Tween Ereaders
Barnes and Noble has the Nook, while Amazon has the Kindle. However, recent rollouts of new products, and related price adjustments in previous products, has left so many options that a parent can wonder greatly about the best choices.
Keep in mind, as a parent, your tween's interests, your priorities, and budget. Do you want your tween to use the ereader strictly for reading, or are you interested in the option of web browsing and applications? Do you mind sponsored ads, in order to save? While the under $100 price tag is attractive, you will want to examine what that price entails.
The Nook Simple Touch is $99, and involves no advertising. The Kindle Touch is $99 with special offers and sponsored screensavers, which means advertising on the device. Without the advertising, the cost is $139.
Nook Touch is strictly and ereading device, no apps, no web browsing. On the other hand, Kindle Touch includes an experimental browser, making it useful for a tween who might also use the device for research. There are games available through the Kindle store, some of them free, which can be played on the device.
In addition, Kindle Touch has a text to speech feature, which can be useful for an auditory learner. As well, mp3 music files can be transferred to Kindle Touch from a computer, and played in the background while your tween reads. This is an effective help for learners who read better with background noise. As well, audiobooks can be played on the Kindle Touch.
Both companies have lower prices on non-touchscreen ereaders, with the original Nook costing $89, and with the simple Kindle model costing $79.
The basic Kindle lacks audio, and is not as good of a choice for your auditory learner. There are games, and web browsing available, but the music and text to speech features are not incorporated.
Nook Original does include a couple of games, and has a touch navigation bar at the bottom.
Both companies have incorporated lending features with their platforms, and Amazon has library lending available, as well as book borrowing, with a paid Prime Shipping subscription.
Examine Kindle ereaders for tweens further in the Kindle Store, and Nook ereaders for tweens in the Nook Store.
