Childhood Memories Spark Digital Innovations in Children's Literature

A Nostalgic Spark

Nils von Heijne, the visionary behind uTales, shared with dbReaders.com that the inspiration for the project came during a visit to his grandparents' summer house. "I stumbled upon a few old picture books that I cherished as a child but hadn't seen in over two decades. I was astonished by how vividly I remembered them, which made me realize the profound impact picture books have on children's development. It saddened me to think that I had only a limited number of these books to inspire and educate me. This realization drove me to create a platform that would provide children with access to a vast array of high-quality picture books," Nils explained.

Building a Global Community

In the early stages of developing uTales, Nils and his friends began inviting authors and illustrators to join the platform as "uTalers," even before its official launch. Initially, most contributors were from the United States, but the community has since expanded to include creators from all corners of the world. "The first uTalers played a crucial role in crafting exceptional books for uTales and shaping the platform's concept. We place great importance on feedback from our readers and uTalers when planning the future of uTales," Nils continued.

Ensuring Quality and Safety

uTales is committed to providing a safe and high-quality reading experience for children. All books undergo a rigorous approval process led by renowned editor Emma D. Dryden. Unlike traditional publishers, uTales' approval process is significantly faster, taking days instead of months. Currently, the platform boasts 149 fully approved and published books in English, with more awaiting approval in the coming days.

Accessible and Modern

Visitors can access the entire uTales library on uTales.com and through free apps available for iPad and iPhone. "Our goal is to transform the publishing industry by making it more social, engaging, and modern. uTales is the first-ever community-driven and subscription-based platform for quality digital picture books. We are redefining how picture books are created, purchased, and read," Nils stated. "Our mission is to create something beneficial for talented storytellers, parents, and children. uTales offers a new way to enjoy modern picture books while making the world a better place for kids, one story at a time."

A Bright Future

Mónica Coca, a children's book author from PixelMoon, emphasized the project's potential for effective marketing. "As an author, I believe projects like uTales represent the future and will bring new talents to light. I appreciate the idea of paying a small monthly fee for unlimited access to all titles. If marketed properly, uTales could become a massive community of readers. Children will have the opportunity to read an extensive catalog of books that would otherwise be difficult to find, parents can trust that their kids will always choose quality reads, and writers and illustrators have a great platform to showcase their work," Mónica concluded.

Interesting Stats

• According to a study by the National Literacy Trust, children who read daily are five times more likely to read above the expected level for their age compared to those who never read outside class (National Literacy Trust, 2019).
• The global digital publishing market is projected to grow from $29.5 billion in 2020 to $41.4 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 7.0% (MarketsandMarkets, 2020).
• A survey by Scholastic found that 58% of children aged 6-17 say they love or like reading books for fun, a statistic that highlights the importance of accessible and engaging reading materials (Scholastic, 2019).

By leveraging the power of digital technology and community-driven content, uTales is poised to make a significant impact on children's literature, providing a modern and engaging way for young readers to explore the world of picture books.

Sources

• National Literacy Trust
• MarketsandMarkets
• Scholastic