eBooks are books or other forms of text  like the stories on this website that have been converted into digital format. It's just a book without the paper.

What's so cool about eBooks?

  • eBooks allow you to control the look of the text.
  • Some eBooks can be read aloud by the computer with Text-to-Speech
  • eBooks are digital so you can read them on your computer or even on handheld devices.
  • You can copy eBooks and send them via the Internet.
  • They're easy to use.
  • They are a great resource for early literacy, ESL and for students who are reluctant readers or have learning disabilities.
  • You can draw in them, make sticky-note comments, add annotations.
  • And you even can make eBooks yourself if you have MS Word.

 

 

 

So what do you need to have to read eBooks?

  • First you need to install MS Reader on your computer and it's free from Microsoft! Follow the instructions on the website. After MS Reader is installed you will be asked to activate MS Reader. Choose NO. You DO NOT need to activate it in order to read eBooks. The Activation is needed only if you want to buy books online
       

  • After you install MS Reader and you want the computer to read eBooks to you, you have to download and install The Microsoft Text-to Speech Package. It's free too!

 

 

So what do you need to have to create your own eBooks?

  • You will need an electronic copy of your book or story.
  • Since MS Reader only recognizes .lit files you will need to convert your story to an .lit file.
  • You can do this in 2 ways: through the internet or through a free add-on to Microsoft Word. We really liked the add-on!
  • Here is a PDF file from Dr. Cavanaugh, a professor at the College of Education in Jacksonville at the University of North Florida. He is THE guru on eBooks. He explains the whole process and we used his directions to make our own eBooks.
  • Dr. Cavanaugh's website is at http://www.drscavanaugh.org/ebooks/index.htm There are tons of free eBooks you can download on the net. You'll find the links on this website.

GOOD LUCK!

 

  Heart Home Read Our Stories The Writing Process What We Learned  What are eBooks?  

Back to Block Project