DRMStore wars highlight drawbacks of dedicated e-readers

Jan 30, 2010

Nw York Times reports that publisher Macmillan has pulled its e-books from Amazon’s Kindle because it wants to be able to charge $15 per book instead of all Kindle books being $10.

Macmillan wants to be able to set its own prices — a reasonable request. But Amazon wants a one-price-fits-all market.

Amazon’s stance is similar to Apple’s iTunes store which groups music, TV shows, and movies, into one or two price points. Publishers on the iTunes store are also unable to set their own pricing.

Cory Doctorow points out that there is a danger of fragmentation among book publishers over the issue of DRM and pricing. If the big book publishers adopt different DRM licenses and pricing, people will have to cart around “a half-dozen tablets and readers, one for each permutation of which corporate elephant is trying to crush another.”

Not good for business…

Disputes such as the one between Macmillan and Amazon aren’t good for e-readers and e-book markets. It will stunt this young, emerging market because it points out that fragmentation in e-reader markets will require multiple devices.

Source: ZDNet (blog)

Big Books About Comics - iFanboy

All comic book readers have a big stack of those big comic book reference books. You either hunt them down, or get them as gifts, but sometimes ...

Up, Down, and Around Big Book (Big Books)

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"An inviting introduction to the wonder of plants, food, and gardening. . . . Will be a favorite of teachers, students, and home readers alike." — KIRKUS REVIEWS

From seeds dropping into soil to corn bursting from its stalks, from children chasing butterflies to ants burrowing underground, everything in this vibrant picture book pulses with life —- in all directions! Sprightly illustrations set the mood for a rhythmic text that follows nature’s course to a feast of backyard bounty.

From Head to Toe Big Book

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Are you ready?
Here we go!
Move yourself
From Head to Toe

I can do it! That's what kids will say when they wiggle, stomp, thump, and bend across the pages of this book. Laughter and squeals of delight will abound as boys and girls (and their elders, too!) participate in the action.

Silly Sally (Big Book)

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Dance a jig with a silly pig. Play leapfrog with a silly dog. And that's just the beginning of all the fun! Come along and join Silly Sally and her outrageous friends as they parade into town in a most unusual way. "Exploding with whimsy, humor, and zest. . . . Be prepared to read this one a thousand times!"--Booklist (starred review)

Chrysanthemum Big Book

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She was a perfect baby, and she had a perfect name. Chrysanthemum.

Chrysanthemum loved her name—until she started school.

A terrific read-aloud for the classroom and libraries!

Until Chrysanthemum started kindergarten, she believed her parents when they said her name was perfect. But on the first day of school, Chrysanthemum begins to suspect that her name is far less than perfect, especially when her class dissolves into giggles upon hearing her name read aloud. That evening, Chrysanthemum's parents try to piece her self-esteem back together again with comfort food and a night filled "with hugs, kisses, and Parcheesi." But the next day Victoria, a particularly observant and mean-spirited classmate, announces that Chrysanthemum's name takes up 13 letters. "That's half the letters in the alphabet!" she adds. Chrysanthemum wilts. Pretty soon the girls are making playground threats to "pluck" Chrysanthemum and "smell her."

Kevin Henkes has great compassion for the victims of childhood teasing and cruelties--using fresh language, endearing pen-and-ink mouse characters, and realistic dialogue to portray real-life vulnerability. He also has great compassion for parents, offering several adult-humor jokes for anxious mommies and daddies. On the surface, the finale is overly tidy and the coincidences unbelievable. But in the end, what sustains Chrysanthemum, as well as this story, is the steadfast love and support of her family. And because of this, the closure is ultimately convincing and utterly comforting. ALA Notable Book, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Horn Book Fanfare Honor List. (Ages 4 to 8) --Gail Hudson