Abstract

Studies have shown that reading to a child improves the child's reading and learning ability. Grandparents have been known to read to their grandchild more often than the child's parents due to the societal changes. However, studies have also shown that geographic mobility has altered the roles grandparents play in their families. Due to this geographic mobility, many grandparents are unable to see their grandchildren regularly and are subjected to use occasional visits, letters and telephone calls to maintain relationships. Overall, this makes it difficult for a grandparent to read to the grandchild.

GGBooks is a web-based interface that has been designed to overcome this problem by enabling grandparents and grandchildren with a way to communicate with each other through reading of books from the ICDL (International children's Digital Library). On this website, the grandparent or the grandchild can sign up for a single account that they will both have access to. Signing up will provide them with the functionality of being able to read and record a book, post and read messages as well as listen to a recorded reading.