UPDATE 01/13/12: The book is now out and available to order.

It’s no secret I have a soft spot for children’s books, especially the timeless classics. But I’m also keenly fascinated by the evolution of publishing and innovation in books. (A timely topic given this week’s acquisition of PushPopPress by Facebook.) So I’m thrilled about a new release from McSweeney’s brand new children’s imprint: Keep Our Secrets by Jordan Crane isn’t merely a charmingly illustrated treat, it’s also an admirable piece of publishing innovation — the book is printed with thermally-activated color-changing ink that lets you discover a wealth of delightful surprises and hidden illustrations as you rub the pages and the heat from your fingers causes some ink layers to become transparent.

This kind of playful, tactile interactivity in what’s still a printed, physical book is challenges our assumptions about what it means to build truly “interactive” reading experiences, showing it doesn’t necessarily have to mean device-centricity.

Keep Our Secrets comes out in December and is now out for pre-order.

via Etre / Reaction