FEBRUARY BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
Look Up and See Art All Around Us!
The days may be short and the weather may be cold but there is a lot to see and experience if we just look up. February is about lifting our eyes from screens and noticing all that surrounds us, including art. Sometimes it is as obvious as being inside a museum, other times it is painted across a brick wall in your own neighborhood or in the hallway of your child’s school.
Click to Read more about each book:
Early Childhood: Mural Island by Katie Yamasaki
A young artist discovers a place to express themselves and the joy of an art community in this evanescent picture book.
Kengi drew. Fast, busy, everywhere their hands could reach and feet could travel.
On the front steps, inside the fridge, across the bathroom mirror, atop the cafeteria tables, even on the roll of toilet paper.
𓅯 Lower Elementary: Look Up! Fonaine the Pigeon Stages a Revolution by Britt Gondolfi and Amanda Romanick
Fontaine, a small pigeon, is fed up with the world's addiction to technology. In response, he rallies a cohort of birds and, with their help, leads an ICKY revolution that forces people to put down their phones, look up, and connect with nature and each other.
Author Britt Gondolfi was concerned over how her cell phone took her attention away from her child, so she wrote Look Up! as an urban legend joke for her daughter. Now, if she ever gets too caught up in her cell phone, her nine-year-old will politely remind her, "Mom, you better put that away before a bird poops on you!”
Illustrator Amanda Romanick, recalled New Orleans as a magical place. She felt the city had changed; it seemed like the life of the city, the musicians, the artists, the balloon men and the jugglers, just weren’t there anymore. The city she had seen as a kid and the one she had seen most recently were shadows of one another. Her and Britt discussed how childhood in general had changed. They didn’t see a lot of children out anymore playing, everyone was kind of distracted or just inside. They decided to set the book in New Orleans and help bring the magic back.
Middle School/High School: Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
When Theodora Tenpenny accidentally spills rubbing alcohol on her late grandfather’s painting, she uncovers what appears to be a hidden Renaissance masterpiece beneath the surface. There’s just one problem. Theo’s grandfather was a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and she begins to worry the painting may be stolen.
With the help of some unusual new friends, Theo’s search for answers takes her all around Manhattan, introducing her to a side of the city and her grandfather she never knew. To solve the mystery, she’ll have to let go of her fierce independence and learn to build community, one serendipitous friendship at a time.
Grown-Ups: How to Break Up with Your Phone by Catherine Price
Do you feel addicted to your phone? Do you frequently pick it up “just to check,” only to look up forty five minutes later wondering where the time has gone? Does social media make you anxious? Have you tried to spend less time mindlessly scrolling and failed? If so, this book may be your solution.
Now fully revised to reflect advances in the technological landscape, this groundbreaking book features updated expert advice and research on the science of addiction. It explains how social media and algorithms are designed to hook us, impairing our ability to focus, think deeply, and form new memories. It also includes guidance on the unique risks social media poses to children and practical ways to protect them.
January BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
From Fear of Missing Out to Joy of Missing Out
Click to Read more about each book:
Early Childhood/Elementary: I Am Enough by Grace Byers
A powerful reminder for young children that they are already whole and worthy, without likes, comments, or outside approval.
Upper Elementary through Middle School: The Amazing Generation by Jonathan Haidt & Catherine Price
A hopeful guide for tweens and teens to become “rebels” by learning how to use technology as a tool and how to fill their lives with real friendship, freedom, and fun.
High School: This Is Not the Jess Show by Anna Carey
A gripping story that exposes the hidden cost of living for an audience and what it takes to reclaim privacy, identity, and control. Adults will also love revisiting or sharing the 1990s nostalgia with teens, from AOL dial up internet to Lisa Frank stickers and Trapper Keepers.
Adult: Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams
A favorite excerpt from the book:
“…like most of the leaders at Facebook with younger children, she severely limits her kids’ access to screens, let alone social media accounts. Silicon Valley is awash in wooden Montessori toys and shrouded in total screen bans. Parents at work talk about how they don’t allow their teens to have mobile phones, which only underscores how well these executives understand the real damage of their products on young minds.”
