On the Internet: Our First Talk About Online Safety

by Jillian Roberts, Jane Heinrichs (Illustrator)

Overview

Introduce children to the basics of online safety in a story-based, conversational style.

Using real-world examples set within the context of a child who is using the internet for the first time and watching an older sibling interact with social media, Dr. Roberts takes readers through several common scenarios around parental supervision, online bullying and anonymity. She also includes examples of people who use the internet to make the world a better place. On the Internet addresses common safety concerns in a child-centered way and offers easy-to-understand rationales for why it's important to maintain boundaries online just as in real life.

The World Around Us series introduces children to complex cultural, social and environmental issues that they may encounter outside their homes, in an accessible way. Sidebars offer further reading for older children or care providers who have bigger questions. For younger children just starting to make these observations, the simple question-and-answer format of the main text will provide a foundation of knowledge on the subject matter.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459833661
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	05/17/2022
Series:	The World Around Us , #3
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	421,857
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Dr. Jillian Roberts is a child psychologist, author, professor at the University of Victoria and mother of three children. Considered a go-to child psychology expert for journalists, Dr. Roberts is a regular contributor to HuffPost, Global News and CBC. She is the author of two bestselling and award-winning series of children’s books: the Just Enough series explains topics like birth and diversity to children ages 3–6, while the World Around Us series introduces kids ages 5–8 to issues like poverty and online safety. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

Jane Heinrichs is a children's book writer and illustrator. She is the author/illustrator of the hybrid graphic novel Every Home Needs An Elephant. Jane starts her day at a clear desk with her huge sketchbook (for books) and her tiny sketchbook (for daily drawings) but usually ends up sitting on the floor, surrounded by a collection of paints, pencils and papers. Jane lives in the United Kingdom with her family.

Editorial Reviews

"Start[s] a conversation, for both children and caregivers, about navigating the online waters. Recommended."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

This book should be required reading for all children, not just children who are beginners…The advice offered in this book is of universal importance and the book should be part of all elementary school curriculum.”

Must Read Literature: K thru YA

"All children and parents will find this book useful; whether they use the internet or not. It's good to be informed."

Resource Links

05/20/2022

K-Gr 3—The use of the internet by young children is a complex and complicated subject for both parents and teachers. This work is an introduction to the harmful and beneficial aspects of being online and explores in the basics of safety in simple to understand language. With full-color photographs, watercolor illustrations. and accessible language, the book limns difficult concepts such as boundaries, bullying, virtual versus real life friendships, and more. Children are given guidelines as to what is and is not appropriate, what should and should not be shared, and what to do if something or someone makes them feel uncomfortable. The positive aspects of internet use are also considered. The illustrations show children of a variety of races and ages. The text is child-oriented, but this is an important work for educators and for parents. VERDICT A basic introduction to online safety that can serve as a tool for classroom discussion.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken

School Library Journal

This book should be required reading for all children, not just children who are beginners…The advice offered in this book is of universal importance and the book should be part of all elementary school curriculum.

Must Read Literature: K thru YA

"Start[s] a conversation, for both children and caregivers, about navigating the online waters. Recommended."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

2018-10-28

This "First Talk About Online Safety" focuses on interpersonal relationships.

Roberts, a child psychologist, explains social media, personal boundaries, and cyberbullying. Simple, cloying language in the primary narrative contrasts with more sophisticated sidebars, which define terms such as "inappropriate" (inadequately) and "crowdfunding" (well enough). Full-color illustrations and photographs show a multiracial cast of children looking concernedly at smartphones, bathing in the glow of a laptop, or gathering around a tablet. In an apparent attempt to avoid alarming children, the text sacrifices cleareyed communication for vague moralizing. Immediately, readers discover "there are things on the Internet that are not very good," and while "Most people post things that are interesting or nice to see…sometimes people use the Internet to say unkind things or behave in ways that are inappropriate or mean." On the subject of boundaries, children learn that "When people on the Internet share too much private information about themselves or someone else, the ones who see it often feel really uncomfortable." A prescriptive explanation about "Online Friends vs. Real-Life Friends" doesn't acknowledge differing realities of online friendship and support, and the closing pivots from serious ("Thinking about this stuff makes me kind of uncomfortable and angry") to optimistic ("How can I use the Internet in a way that will be good for me and others?") and borders on melodrama.

Caregivers may find this useful as a starting point, but this brand-new title already feels dated. (Informational picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews