Electronic book and method

An electronic book, comprising in combination:

• (a) a cover;
• (b) an array of membrane switches disposed in a membrane switch assembly attached to the cover;
• (c) a plurality of pages attached to the cover, each of the pages having on a first surface thereof an indicia located directly over one of the switches, respectively;
• (d) an electronic module attached to the cover and electrically connected to the array of switches, the electronic module storing a plurality of sound sequences;
• (e) the membrane switch assembly including
• i. a first layer of flexible sheet material, and a layer of switch electrode conductors on the first layer of flexible sheet material defining a plurality of pairs of switch electrode conductors, each pair including a first electrode conductor and a second electrode conductor, and a plurality of conductors for connecting the electrode conductors to the electronic module;
• ii. a second layer of flexible sheet material and a layer of electrode shorting conductors on the second layer of flexible sheet material, each electrode shorting conductor being directly above one of the pairs of switch electrode conductors, respectively;
• iii. a plurality of spacers disposed between the first and second layers of flexible sheet material;
• and
• (f) each membrane switch including one of the pairs of a first electrode conductor and a second electrode conductor, one of the spacers, and one of the electrode shorting conductors, spacers of each membrane switch separating the electrode shorting conductor from the first electrode conductor and the second electrode conductor of the membrane switch when it is not activated, and allowing the second layer of flexible sheet material to be pressed against the second electrode conductor and first electrode conductor in response to pressure on the indicia corresponding to that membrane switch so that the electrode shorting conductor makes electrical contact with both the second electrode conductor and the first electrode conductor to transmit a signal corresponding to that membrane switch and that indicia via a pair of conductors to the electronic module to cause it to address a corresponding stored sound sequence.