is necessary from a premise that recognizes playing with a book as a valuable research topic.


Keywords: children's literature; picture books (children's books); electronic books; mobile apps; digital games; reading; playing (children's games); playing (games and sports)

Free keywords: affordances; children’s literature; digital children’s literature; digital play; picture book apps


Contributing organizations


Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1


Last updated on 2024-22-04 at 19:09