But Munzer says the results were clear: “Parents and kids spoke more when using physical books, and the language and questions parents asked were richer with print books.” And since the kids are still toddlers, comprehension couldn’t be measured. The study wasn’t performed using a Kindle for Kids but an unnamed commercially available e-book app.

It’s not a direct comparison, but we can glean a few things. One example of “rich” conversation is a child saying “Here is a wagon,” and a parent acknowledging, “A big red wagon!” In the case of an e-book, however, comments often veered away from the book’s content: “We are going to the store after this” or “Can I hold it?” The researchers, led by Tiffany Munzer at the University of Michigan, found that books elicited more, “richer” conversation between parents and kids about the story. The study watched 37 parent-toddler pairs reading in three ways: an “enhanced” electronic device (with sound effects and animation) a “basic” device (without all those bells and whistles) and a book. Will it help build good reading habits? Unclear, but a small study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics earlier this year gives some clue.

How to use a kindle for school