| In the past audio books have always been very | | | | cheaper than the hard copy cd version that you |
| popular with young children and more especially with | | | | previously had to buy. |
| their parents as they have provided a great source | | | | Audio books come in various forms. On some of |
| of entertainment for the child and are a good way to | | | | them the authors give an introduction at the start of |
| keep children occupied especially during long car | | | | the book giving background details to how the story |
| journeys. People with vision difficulties have also | | | | came about, this can be really interesting and can |
| found audio books to be of great benefit. | | | | give you a real insight into the book. Some of them |
| However with the large increase of MP3 players and | | | | are shortened versions of the original book and |
| ipods, audio books are now becoming much more | | | | others, rather than being read by one person are |
| main stream as people are able to listen to them in | | | | presented as dramatized versions with different |
| many different situations. Consequently this has | | | | people playing different parts and these can really |
| meant there has been a large increase in online audio | | | | bring the book to life. |
| book stores which have grown up to fulfil this | | | | Because of the vast increase in titles now appearing, |
| increased demand. | | | | the type of sites that are growing up are many and |
| An audio book is a recording of the book that has | | | | varied. Some stores specialize in a particular topic |
| been read aloud either by the author themselves or | | | | such as horror or romance, self development or |
| by a professional speaker. Historically audio books | | | | learning a foreign language and some of the stores |
| were recorded on audio tape but with the growth of | | | | are more general and provide a range of titles on a |
| digital equipment, audio books are now available on | | | | wide range of subjects. But whatever they focus on, |
| cd and can be transferred to different formats for | | | | the fact that more and more people are discovering |
| playing on mobile music players. | | | | the joys of being able to listen to their favourite |
| There are now thousands of audio books that are | | | | author or improve their Spanish at any time in any |
| available in downloadable form and are instantly | | | | situation means the demand will continue to rise and |
| available from online audio books stores. This | | | | the future looks positive for the online audio book |
| generally makes the downloadable audio book | | | | store. |