We might be living in a digital world, but it seems paper children’s books still hold sway for parents over e-books. Because really, picture that lovely iPad touch screen with apple sauce fingerprints on it.

Perhaps to make sure their children understand that books are about more than flashy technology with a cool screen, the New York Times says parents are buying paper books for their little ones.

This holds true even with the kind of parents who read books on Kindles, iPads, laptops and any other kind of screen that can handle War and Peace. Part of the paper appeal comes from the overall tactile experience of curling up with a book and touching the pages as kids learn. Think about it — Pat the Bunny on a Kindle? Nope. Not gonna work.

Sales of e-books for kids under 8 have not risen as fast as those for adults, says the NYT, and are only 5 percent of the total annual sales of children’s books. By comparison, e-book sales comprise 25 percent of the total annual sale of some categories of adult books.

For Their Children, Many E-Book Fans Insist on Paper [New York Times]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.