It's a tumultuous time for the world of the printed book. With all the recent technology that has arrived in consumers hands along with the proliferation of e-books, the big question is what will happen to printed books in the near future. The discussion usually views the printed book as an outdated form of presenting a book. Something that is no longer advanced. Well, to that argument we present the new children's book "Keep Our Secrets" by Jordan Crane, a printed book that incorporates a very cool technology.
This amazing little book has been on our radar for a while, so we were very excited to finally see it in person when it was released last month. "Keep Our Secrets" follows two kids as they walk through town talking about all the wacky and funny secrets the townspeople have. The cool thing about this book is that it uses a fascinating technology to hide the secrets. Large portions of the illustrations are covered by a heat-sensitive black ink. When you rub the ink, the heat of your hands reveals the hidden pictures. There are dozens of illustrations hidden this way, some of which are what the children are talking about and some are extra hidden secrets.
This is definitely a book based on a gimmick, but it's a really great gimmick that will keep your kids entertained for a long time. One note, "Keep Our Secrets" is in a board book form, however this is due to the nature of the technology and not because it is aimed at toddlers or infants. Because the ink takes a fair deal of pressure to reveal the illustrations, we would recommend this for ages five and up. You can also use a hairdryer to reveal the pictures instantly.
Who says books aren't technology?
Now go read a book with your kids...
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