One of the most important innovations that today’s technology offers to the user, tablet devices have created a new media to children’s picture books, as well as the fields like communication, social networks, music, games and many more. On tablet devices, children’s picture books emerge as “applications” and just like in the print media; developmentally appropriate applications, which are qualified in terms of design and content need to arise. Well-designed book applications can be highly engaging for children and might open a new dimension in their imagination. Thanks to the possibilities offered by mobile technology, interactive book applications have brought a different dimension to children's picture books and bring in new features along with story and illustrations in printed books. These applications have begun to change the attitude of readers towards reading and our perception of what makes a book, by adding sound, movement, interaction and game to the once printed and static page. Also, thanks to these features, book apps not only produce content, but also provide a learning experience that can't be accessed in printed books.

In this study, the features of the rapidly emerging interactive children's book applications on tablet devices, such as user interface, interactivity, motion, sound and game are defined and their impact on learning is investigated with examples on selected interactive children’s book apps.

Key Words

Children's Picture Books, Mobile Media, Tablet Devices, User Interface, Interaction, Interactive Children's Book Apps.