The Value of Interactive Books

By: Timothy Pierce

I recall going to the school library as a kid, seeing a collection of children's books and dropping my jaw at the still trees and animals peeling themselves from the pages and entering my world. It was like a gift, given to me simply because I chose to read. I wanted to take them home with me, but I was only allowed to borrow them. Those books manifested the words on the pages, and with every turn, new images would reach out to me in blossom.

I made sure to find the others, the books whose pages were magical. Then I discovered The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer. This is a middle grade book that focuses on two siblings, Alex and Conner, who fall into a fairy tale book and must procure the items on a list in order to return home. As the readers, we get to see castles, meet talking animals, and walk through the enchanted forest. Most importantly, behind the cover is a map, serving as a visual aid to track our progress. When we are caught in the words, we can go back to the map and get another feel for the location. We also get a welcoming sense of where Alex and Conner are emotionally and mentally. We want them to return home just as much as they do, and when they seem to backtrack their progress, we can literally see how far they’ve come.

Even now, there are books I enjoy reading probably as much as I do because I’m not explicitly relying on the words. 

The comedy novel Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix follows retail employees Amy, Basil and Ruth Anne who need to escape whatever entity seems to be keeping them prisoner. The physical book is supposed to represent an IKEA-esque catalog, giving you the impression that this will be a basic story where something minor happens and that’s it. However, you will find that something is wrong with these pristine, wholesome images that once tried to charm us.

On the front cover, we get a nice yellow couch, fake plants, and a bookshelf. Pretty normal, right? That’s until you see the picture frame with a demon inside. The actual pages in the book esteem the rules of the cover. In the first few chapters, the images are regular, everyday appliances like refrigerators or tables. Then, as Amy discovers that the store is haunted, we get appliances like the “Bodavest,” a chair that stops blood flow to the brain, and the “Alboterk” which appears to be a treadmill with spikes on its belt. Ouch! These striking images give us the visual satisfaction of escaping the horrid store with the protagonists.

Although pop up books and novels with images are great for interactiveness, sometimes the words can do that alone. Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore, follows a teenage girl named Jane who is dealing with the aftermath of her aunt’s death. She is later invited to a large, gothic house with godly spires and multiple rooms. Despite the curiosity that the new setting boils within her, Jane’s aunt has objected to her going, a detail that makes you want to know why.

Her adventure is kick-started after witnessing a crisis concerning her friend which unfolds a series of choices for her to make, leading to endless possibilities. For this book specifically, there is no definite “consequence” or “cause and effect.” It all depends on the reader! Yep. It is your choice to choose what happens when Jane is faced with an obstacle. Depending on how you answer will lead you to the appropriate steps of Jane’s story. As the reader, “I wonder what would happen if (insert concern),” is no longer a question; you are put in the driver's seat and get to choose her destiny.

In the world of books, we are captivated by the many styles and approaches that authors and illustrators make to tell a story, and we love them ALL, but sometimes when we want it most, we have no say or control over what has already been written. This may not dispel the excitement developed after getting lost in a scene, but these feelings can be amplified when the creators broaden our senses to experience the story on a level of realism. So when you get bored with a standard book or feel like there is more to be given to the reader, remember that there will always be the option to share a piece of the world that the characters live in.