Hong Kong publisher adds audio and tactile elements to children’s books to make reading more fun for all

Rolling Books is in the early stages of producing more tactile, multisensory books that help children of all capabilities follow and enjoy storylines

It’s one of the beneficiaries of Operation Santa Claus, the year-end fundraising campaign, jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK

Reading Time:2 minutes

Rolling Books founder James Chong Kwok-Tung and Dawning Leung. Photo: May Tse

Published: 10:00am, 6 Nov 2019Updated: 10:01am, 6 Nov 2019

Creating children’s books that could be read and enjoyed by youngsters of all capabilities was the simple aim of James Chong Kwok-tung.

So, with visually impaired children in mind, he set out to produce a picture book series that encouraged reading through more than just visual words.

His company Rolling Books is now in the early stages of producing more tactile, multisensory books that include audio and physical elements to help children of all capabilities follow and enjoy storylines.

Chong’s project was chosen to receive HK$800,000 from Chinese University’s NGO Leadership programme after winning a pitching day in September. It was also named a beneficiary of Operation Santa Claus, the year-end fundraising campaign, jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK, that helps a variety of causes each year.

“We want to show them that these multi-featured picture books can work well and help many people in need,” Chong said.

But it was not just children with visual difficulties that Chong imagined the touch-and-feel playbooks to help.

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