DECEMBER Book RECOMMENDATIONS
Give the Gift of Reading & Writing
This month’s book picks all celebrate one timeless truth: words have power. Whether typed or written by hand, stories help us make sense of ourselves and the world. From silly barnyard letters to the magic of flying books, from a young poet discovering her voice to a girl surviving through the stories she steals, each title shows how reading and writing can shape a life. Our adult pick, Screen Schooled, continues this message by examining what happens when screens begin to replace reading, writ
Farmer Brown is driven to distraction when his cows discover an old typewriter and begin leaving him demands for better conditions (like electric blankets!). This hilarious Caldecott Honor book is a perfect, fun way to introduce children to the concept of advocacy, communication, and the power of the written word, even the typed one!
Fun Extension: Many families are enjoying purchasing vintage typewriters or the Lego typewriter set for children to build!
After a terrible storm sweeps away his home and possessions, Mr. Morris Lessmore is led to a building filled with books that literally flutter and fly like birds. He dedicates his life to caring for these enchanting, living books and sharing their stories with others. This is a gorgeous and powerful picture book that shows the transformative power of stories, literacy, and finding purpose.
Fun Extension: This book is also an Oscar-winning animated short film! After reading the book, watch the fi
This inspirational memoir tells the story of Jacqueline Woodson’s childhood in the 1960s and 1970s in verse (poetry). She navigates moving from the warmth of South Carolina to the bustle of New York, exploring her identity as an African American girl amidst the Civil Rights movement. The book is a beautiful portrayal of finding community, connecting with heritage, and ultimately discovering the profound power of becoming a writer.
Narrated by Death, this heartbreaking and profound story is set in Nazi Germany during World War II. It follows Liesel Meminger, a young girl whose life is defined by the books she steals. Liesel uses the books and her own writing to find resistance, create beauty, and provide comfort in a world consumed by hateful words and destruction. It is a powerful testament to the capacity of words to both wound and to heal. After reading, you can also enjoy the beautifully made film adaptation.
These veteran teachers argue that the rush to EdTech is often hype, and is actively causing a wide range of cognitive and social deficits in students, from lack of focus to reduced critical thinking. This is a call to arms for parents and teachers to demand simpler, smarter, and more effective forms of teaching that prioritize deep learning over screen time. (All adult picks are also available as audiobooks.)
November Book RECOMMENDATIONS
The Art of Gathering
This October, while everyone’s talking about zombies, we’re focusing on the real stars of the season—our amazing brains! Instead of letting screens turn us into “zombie brains,” let’s feed our minds with books that build strong, curious, and healthy brains.
A sweet reminder that gratitude grows when we gather with loved ones. This beautiful book captures connection through stunning illustrations and even models mindful tech by video chatting with a faraway relative on Thanksgiving. A perfect read to spark gratitude and conversation with young children.
This creative favorite inspires kids to explore nature, gather leaves, and make art from the outdoors. It is a celebration of slowing down, noticing beauty, and creating together, and it even inspired this month’s Unplug & Play activity.
A moving story about how friendship, food, and connection bring people together across cultures. Through an after-school cooking club, this novel highlights the power of recipes and family meals to build bridges between worlds. A wonderful book club pick for tweens and teens, it opens thoughtful discussions about some challenging topics like belonging, identity, and what it truly means to welcome others to our table.
A fascinating look at how ancient cultures raise cooperative, capable, and connected children. Some ideas may challenge your perspective, but that is what makes it powerful. It reinforces the importance of involving kids in real-world tasks such as cooking, errands, and chores instead of turning to screens for distraction. It is a meaningful read for parents seeking more connection and calm in everyday family life. I appreciated how this book encouraged reflection.
OCtober Book RECOMMENDATIONS
Zombie Brains VS. Real Brains
This October, while everyone’s talking about zombies, we’re focusing on the real stars of the season—our amazing brains! Instead of letting screens turn us into “zombie brains,” let’s feed our minds with books that build strong, curious, and healthy brains.
Written by two brain experts, this STEM picture book is packed with fascinating science and fun facts about the importance of sleep that will have kids excited to get a good night's rest!
Perfect for parents and educators, Good Night to Your Fantastic Elastic Brain is an excellent tool to teach kids about brain development, growth mindset, and the power of making healthy choices like getting enough sleep!
