Last night, at a writing-related meeting, the topic of the future of the book came up.

I have seen the future and there are no ink-and-paper books in it, said one person. And no book stores.

I'm not so sure about that. I'm really happy to have all kinds of information, especially factual, available in electronic form, but I think and believe that there will continue to be a place for physical books. Moreover, I think it is essential for children's development that they experience physical books. Books offer tactile, sensual experience. They offer babies control they don't have in very many parts of their life--the baby decides when to turn the page, to turn back the page, to chew the book, to stare and touch, and wear it as a hat or step on it. To drop the book and go back to it later for immediate return to wherever. A real object in a real world, in other words.

What do you think? Are e-books going to replace ink-and-paper children's books completely?