Kids can get burnt out on the Ipad and require some screen free stimulation. If a child is old enough to bring a book and read to themselves, that is great! But my kids are not reading by themselves yet, and I had to find other ways to stimulate their mind and creative side. The Melissa and Doug Water Wow books are genius! The pen is filled with water and the books transform in color with simple strokes. They often have hidden pictures to challenge kids while they color and come in a variety of styles for all the children’s interests.