Can young kids understand the science behind screens? Absolutely-with Super Brain as their guide!
This one-of-a-kind, book is the breakthrough tool parents have been searching for- a fun, science-backed way to help kids understand how their amazing brains work and why too much screen time drains their focus, energy, and joy. Get ready for a mission like no other!
Bursting with vibrant graphics reminiscent of a graphic novel, KBS is designed to captivate and educate. It equips kids with the knowledge and inspiration to step back from harmful screen habits and rediscover the joys of the offline world. KBS is a must-have resource with a transformative message relevant to all ages, striking a chord with tweens, teens, parents, and educators alike. Get the life-changing resource that is the future of screen education
In Glow Kids, Dr. Nicholas Kardaras will examine how technology―more specifically, age-inappropriate screen tech, with all of its glowing ubiquity―has profoundly affected the brains of an entire generation. Brain imaging research is showing that stimulating glowing screens are as dopaminergic (dopamine activating) to the brain’s pleasure center as sex. And a growing mountain of clinical research correlates screen tech with disorders like ADHD, addiction, anxiety, depression, increased aggression
SeptEmber Book RECOMMENDATIONS
📞 It's all about the phones, 'bout the phones...
Let’s swap screens for stories and ring in the school year with more focus and less distraction.
As a new school year begins, many schools are embracing cell phone bans to boost focus, engagement, and well-being. This month, our book selections are all about phones—the good, the bad, and the unplugged.
It's time to fly home for dinner! In this witty picture book from award-winning and bestselling author Mac Barnett, a mother bird gives the bird next to her a message for little Peter. But passing messages on a telephone line isn't as simple as it sounds. Each subsequent bird understands Mama's message according to its own very particular hobbies. Will Peter ever get home for dinner? This uproarious interpretation of a favorite children's game will get everyone giggling!
The parody of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie that every parent will relate to.
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.
When a text goes wrong, Katie Friedman learns the hard way that sometimes you need to disconnect to connect.
Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting by Tommy Greenwald is a fun and hilarious spinoff from the beloved Charlie Joe Jackson series, starring all your favorite characters.
A must-listen for all parents: the generation-defining investigation into the collapse of youth mental health in the era of smartphones, social media, and big tech—and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood.
“With tenacity and candor, Haidt lays out the consequences that have come with allowing kids to drift further into the virtual world . . . While also offering suggestions and solutions that could help protect a new generation of kids.” —Shannon Carlin, TIME, 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
AUGUST BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
From Screens to S'mores: Reclaiming Curiosity, Campfires & Connection
Our monthly book picks will get your kids excited about camping, even if it's just in the backyard! These picture books will make them want to pitch a tent and enjoy making (and eating!) s'mores.
Marshfield Dreams is a personal favorite memoir that will inspire children to play outside and create their own adventures. The Tech Exit is an incredible resource for parents- it takes so many of the ideas and strategies I've had as a teacher and mom and puts them in an easy-to-use guide.
Spend a day in the outdoors camping with Curious George as he pitches a tent, roasts marshmallows, and tries to stay out of trouble!
George and the man with the yellow hat are going camping! George tries to be helpful, but after he upsets a neighboring camper, he ends up exploring the woods on his own. Before long, an encounter with a cute forest creature throws George into a chain of outrageous events that allows him to find a way to be helpful after all.
In their new adventure, Mr. Magee and his dog, Dee, are enjoying a peaceful camping trip when along comes a lumbering, marshmallow-loving bear and the excitement begins. The next thing the two campers know, they are plunging down a mountain, racing down a river, and teetering on the edge of a waterfall! How will Mr. Magee and Dee find their way out of this slippery situation?
For Ralph, the oldest of nine, being part of a large family means more kids to join in the fun―from making tripods in the woods and "snicking" up the rug to raising chicks and even discovering a meteor (well, maybe). It doesn't feel like there's life beyond Marshfield, Massachusetts. Then one day Dad's new job moves the family to Chicago, and there's so much Ralph has to leave behind. In this humorous and captivating memoir, Ralph Fletcher traces the roots of his storytelling.
