Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Starbucks Audiobooks

Everyone is talking about Starbucks' move into book retailing. Here's what AP is reporting (via USAToday):
  • "Meryl Streep is narrating a pair of children's classics, The Velveteen Rabbit and The Night Before Christmas, that will be released later this year as audiobooks at Starbucks coffeehouses."

I only bring this up because I need your help. I don't understand this at all. Why would anyone buy a four-minute audiobook? Why wouldn't you just read The Velveteen Rabbit to a kid? I understand ten-hour audiobooks--for the car, on the airplane, etc. But why would you want a picture book audiobook? Can anyone explain this to me?