At this point in time, “don’t judge a book by its cover” has earned its place as a cliché. But for digital reading, we are actually encouraging you to judge the layout. There is in fact a method to the madness when creating an e-book that gives a seamless experience.

Generally text design and layouts on the internet are designed to change sizes based on the screen it’s being viewed on. That works great for websites and applications, but when you have visual storytelling and multi-media interactive experiences, you need structure to hold it all together.

Fixed-Layout Interactive EPUB 3: Built for Books That Need Structure

Imagine a kid flipping through their favourite comic book. The layout is colourful, action-packed, and intentionally designed to be read a certain way. Dialogue bubbles lead the eye. Page spreads show cause and effect. Even the margins play a role.

Now imagine that same comic squished into a single-column scroll on a phone.

Exactly. The magic is gone.

Fixed-layout EPUBs preserve the original design of the book—page by page, panel by panel—so nothing gets lost. As many of our users may already know, at the core of our ethos is cross-platform compatibility. In the information age where we are loaded with content and pressed for time, it’s important that content can be accessed, enjoyed and processed from any device. Fixed-layout allows readers on a tablet or phone to get the same visual cues, text placement, and layout that the author and illustrator intended.

It is also the structure that we rely on to build interactivity onto.

The Promise of Interactive EPUBs

For kids, especially in early education, reading is about context, visual memory, pacing, and engagement. A well-designed book helps with all of that.

Fixed-layout EPUBs support things like:

👆🏽 Tap zones for interactive navigation
📖 Side-by-side page views for context
🎨 Full design fidelity, so visual learners aren’t left out

In addition to the aesthetics and fun that help child engagement, the above qualities also facilitate additions essential to accessibility. Children with different learning needs and of various ability need books designed with them in mind.

We are working with UNICEF and other global education partners to develop new standards of producing learning materials with this in mind. Instead of having to separate children who learn differently, imagine a world where all learning materials are inherently accommodating.

It is through this vain of thought that we co-developed the concept of Accessible Digital Textbooks (ADTs), where we digitise learning materials and layer in interactivity for students. Currently, ADTs is a pilot project being rolled out in the Caribbean and has been recognised internationally as a game-changer for accessible education. We are still monitoring the full extent of the applications of ADTs, but we have strong hopes that this will improve literacy in the region and change the way we think about child-learning.

Accessibility features we are currently implementing in our ADTs:

🔊 Text-to-speech & audio narration Read-aloud support that helps emerging readers, learners with disabilities, and multilingual students follow along.

🎥 Embedded video (including sign language support) Short videos used sparingly to explain concepts or provide inclusive alternatives to text.

🧭 Guided instructions & “how-to” prompts Contextual tips that help learners understand how to use interactive features independently.

🖱️ Clickable navigation & structured TOC Clear headings, landmarks, and internal links that make moving through content intuitive and accessible.

🔍 Adjustable text & display controls Resizable fonts, high-contrast modes, and accessible typefaces for different visual needs.

🧠 Embedded comprehension checks Short quizzes, self-check questions, and interactive exercises placed directly within the reading flow.

📖 Tap-to-define glossaries Clickable vocabulary words with definitions, translations, or pronunciation support.

🎧 Pronunciation guides for language learning Audio support embedded alongside words or phrases to reinforce correct pronunciation.

🧩 Interactive diagrams & labeled images Images with hotspots, captions, and descriptions that support deeper understanding.

🖼️ Image descriptions & alt text Screen-reader–friendly descriptions that ensure visual content is accessible to all learners.

Help a child become a reader.

If you’re a parent, teacher, or librarian trying to get a child to enjoy reading, you know it’s not always easy. A digital format that respects how children actually learn and interact with stories can make a huge difference.

BookFusion’s support for EPUB 3 fixed-layout is one of the ways the platform stays ahead. And yet, it’s something most people don’t even know exists. There’s a whole world of kids’ content (picture books, comics, bilingual readers, educational guides) that don’t translate well into reflowable text.

But fixed-layout EPUBs give them a proper home.

And honestly: is there anything more worth it than helping a child fall in love with reading?

(we don’t think so.)

Join the conversation on Discord: https://discord.gg/MkTJqZb9ev