Print Books vs E-Books for Kids: What Research Says
For young children, print books often make it easier for adults and children to look at the same page, talk, point, and respond to each other. But research also shows that some electronic books can hold attention and support specific learning. The design of the book—and the behavior of the adult—matters.
The useful question is not “Are screens bad?” It is “What happens between the adult, child, story, and device during this reading?” Small experimental studies have produced different results depending on the electronic book and the outcome being measured.
Print is a strong default for shared reading with young children because studies often find more parent–child conversation and reciprocity around physical books. But e-books are not uniformly worse: one randomized toddler study found greater attention and novel-word learning with electronic versions. Book design and adult interaction matter.
What pediatric guidance currently favors
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2024 literacy guidance emphasizes high-quality print books for young children and recommends adding back-and-forth interaction if families use screen-based reading or audiobooks.1 The rationale is relational: digital formats can shift attention toward the device and away from the conversation between adult and child.
That recommendation is consistent with several small laboratory studies—but the research is not one-directional.
Study 1: print produced more parent–toddler talk
A 2019 Pediatrics study observed 37 parent–toddler dyads as they read print, basic electronic, and enhanced electronic versions of books. Parents used more dialogic talk with print, toddlers produced more book-related verbalizations, and collaboration scores were higher in print-book reading.2
A related JAMA Pediatrics analysis of 37 dyads found lower social reciprocity during tablet-based reading than print reading, including more solitary posture and more controlling or intrusive behavior around the tablet.3
These are small laboratory studies. They are useful evidence about interaction quality, but they do not prove that every e-book damages every shared-reading experience.
Study 2: one e-book experiment favored engagement and word learning
A different randomized study of 102 toddlers aged 17–26 months compared print and electronic versions with identical content. In that experiment, toddlers assigned to electronic books showed more attention and positive affect and were more likely to identify a novel animal label afterward.4
That result is important because it prevents an oversimplified conclusion. Some digital features may support attention; others may distract. The effect depends on the design, the child, and what outcome is measured.
So which is better?
For shared reading with babies and toddlers, print is a strong default because it naturally leaves room for eye contact, pointing, page sharing, and conversation. That aligns with current AAP guidance.1
For access and convenience, e-books can be valuable. A digital library can put many books on one device, and some children engage strongly with a well-designed electronic story.
For independent older readers, the choice is even more context-dependent. The toddler interaction studies above should not be stretched into claims about a ten-year-old reading a chapter book on an e-reader.
What makes a better e-book experience
Turn off unrelated notifications. Use a dedicated reading app or full-screen mode. Choose books where animation or audio supports the story rather than competing with it. Sit with the child when possible. Talk about the story, not only the buttons. Pause the device to let the child answer.
If a child spends the whole session tapping hotspots while ignoring the narrative, the interactive features are dominating the book. If the features lead to conversation and attention to the story, the experience is different.
What print still does exceptionally well
A print page does one thing. It does not notify, autoplay, scroll, or offer another app. Two people can orient to the same physical object without negotiating controls. For young children, that simplicity can protect the social part of shared reading.
Print also makes books visible in the environment: a cover on a shelf, a stack near the bed, a board book in a basket. Visibility lowers the friction of starting a reading moment.
A practical family rule
Use print as the default shared-reading format for babies and young children when it is available and enjoyable. Use digital books when they solve a real problem—travel, library access, accessibility, limited storage—and make the digital session interactive. Do not turn format into a moral judgment.
The best book is still one the child will actually engage with, and the best shared-reading session is one in which the adult and child are responding to each other as well as to the page.
Prefer a physical book for shared reading?
Stattner creates printed personalized storybooks that families can preview before ordering. The format gives you a physical page to share while the child’s name and appearance are built into the story.
Explore printed storybooks →Choose the format that protects attention, conversation, and enjoyment.
References
Selected research and evidence-informed sources. Each source below links to the publisher, DOI, PubMed, or authoritative organization used for verification.
- Klass, P., et al. (2024). Literacy Promotion: An Essential Component of Primary Care Pediatric Practice: Policy Statement. Pediatrics, 154(6), e2024069090. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2024-069090. Verify source ↗
- Munzer, T. G., Miller, A. L., Weeks, H. M., Kaciroti, N., & Radesky, J. (2019). Differences in Parent-Toddler Interactions With Electronic Versus Print Books. Pediatrics, 143(4), e20182012. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2018-2012. Verify source ↗
- Munzer, T. G., Miller, A. L., Weeks, H. M., Kaciroti, N., & Radesky, J. (2019). Parent-Toddler Social Reciprocity During Reading From Electronic Tablets vs Print Books. JAMA Pediatrics, 173(11), 1076–1083. DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.3480. Verify source ↗
- Strouse, G. A., & Ganea, P. A. (2017). Parent–Toddler Behavior and Language Differ When Reading Electronic and Print Picture Books. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 677. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00677. Verify source ↗
Print Books vs E-Books for Kids: What Research Says: FAQ
Are print books better than e-books for toddlers?
Print is a strong default for shared toddler reading, especially for conversation and social interaction. Small studies have found more dialogic talk and collaboration with print, although other research has found benefits from certain electronic books.
Do e-books count as reading?
Yes. An e-book still presents written language and stories. For young children, the quality of the interaction and the design of the digital book are important.
Can e-books help children learn words?
Some can. One randomized study of 102 toddlers found better identification of a novel animal label after electronic-book reading. That does not mean every interactive e-book improves vocabulary; digital features vary widely.
What is the biggest risk with interactive e-books?
Features can pull attention away from the story or the parent-child conversation. Choose designs where audio and animation support the narrative rather than becoming the main activity.
Should I ban digital books?
No. The evidence does not justify a blanket ban. Use print when it works, and make digital reading more social by sitting together, pausing, and talking about the story.
