A Study on the Development Strategies for Metaverse Picture Books Based on the Reading Characteristics of the Alpha Generation

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has established the untact environment as a crucial element of society, thereby accelerating the advancement of metaverse technology.Within the metaverse context, children's picture books are progressively transitioning from traditional paper formats to digital mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.Picture books that leverage new media technologies provide visual information and various forms of interaction, including auditory and tactile experiences, thereby enriching the experience in the real world and augmented reality environments.The Alpha generation, born after 2010 and regarded as "digital natives" in the age of artificial intelligence, is naturally adapting to the metaverse environment, leading to significant changes in their digital usage patterns, lifestyle habits, and reading behaviors.This study explores the changes and developments in picture books within the metaverse framework, focusing on the characteristics of Alpha generation children, their reading habits, and the elements of metaverse picture books, such as visual narratives and interactivity.Furthermore, through case studies of representative metaverse picture books, this research seeks to promote the expansion of metaverse-based picture books that align with interests, curiosities, and psychological tendencies.The findings suggest that metaverse-based picture books for the Alpha generation enable novel forms of creation, visualization, and immersive experiences that are impossible in the physical world.This study is significant in that it proposes new directions for designing picture books for the Alpha generation and anticipates that metaverse picture book education will emerge as a new domain in future educational practices.