Labbo, L. D., Reinking, D. (2000). Once upon an electronic story time. The New Advocate, 13(1), 25-32.

This article discusses how CD-ROM books and electronic storybooks can be utilized in the classroom to foster children's digital literacy skills. The authors highlight several advantages and disadvantages of using electronic storybooks in the classroom. The advantages are that electronic storybooks can provide students with opportunities for conventional literacy development by making independent reading more interactive; they provide students with experience and learning opportunities in digital literacy; and they make a wider selection of books available to meet the needs of various types of readers. The disadvantages that the authors point out are that electronic storybooks, especially those with lots of animation and music, may distract students from comprehending the story; and that they have discovered that, when animation is used to illuminate a word, students' attention is invariably drawn to the animation instead of the written word.

I appreciate the fact that Labbo and Reinking, while seeing advantages in using technology to foster literacy, reassure the reader that "real" books will never go out of style; as they say, "favorite children's picture books are not only immediately accessible, but they also frequently evoke treasured memories for teachers, media specialists, and adults" (26). In other words, people will always want real books to have and to hold. However, the authors also point out that "traditional" books are only one tool in helping children learn to read, and that electronic storybooks are another. While electronic books shouldn't (and probably won't) replace real books, at least electronic storybooks offer an alternative to helping children learn to read.

The authors make some interesting points in this article, particularly about how electronic storybooks, while they can provide positive learning experiences, can also be distracting to students' learning as well. As with any technology in the classroom, whether it is new or has been in use, teachers should not allow the computer to become the lesson, but instead need to develop ways to incorporate computer resources into their curriculum. I think that CD-ROMs and electronic storybooks are one more way for teachers to present information to a variety of learners that will help at least some of them learn information better.