Written by Alexandra Pitchon

By combining cutting edge virtual and augmented reality technology with educational children’s books, Library Ideas’ new line of immersive reality books engages the minds and senses of curious young learners like never before.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel back in time to witness the birth of the universe? Or traverse the depths of the ocean for a close encounter with a great white shark? What if you could roam the Arctic Circle among the polar bears? Now, you can—and all from the comfort of your own home.

In September, Library Ideas LLC released the first line of Immersive Reality (IR) children’s books to ever reach the market. In some ways, these books are like any other, covering educational topics for curious young minds in engaging and informative ways. The biggest difference, however, is that the learning experience is only just beginning when the book ends. Once children are done reading the book, they can slip on a pair of VR goggles and bring learning to life like never before.

Key life skills like problem solving, communicating, and interacting with others are rarely developed from reading words off a page alone. Rather, studies have shown that children learn best by actively engaging with things around them, making abstract ideas more concrete in their minds. As the ongoing global pandemic has made online school the new normal, however, Immersive Reality books give children opportunities to practice interactive learning at a time when in-person education has become the exception rather than the norm.

“My daughter loved it,” said a mother whose child participated in a test-run for the books. “This is an excellent way to teach children new abstract materials, especially those like my daughter who are not enthusiastic readers.”

“It was awesome!” said her daughter, Emma, five. “It was like I was actually in space.”

“The experience was amazing,” said another mother. “My 10-year-old son loved it. He just wanted to keep doing it over and over. I had to drag him away!”

A global media company with over 5,000 customers in more than 20 countries, Library Ideas is committed to providing innovative learning tools to libraries around the world. Library Ideas will release nine new titles per quarter aimed at students in grades K–7. These will span a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, space exploration, science, the animal kingdom, geography, and dangerous professions. In each of these books, children delve into chosen topics, actively interacting with the environment around them to solidify new concepts and ideas in their minds.

“I loved that there was a glossary to go along with a space unit vocabulary, like a teacher might plan,” said Laura Wadsworth, a kindergarten and first grade Special Education teacher and parent who participated in the focus group. “They take old-school graphics in educational books to the next level. They get the job done and the young reader is excited about their space adventure. My kids would love this.”

Above all, however, parents were relieved to have options that wouldn’t involve cajoling their children into reading. Rather, with IR books, children jump at the chance to become the protagonists of their very own learning adventure.

“Overall, it was very cool,” said Julianne, another mother who participated in the focus group. “I would definitely buy these books for my boys—it's like a cross between video games and learning—but more learning. I usually have to beg or bribe my kids to do their reading, but this, I really think they’d just do this for fun on their own. These are wonderful.”

For more information about IR Books, watch this video, check out our website at https://www.libraryideas.com/ir-books or email us at info@libraryideas.com.

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