Interactive Ebooks: What Are They and How to Make Them
The growth of interactive ebooks coincided with me getting into publishing studies. I couldn’t be any happier to live in this wonderful age. I still remember my disbelief in 2009, when I first heard about hypertext and interconnected books.
My professor talked about a future where all quotes and references will be easily searchable in all works of literature. Also: where we can create our own story within the book, breaking up the linear order of reading.
Almost a decade later, we have all we could only dream of and so many things we could have never imagined. But are we using it as we should? Do interactive ebooks and enhanced ebooks get all the awe and respect they deserve? And most importantly: are they the future?
In the following, I am debunking five misconceptions about interactive books and show everyone how amazing they are. Along with how this is one of the greatest reading activities kids will love, we also talk about fixed-layout for ebooks and more.
(Article was updated on June 13, 2018, with substantial changes.)
1. Interactive books are a new invention
Traditional printed books with different forms of interaction have been around for a while now. Do any of you remember the gamebooks that came with dice? Where you had to decide where to go next, whom to fight and whom to avoid.
Although the first Kindle in the market didn’t look anything like the future, interactive ebooks and interactive elements conquered the market nevertheless. When interactive ebooks first emerged, several companies tried to stick the label “interactive” onto anything they published. Let’s be clear here: hyperlinks, clickable endnotes and linking outside resources should be basic features of every ebook. Enhanced ebooks and interactive ebooks should include some extras that add to the reading experience.
2. You need an iPad to read interactive ebooks
False again. Interactive ebooks come in two major forms: apps and enhanced ebooks. For apps, you do need a tablet or a phone.
But luckily for all of us, the two traditional ebook file formats have received an update a couple of years ago. Both the widely accepted epub format (used by Google, iBooks and Kobo among others) and Amazon’s mobi got a facelift.
The new epub3 and kf8 were designed with HTML5 and CSS3 standards in mind. Books made this way are called enhanced ebooks, and offer a significant level of customizing power. This includes easy to enlarge pictures, embedded video, and audio.
Epub3 and kf8 could also be used for creating ebooks needing a fixed layout. This can include children’s books (children learning has never been this fun!), scientific books, comics, and textbooks.
In the meantime, interactive ebooks flooded the book and app stores of iPads and Android devices. These books are the love child of traditional books and cutting-edge technology. Read more at the bottom of this page about how to publish enhanced ebooks.
3. Interactive books are for kids only
No, they are actually for all kinds of people. There are numerous interactive kids books, targeting pre-schoolers or even toddlers, but there are also interactive adult fiction and nonfiction books.
The possibilities are endless. Hallmark’s interactive story buddy comes with a soft raccoon that starts talking if the child is reading out loud. You can read Chinese characters to the animated covers of The New Yorker.
Studies show that interactive textbooks facilitate learning. Don’t be afraid to let your child read on the iPad before the GCSE or when learning about blood cell morphology. Unlike television, interactive books rely heavily on language and increase vocabulary and reasoning abilities.
One of our favorites for kids (from our catalog) is Two Worlds, One Child’s Heartby Vered Kaminsky. This book does not only come with read-aloud and ambient music, but all drawings are animated. Another one is Sparklify the Earth by Sandra Rose Gunn: it comes with embedded videos and non-linear reading order.
There is no shortage of interactive fiction for adults (IF) either. Apart from the classics, there are plenty of writers and designers creating worthwhile content for tablets and ereaders.
Original fiction includes Device 6 designed for iPads requiring readers to find clues and solve puzzles. From the more recent ones see the Burnt Matches interactive poetry.
4. They are difficult and expensive to make
Well, this one is kind of true. If you decide to create your interactive ebook as an app, you will need to be able to code or hire somebody to do it for you.
Apple iBooks (iBooks Author) and Kindle (Kindle Textbook Creator) have their own interactive ebook editor. You can use those to create your interactive and enhanced ebooks easily.
Additionally, countless smaller companies have designed apps and widgets to make your life as an author or publisher easier. A thorough guide is available here.
5. They are a dying breed
Well, who knows? The most significant breakthrough in interactive fiction hasn't happened yet. But it has a strong fan-base pushing the boundaries between literature and games.
Let us also not forget about the interactive non-fiction which is thriving. Multiple formats are resurfacing, including audiobooks and podcasts.
Creating and distributing interactive ebooks and enhanced ebooks
Interactive ebooks (enhanced ebooks) can be read on all kinds of devices. Currently, all major stores accept epub3 books, but they offer different functionality and support. Major stores react to fixed-layout, interactive and enhanced ebooks. Let's see which are the most popular apps for reading them.
iBooks
The iBooks app accepts fixed-layout ebooks, enhanced ebooks, and interactive ebooks natively and supports their full functionality. iBooks has no problem with animation or elements that require user interaction. Interactive and enhanced ebooks work well on all Apple devices.
Google Play Books
Google Play Books accepts fixed-layout ebooks. If you upload a fixed-layout epub to Google Play, you'll be asked to add yourself as a quality reviewer. They also accept interactive ebooks but don’t support their full functionality.
Interactive ebooks cannot be read in the browser in interactive mode. The features listed above work in the Google Play Books app on phones and tablets. To start audio or video, tap the “three dots” in the top right corner, then Play. Embedded audio and video will start, but animation created with JavaScript – unfortunately – won’t.
To enjoy the full functionality of interactive ebooks bought on Google Play, open the book with Adobe Digital Editions (version 4.5). You can do this with DRM protected books as well. Read here how to do this.
Amazon Kindle
Amazon only accepts fixed-layout content in the following categories: children’s books, comics, and extremely complex textbooks. In theory, they also take interactive and enhanced ebooks.
On Amazon, the KF8 works as a “substitute” of epub3. But here is the catch: how to convert epub3 to KF8? In theory, KindleGen should be able to do it for you.
KindleGen, Amazon’s converter, is a bit problematic. While the conversion is a seemingly painless process, it generates warnings when it comes to the JavaScript:
Although it is possible to turn the epub3 into a working KF8, the solution isn’t straightforward and requires coding knowledge. It goes head to toe with fixed-layout epubs, but it fails when it comes to enhanced ebooks. (I’ve only had decent success using KindleGen to convert fixed-layout epub3’s containing vertical Japanese script.) If you’d like to distribute your interactive ebook on Amazon, you better start from scratch.
Kobo
The Kobo app (and many traditional Kobo devices) accepts and displays fixed-layout epubs correctly. To make sure your fixed-layout book displays well on Kobo, do the following.
All you have to do is set the rendition in the .opf file to auto or landscape. The Kobo app and basic Kobo readers cannot deal with enhanced ebooks.
Although interactive ebooks are not compatible with traditional Kobo devices, they work on Kobo tablets. Access interactive ebooks and other epub3 files bought in the Kobo store using Adobe Digital Editions (version 4.5 and above). You can do this with DRM protected books as well.
Scribd
Scribd accepts epub3 and works well with fixed-layout epubs. Unfortunately, the Scribd app is unable to play audio, video or animation.
P.S. Publish and sell online books like your interactive picture books with PublishDrive. It's free to try.