The International Children's Digital Library (ICDL) is a 5-year research project to develop innovative software and a collection of books that specifically address the needs of children as readers. Interdisciplinary researchers from computer science, library studies, education, art, and psychology are working together with children to design this new library. With participants from around the world, the ICDL is building an international collection that reflects both the diversity and quality of children's literature. Currently, the collection includes materials donated from 27 cultures in 15 languages.

It's an impressive site and project. However, it looks as if kids will need broadband access to take advantage of the texts. When entering the library, I first had to download a 6mb java app and then paging was even a touch slow via broadband. On the other hand, the app seems to be very well designed, making it easy for younger children to browse the libraries contents graphically (great icons). And one of the texts I selected, was fully illustrated and graphically rendered with high resolution, preserving the picture book well in it's rendition on the screen.

I'm sure I'll be showing it my son once he gets a little older :)