Kiwi kids' book classics for iPad

A New Zealand company is converting iconic Kiwi children's books for Apple's new iPad.

Auckland developers Kiwa Media marked today's official New Zealand launch of the device by releasing an i-version of Lynley Dodd's classic picture book Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy.

The scruffy dog  joins several book apps including Huia Publishing's Barnaby Bennett by Hannah Rainforth - the story of a young boy who becomes fixated on a particular colour for his clothes.

The Barnaby Bennett app reads the book in a variety of languages including Maori.

Kiwa Media's QBooks use the iPad's touch-interface to read out text as a user drags their finger across the words.

At the push of a button the picture on screen becomes an electronic colouring-in book and some books are able to be switch between languages.

Kiwa Media business development vice-president Roger Shakes said the company had been producing applications (apps) for the iPad since it's international release about four months ago.

Children's books were an ideal fit as children took to the technology "intuitively", he said.

"When you learn to read you run your finger along the words."

The iPad went on sale at selected stores across the country yesterday.

Small queues awaited store openings at some locations, with enthusiasm perhaps blunted by the device's availability through parallel importers for the last few months.

Imported iPads had been selling for up to $1700 but the latest prices start at $799 for a 16GB wifi model through to $1349 for a 64GB wifi, 3G version.

- © Fairfax NZ News