Kids are surrounded by technology in both the classroom and at home. It’s important for us to teach our students about technology, how to stay safe online, how to deal with cyber bullying, and how to recognize the need to unplug from time to time. Here are some of my favorite technology books for kids.
You can click on any of the covers to learn more about each book.
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Technology Books for Kids
Once Upon a Time Online by David Bedford
Once upon a time, a laptop arrived in Fairy-tale land…a happily ever after is only a click away! Find out what happens when our favorite fairy-tale characters receive a laptop and learn a lesson in online safety.
Unplugged by Steve Antony
Meet Blip. Blip loves being plugged into her computer. When a blackout occurs, Blip trips over her wire and tumbles outside. Suddenly, Blip’s gray world is filled with color and excitement. She plays with her new friends and has adventures all day long. When Blip finally returns home, she realizes that the world can be even brighter once you unplug.
You can find a book companion and craft for Unplugged here.
When Charlie McButton Lost Power by Suzanne Collins
Charlie McButton likes computer games so much, he never plays with anything else. When a thunderstorm knocks out the electricity, his tech empire comes tumbling down, and his whole world loses power. Charlie needs batteries – FAST! But the only batteries he can find are in his little sister’s talking doll. Will he resort to desperate measures and cause his sister to have a meltdown of her own? Or will he snap out of his computer craze long enough to realize his sister might be fun, even if she doesn’t come with batteries?
Goodnight iPad by Ann Droyd
In a bright buzzing room, in the glow of the moon-and iPhones and Androids and Blackberries too-it is time to say goodnight…Modern life is abuzz. There are huge LCD WiFi HD TVs and Facebook requests and thumbs tapping texts and new viral clips of cats doing flips. Wouldn’t it be nice to say goodnight to all that?
If You Give a Mouse an iPhone by Ann Droyd
If you give in to temptation and give a bored little mouse your iPhone, even for ten minutes, he’s probably going to beam to some faraway place beyond time, space, and the sound of your pleading voice. And if he’s that far gone, he won’t have any idea what’s going on around him, and he might end up missing out on all the real fun.
Goodnight Selfie by Scott Menchin
After the star of this story gets her brother’s hand-me-down camera-phone and a quick lesson in the “selfie,” there is no stopping her! Anything can be turned into a selfie, and a host of adventures and misadventures caught on camera prove her point. Turning the camera-phone on herself becomes a part of her every day, all day long. Until, that is, it’s time to call it a day. Turns out, camera-phones and kids alike need to recharge their batteries!
Chicken Clicking by Jeanne Willis
One night Chick hops onto the farmer’s house and has a browse on his computer—CLICK—soon she’s shopping online for the whole farm! But when she arranges to meet up with a friend she’s made online, she discovers all is not as it seems. . .
Nerdy Birdy Tweets by Aaron Reynolds
Nerdy Birdy and his best friend, Vulture, are very different. While Nerdy Birdy loves video games, Vulture finds them BORING. Vulture loves snacking on dead things, but Nerdy Birdy finds that GROSS. Luckily, you don’t have to agree on everything to still be friends. One day, Nerdy Birdy joins Tweetster, and the friend requests start flying in. Vulture watches as Nerdy Birdy gets swept up in his new friendships, but when she finally gets angry, Nerdy Birdy knows just what to do to make things right.
Webster’s Friend by Hannah Whaley
Webster thinks he has made a friend online…but who is he really talking to? Webster tries his best to impress when he makes a new friend online. Told in playful rhyme, this story takes a turn when the friend wants to meet and Webster finds out who he has really been talking to! This book introduces the concept of online safety to young readers, offering an early caution about strangers online and the pitfalls of anonymity on the internet.
The Technology Tail by Julia Cook
Don’t be mean and irresponsible! That’s the straight-to-the-point advice Screen has for young readers who are active on social media. Whether tapping out messages on their computers, tablets or phones, Screen wants kids to know their words will follow them for life, creating a digital trail that can’t be erased.
