One of the most interesting features of the Apple iBooks file format, and ePub3 ebooks in general, is a possibility to add interactive content using HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript. Of course interactive content is not and should never be a replacement for the main textual book content. Main book story that author is presenting should only be supplemented with interactive activities, info graphics, audio and video material and even games. Great examples of topics that can benefit from interactive content are educational books, cookbooks, travel guided, children books, etc.

This post is just a first in the series that will try to cover what kind of interactive content can be created and inserted in iBooks and ePubs3 ebooks. We will only concentrate on HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript content. In general, not every HTML5 feature is supported in iBooks and ePub3 ebooks. We will try to explore mostly Canvas based features with some surrounding features.

Here is the tentative topics schedule:

• Integrating HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript game activity in iBooks
• Integrating HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript coloring book activity in iBooks
• Using Bookry.com widgets in iBooks with general overview of Bookry services for publishers
• Creating content using Hype and Motion Composer
• Adding content using Cocos2D-HTML5 and CocosBuilder
• Series of posts related to HTML5 Canvas features supported in iBooks using KineticJS and CreateJS
• Adding HTML5 audio content using jPlayer
• Adding HTML5 content to ePub3 using Adobe InDesign CS6
• Adding HTML5 content to Amazon Kindle Format 8

Hopefully, the material we will post here will be useful and interesting to all of you aspiring eBook authors targeting iBooks and ePub3 standards.