The Tech Exit maps a doable pathway to freedom from digital technology for families, local communities, and society. Drawing on dozens of interviews with experts and with families who have gone tech-free, as well as Morell’s own work as a policy expert, The Tech Exit shows how digital technology is anything but necessary for children to live happy, healthy, and socially full lives.
July Book Recommendations
Into the Wild (and the Backyard)
This month’s picture books are filled with beautiful illustrations that will inspire your child to step outside and experience the magic of nature. Perfect for sparking imaginative outdoor play during these summer days! The Wild Robot is a must-read and now a movie! The film version is quite different from the book, making this a perfect read-then-watch activity for a family movie night. Even better? It’s the first in a series, so if your child loves it, there’s more where that came from.
When a young child reminds her dad about the hike they planned, her father is hesitant —To the tippy top? It’s a great day to watch futbol (soccer). But as the two climb on, her enthusiasm is contagious. Filled with setbacks, surprises, and stunning views, this warm and humorous story highlights in vivid colors the bonding power of a shared experience. A list of creatures at the end prompts a second look for keen-eyed readers to make discoveries of their own.
Outside is waiting, the most patient playmate of all. The most generous friend. The most miraculous inventor. This thought-provoking picture book poetically underscores our powerful and enduring connection with nature, not so easily obscured by lives spent indoors.
When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is--but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants.
A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids
Step outdoors with this book and wave goodbye to boredom! Open a bug hotel, read the night sky and go bird spotting, then learn to draw animals, write a nature poem, and do an outdoor quiz.
June Book Recommendations
Unplug and Reset: Start Summer with some new books
Unplug & Reset
Help kids understand the benefits of stepping away from screens & engaging with the world around them. These titles are excellent conversation starters for all ages. Middle-grade readers will enjoy Unplugged by Gordon Korman, a fast-paced & entertaining novel that gets kids thinking about digital life. Reset Your Child’s Brain offers an eye-opening look at the science behind screen use & its effects on developing brains, along with practical tools for creating positive change.
A delightful picture book about the fun you can have when you unplug yourself and get outside! From the author of the much-loved Mr Panda series. Blip spends all day plugged into her computer, playing games and having fun. But when there's a power cut, Blip goes down the stairs and out the front door, where she discovers playing games and having fun... outside! Isn't it wonderful to be unplugged?
It’s pouring rain, and the power’s gone out at Dot’s house. Should they take it as a challenge to honor the National Day of Unplugging? Playing outside is out of the question, and so is using the many devices Dot is accustomed to. But what might the basement hold? Dot, her friend Hal, Mom, Dad, and Scratch find lots of exciting stuff, including an old spinner game.
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unteachables, Gordon Korman, comes a hilarious middle grade novel about a group of kids forced to “unplug” at a wellness camp—where they instead find intrigue, adventure, and a whole lot of chaos. Perfect for fans of Korman’s Ungifted and the Masterminds series, as well as Carl Hiaasen’s eco mysteries.
A Four-Week Plan to End Meltdowns, Raise Grades, and Boost Social Skills by Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen-Time
Check back monthly for new books
Additional Book Recommendations
Adult Books
How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. A MUST read!
Schools, once alive with deep learning born of human connection, are now dominated by screens. The result is unmistakable: falling performance, fractured attention, and the slow erosion of rigorous thought.
We were told that classroom technology was progress. It wasn’t. In THE DIGITAL DELUSION, neuroscientist and educator Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath reveals why digital tools in school consistently undermine learning -- and what parents, teachers, and schools can do to push back with purpose.
Add a Free Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts with Worry.
FREE RANGE KIDS has become a national movement, sparked by the incredible response to Lenore Skenazy's piece about allowing her 9-year-old ride the subway alone in NYC. Parent groups argued about it, bloggers, blogged, spouses became uncivil with each other, and the media jumped all over it.
#1 New York Times Bestseller
A 2025 best book of the year so far by The New York Times, The Economist, NPR, and more
“Careless People is darkly funny and genuinely shocking...Not only does [Sarah Wynn-Williams] have the storytelling chops to unspool a gripping narrative; she also delivers the goods."–Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times
I Wish I Knew This Before - A Journey towards Miracles, Healing, and Growth.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by emotions, trapped in negative thoughts, or stuck in unhealthy patterns?