Cell Phoney by Julia Cook
After much anticipation, Joanie Maloney finally gets her very own cell phone! Knowing that owning a cell phone requires responsibility and sound judgment, Joanie’s mom requires her to complete a Cell Phone Safety Course. Mom, it s a phone… its not a weapon! Joanie exclaims. Along with Joanie, children will learn the six rules of cell phone usage which are designed not only to keep them safe, but also to keep them from being tempted to hurt others. By knowing the rules, children can become masters of their cell phones and avoid becoming a “Cell Phoney!”
But it’s Just a Game by Julia Cook
Meet Jasper, a young boy who is totally absorbed with playing video games. Video game addiction is on the rise, but it can be prevented. This creative story book teaches both kids and adults how to switch out their game controller for a “life controller.”
How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk
All summer, Pearl has been trying to build the perfect sandcastle, but out-of-control Frisbees and mischievous puppies keep getting in the way! Pearl and her robot friend Pascal have one last chance, and this time, they’re going to use code to get the job done. Using fundamental computer coding concepts like sequences and loops, Pearl and Pascal are able to break down their sandcastle problem into small, manageable steps. If they can create working code, this could turn out to be the best beach day ever!
How to Code a Rollercoaster by Josh Funk
Pearl and her trusty rust-proof robot, Pascal, are enjoying a day out at the amusement park. Spinning teacups, ice cream, and of course: rollercoasters! Through the use of code, Pearl and Pascal can keep track of their ride tokens and calculate when the line is short enough to get a spot on the biggest ride of them all–the Python Coaster. Variables, if-then-else sequences, and a hunt for a secret hidden code make this a humorous, code-tastic day at the amusement park!
Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark
Who was Grace Hopper? She was a software tester, workplace jester, cherished mentor, ace inventor, avid reader, naval leader AND rule breaker, chance taker, and troublemaker. Grace Hopper coined the term “computer bug” and taught computers to “speak English.”
Bully by Patricia Polacco
Lyla finds a great friend in Jamie on her first day of school, but when Lyla makes the cheerleading squad and a clique of popular girls invites her to join them, Jamie is left behind. Lyla knows bullying when she sees it, though, and when she sees the girls viciously teasing classmates on Facebook, including Jamie, she is smart enough to get out. But no one dumps these girls, and now they’re out for revenge.
You’re Missing It! by Brady Smith & Tiffani Thiessen
It’s a lively day at the neighborhood park. Birds are singing, squirrels are frolicking, dogs are causing a commotion – and wide-eyed children are enthralled by it all. Too bad the parents are missing everything! It’s going to take something really BIG to get them to disengage from their phones. This story is a great reminder to slow down and savor time together.
But I Read it on the Internet! by Toni Buzzeo
Hunter and Carmen disagree whether George Washington really had wooden teeth, and Mrs. Skorupski encourages them to research the story on the internet and use her “Website Evaluation Gizmo” to evaluate websites and come up with the correct answer.
Arthur’s Computer Disaster by Marc Brown
Arthur wants to play Deep, Dark Sea on the computer every chance he gets. He’s hooked! When his mother leaves for work and asks him not to touch the computer, Arthur can’t resist the temptation. Disobedience leads to disaster when Arthur and his friend Buster both reach for the mouse — and the computer screen goes blank! Will Arthur be able to fix the computer before his mom gets home from work?
The Magic School Bus Gets Programmed by Joanna Cole
Mr. Ruhle, the school principal, has just gotten a super-duper computer. And Carlos’s brother, Mikey, programs it to do all of the class’s chores. But then the computer starts to go a little wacky – it’s doing their chores over and over and over again! So Ms. Frizzle turns the kids into a floppy disk and sends them inside the computer to find out what has gone wrong. Join the class on a wild ride, and learn a lot about computers along the way.
The Berenstain Bears’ Computer Trouble by Jan and Mike Berenstain
When Papa brings home a computer, the whole family is excited. Soon Mama, Brother, Sister, and even Honey start spending all day every day staring at their own computers. It’s up to Papa to get the family off the computer and back into the real world!
Do you have a favorite book about technology that you love to read with kids in the classroom? Let me know so I can check it out!
You can find even more book lists for kids here.
Happy Teaching!
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