Books That Heal Kids: screen free week

Showing posts with label screen free week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label screen free week. Show all posts

Book Review: Hello! Hello!

 
Author: Matthew Cordell 
Interest Level: All Ages

Book Description: Outside the world is bright and colorful, but Lydia's family is too busy with their gadgets to notice. She says Hello to everyone. Hello? Hello! Her father says hello while texting, her mother says hello while working on her laptop and her brother doesn't say hello at all. The T.V shouts Hello! But she doesn't want to watch any shows. Lydia, now restless, ventures outside. There are so many things to say hello to! Hello rocks! Hello leaves! Hello flowers! When Lydia comes back home she decides to show her family what she has found, and it's hello world and goodbye gadgets!

Watch the Trailer:


A first grade teacher had this book in her room this morning and mentioned I might like to read it because it's AWESOME. Author Matthew Cordell has really done us all a service by writing this book and his illustrations are absolutely charming. We are all getting so sucked into technology we are forgetting the world around us, especially the PEOPLE in it. What an inspiring reminder to tune out from all the gadgets that seem to control us and tune into one another.

PS. If you are interested in participating in a Screen Free Week at your school - this would be a great kick off as a story to share with the kids. 

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful: 
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Book Reviews: Penny Lee and Her TV; When Charlie McButton Lost Power

Author: Glenn McCoy
Interest Level: Ages 4-7

About This Book: Penny Lee loves her TV. It is her best friend. It keeps her warm on winter nights and comforted during thunderstorms.

Penny Lee also has a dog, Mr. Barkley. He loves Penny Lee, but he does not love her TV. So what happens when the TV stops working?



Author: Suzanne Collins
Illustrator: Mike Lester
Interest Level: Ages 5-9

About This Book: 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 triple- A's 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? Collins and Lester team up for a hilarious and timely tale that will crack up young computer addicts and those who love them!

Why They Are On My Bookshelf: I wasn't planning on blogging about these two books but I changed my mind. So here's the deal...these are important reads for the littles. Okay, so we've all heard the awful statistics about kids watching too much TV, addicted to their XBoxes and PS3's, and setting world records text messaging. So as the school year wraps up, I've been sharing Penny Lee and Charlie McButton with students as a reminder to get out there this summer and MOVE and UNPLUG.  When I asked kids why they thought video games and TV could be harmful to kids - you wouldn't believe the responses. They know EXACTLY why too much technology can be a negative thing in their lives. These stories are funny and such a great conversation starter about the importance of unplugging.

A Link to These Books:
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