Lerner Digital^™, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, today announced enhancements to its Lerner Interactive Books^™ product line, as well as updates to the Lerner Digital^™ eReader App for the iPad^®. Effective immediately, all Lerner Interactive Books now include a third audio speed to model pronunciation and fluency while helping beginning readers, struggling readers, and English Language Learners build reading skills and confidence. All school customers that have previously purchased Lerner Interactive Books from the Company and its distributors will automatically receive the new enhanced versions at no charge.

Launched in June 2010, Lerner Interactive Books have been adopted in nearly 2,500 elementary and middle schools across the country. Lerner Interactive Books are the first in the school market with three adjustable speeds to support the reading skills of nearly every learner. Students can adjust the reading pace—from behind-grade-level to on-grade-level to an adult read-aloud speed. As readers progress, they may increase the pace of the audio, as well as turn off the audio and read out loud along with the highlighted text. This graduating audio option helps striving readers improve their literacy skills at their pace while building reading confidence.

In addition to the enhanced audio features of the Lerner Interactive Books, the Lerner Digital eReader App for the iPad now offers students and educators access to their school’s purchased eBooks and interactive books from within the same bookshelf with full interactive book functionality, including adjustable audio speeds, simultaneous text highlighting, an interactive glossary, fun activities, and more. The redesigned Lerner Digital™ eReader App now includes access to all 237 Lerner Interactive Books and more than 2,000 eBooks for K–12 from highly reviewed and award-winning nonfiction series and single titles to beautifully illustrated and designed picture books and graphic novels, to chapter books and young adult novels.

“As iPads flourish in the school market, we want to ensure schools have access to the best digital content for their students and teachers on those devices,” said Terri Soutor, vice president of marketing and digital products, Lerner Publishing Group. “Our redesigned Lerner Digital eReader App enables readers to experience our books in new ways leveraging the iPad. With the new third audio speed, we are pleased to offer schools an exceptional interactive reading experience that fully supports students at each stage of reading development.”

“Given the importance of digital literacy in the Common Core State Standards and in our daily lives, it’s important that children have access to exceptional digital content that makes use of the best that technology can offer to enrich teaching and learning,” said Adam Lerner, president and publisher, Lerner Publishing Group. “I’m encouraged by the promise of the iPad for enabling digital literacy in schools, and I’m thrilled that our books are now more mobile and more accessible than ever before.”

About Lerner Digital™
Lerner Digital™, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, independent children’s publisher since 1959, presents the Lerner Interactive Book™ uniquely created to ignite reading enthusiasm and improve literacy skills in struggling and reluctant K-5 students. Lerner Digital also offers 2,000+ nonfiction and fiction K-12 eBooks for home, classrooms, and libraries. Learn more at www.lernerdigital.com and follow Lerner Digital on Twitter at twitter.com/LernerDigital.

About Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
Lerner Publishing Group creates high-quality fiction and nonfiction for children and young adults. Founded in 1959, Lerner Publishing Group is one of the nation’s largest independent children’s book publishers with thirteen imprints and divisions: Lerner Publications, Millbrook Press, Carolrhoda Books, Twenty-First Century Books, Graphic Universe™, Darby Creek, Kar-Ben Publishing, Carolrhoda Lab™, LernerClassroom, ediciones Lerner, First Avenue Editions, Lerner Digital™, and Lerner Publisher Services. In 2010 Lerner Publishing Group launched Lerner Digital™ alongside its growing catalog of nonfiction and fiction books, ensuring that schools and libraries have access to the highest quality content to serve the evolving needs of teachers and learners in the 21^st century. For more information, visit www.lernerbooks.com or call 800-328-4929.

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