With the ubiquity of screens in the modern era, it can be difficult to encourage children to turn them off and tune them out. While digital media has its place in education and cultural connection, it’s also important to encourage young minds to take a break from the pixelated perspective of the world and engage with it firsthand. In that spirit, we’ve gathered seven picture books that incentivize kids to put down their tablets, video game controllers, and smartphones once in a while and spend some time unplugged.
Unplugged by Steve Antony
A little robot named Blip loves being plugged into her computer. There’s so much to do and see inside her magic machine: She can play games, learn things, explore far-off places, and much more. That is, until the day a power outage and a trip down her stairs rolls her, quite unexpectedly, out into the real world. Quickly taken under wing by a friendly duck, fawn, and bunny, the little robot is fascinated to find that the real world also holds so many wonderful things, including fresh new ways to learn, play, and explore. With charming and witty art, a succinct yet entertaining story, and a clear message that can open discussions on the benefits and disadvantages of screens, this book offers a smart modern parable to young readers.
hello! hello! by Matthew Cordell
Lydia is feeling a bit fatigued with all the screens around her home. While her mom, dad, and brother are all invested in their gadgets, Lydia is uninterested in the tedious, unstimulating tech. So when a leaf flutters through the open door leading outside, the girl is intrigued: What lies out there? Venturing into nature, Lydia is fascinated by the plants, animals, and environments she discovers, which range from the mundane to the truly fantastic. Like Antony, Cordell offers an exciting lesson in the value of unplugging that never comes across as didactic or preachy, only an encouragement that there is more to life than what can be found on a screen.
The Couch Potato by Jory John, Illustrated by Pete Oswald
Part of the immensely popular The Food Group series by John and Oswald, which uses food-based characters to convey important modern messages about self-care and social relationships, this tale introduces a spud who has little reason to ever leave his couch. He has handy snacks, and plenty of screens to watch his favorite TV shows while he plays his video games or fiddles with his devices. But when the power goes out, the Coach Potato decides to pass the time by taking their dog Tater for a walk — gulp! — outside! The tuber is intrigued to find that the outdoors are not so scary. In fact, they’re rather exciting! As with all the Food Group titles, the creators do a fantastic job of combining humor with an effective central message, engaging young readers while leaving them with a simple, actionable goal: Get off the couch sometimes.
Rocket Says Look Up! by Nathan Bryon, Illustrated by Dapo Adeola
Young astronomy and astronautics enthusiast Rocket is all atwitter. The Phoenix meteor shower is approaching, and she’s throwing a neighborhood viewing party to share the beauty of the cosmos with all her family and friends. All, that is, except for her brother Jamal, who refuses to break his gaze from his smartphone for even a moment, no matter how she tries to entice him with fascinating space facts. Will Rocket be able to find a way to convince Jamal to just look up? Rocket, an adorable girl whose passion for Mae Jemison, space shuttles, and astrophysics is undeniably contagious, is sure to become a favorite of young readers as she imparts not only her knowledge, but an important lesson on not letting the wonder of the real world pass us by.
Run Wild by David Covell
Outside the window of a gray, monochrome room where a child sits staring at a tablet, a burst of color appears. “Hey, you! Sky’s blue!” comes a shout as another child runs by, barefoot and free, enticing the one indoors to join them on a barefoot spree through the outdoors. By putting down the device, both children are free to run riot through the wilderness, with all the accompanying sights, sounds, mud, unexpected rainstorms, and yes, even bumps that the outdoors entail. Both a lovely metaphor for the ups and downs of life and an invitation to occasionally embrace one’s feral side — especially during the freedom of childhood — the poetry and dynamic art of this tale will surely persuade readers of all ages to take the time to run a little wild.
Doug Unplugged by Dan Yaccarino
Each morning, Doug’s loving robot parents plug their little automaton into a computer interface so that he can learn all about the world around him. Today, Doug’s learning about the city: its population, the number of manholes, how tall the tallest skyscraper is, etc. However, upon noticing a pigeon on his windowsill, Doug becomes curious. Can’t he learn about the city by venturing out into it as well? Exploring his home city in person, Doug is excited to see all the things he learns about, but the highlight is meeting a new friend at the park and playing together. Another fantastic modern fable of the value in unplugging, this book also emphasizes the underrated beauty of urban spaces as well as the importance of face-to-face learning and interaction.
Blackout by John Rocco
On a hot and sticky summer night in the city, a child laments that everyone in their house seems much too busy. Mom is working, Dad is cooking, and older sibling is chatting on the phone. But suddenly, darkness sweeps over the entire city: a blackout. Escaping the heat of an apartment sans air conditioning, the family heads to the roof, where they are struck by the marvelous beauty of the swirling stars. Across the rooftops, they can see more neighbors laughing and talking, like a “block party in the sky”. On the streets below, they see still more people chatting and rollerblading, indulging in ice cream before it melts in the summer heat. Rocco’s simple story and stunning art craft a lovely metaphor for the unparalleled worth of human connection and making time for what screens cannot replicate.
We hope that you and your young readers enjoy these books and that they inspire you to take the time to unplug and reconnect with the people and environments around you. Happy reading!
For more of our favorite kids’ books that encourage safe screen practices, check out our article on Children’s Books About Internet Safety.
To see all of our recommendations for mini bookworms, check out our Bookshop bookshelf.