Unresolved anger from childhood wounds can manifest as physical and emotional pain, triggers, ailments, and even disease.
Books to Read with Children
Can young kids understand the science behind screens? Absolutely-with Super Brain as their guide!
This one-of-a-kind, book is the breakthrough tool parents have been searching for- a fun, science-backed way to help kids understand how their amazing brains work and why too much screen time drains their focus, energy, and joy.
Get ready for a mission like no other!
Bursting with vibrant graphics reminiscent of a graphic novel, KBS is designed to captivate and educate. It equips kids with the knowledge and inspiration to step back from harmful screen habits and rediscover the joys of the offline world. KBS is a must-have resource with a transformative message relevant to all ages, striking a chord with tweens, teens, parents, and educators alike. Get the life-changing resource that is the future of screen education
A cute, creative story about children and their texts, tweets, posts and pics. 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.
Having a pet dragon is always fun!
He can sit, roll over, and play… He can candle a birthday cake, lit a campfire, or so many other cool things…
But what if your dragon is addicted to his smart phone, tablet and computer?
What if he is always looking at a screen?
What if he always took his phone to bed with him, put in on the dinner table, took it on the bus, to the park, to the mall, and even right in the bathroom stall?
Young children deserve to be armed early against internet dangers. Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr. makes it easy for parents to protect their young kids ages 3 to 6. Using gentle, age-appropriate messages, children will learn to Turn, Run & Tell when they are accidentally exposed to inappropriate content.
Want a comfortable way to talk with your kids about pornography? This newly revised edition of the original bestseller from Defend Young Minds makes that daunting discussion easy! Good Pictures Bad Pictures is a read-aloud story about a mom and dad who explain what pornography is, why it’s dangerous, and how to reject it.
Stay Grounded, Set Boundaries, and Keep Safe Online (A Be Smart About Book, 3)
The perfect gift for parents everywhere, from the New York Times bestselling author of Goodnight iPad.
The parody of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie that every parent will relate to.
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? Like the rest of us who cannot resist just a few more scrolls and clicks, you may find yourself ready for bed while still clinging to your electronics long after dark. This book, which is made of paper, is a reminder for the child in all of us to power down at the end of the day.
Everyone loves Goldilocks' hilarious online videos, but in her quest to get more likes, more laughs and more hits, she tries something a little more daring: stealing porridge #pipinghot, breaking chairs #fun, and using someone else's bed #sleep. What will Daddy Bear do when he sees that online? A hilarious cautionary tale for a new generation of internet-users from the prize-winning partnership of Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross.
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. . . Little Red Riding Hood for the iPad generation, this is the perfect book for teaching children how to stay safe online.
Ms. Anderson's Favorites
A STEAM-centered, adorably illustrated picture book about Meg, a brilliant and creative boxitect who creates extraordinary things out of ordinary cardboard boxes.
Imagine learning from a nosy classmate that your mother is having yet another baby. To Ralph's classmates, news of one more Fletcher baby is just "scuttlebutt." But for Ralph, the oldest of nine, being part of a large family means more kids to join in the fun―from making tripods in the woods and "snicking" up the rug to raising chicks and even discovering a meteor (well, maybe). It doesn't feel like there's life beyond Marshfield, Massachusetts. Then one day Dad's new job moves the family...
August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s face. Beginning from Auggie’s point of view and expanding to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others, the perspectives converge to form a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.
This is the story of one brilliant idea and the child who helps to bring it into the world. As the child's confidence grows, so does the idea itself. And then, one day, something amazing happens. This is a story for anyone, at any age, who's ever had an idea that seemed a little too big, too odd, too difficult. It's a story to inspire you to welcome that idea, to give it some space to grow, and to see what happens next. Because your idea isn't going anywhere. In fact, it's just getting started.
From the best-selling team that brought you The Periodic Table, Physics, Biology, and Astronomy comes a topic that's close to our hearts-literally! Meet the characters and processes that that keep the human body chugging along. From the basic building blocks like Cell, DNA, and Protein, to Bones, Muscles, and all of the fun-loving Organs, readers will cozy up with the guys on the inside. Trust us-Liver has never looked better!
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