Website audible.com recently gave away MP3 players to students of the Northstar Academy in New York. The company recently released a new website that allows children to download audiobooks on MP3, directly onto their MP3 players.

The idea is to use the technology that children already possess and use for their musical tastes, and use it so that they be introduced to books and find a new love of literature.

According to research from the NPD Group, almost 33% of children aged between six and ten are regular users of MP3 players. Now those children have the chance to listen to bedtime stories with them, as well as their favourite music.

Michele Cobb, president of the Audio Publishers Association says:

I hear lots of people talking, saying that when they put their kids to bed, they put them down with an audiobook.

According to the Audio Publishers Association, sales of children’s books only accounted for 13% of all audiobook sales in 2007. Although that is a small number, it’s almost double the figure that had been predicted by the Audio Publishers Association in 2004.

Don Katz, of audible.com, claims that they can inspire children to read by reaching out to them via the medium of the audiobook:

The world of reluctant readers is huge. Reading outcomes tend to fall apart around third grade.

Katz claims that using the audiobooks will inspire the children to take up reading and fall in love with books.

Listening is a powerful method to retain the meaning of the story and to turn people on to the concept of well-chosen words. The interpretation of the reader, that adds layers to it.