Picture books provide an excellent route into teaching about Online Safety with young children. A storybook can provide a simple route into discussing ideas, concepts and issues in a way that supports and engages young children.
A story book can start a conversation about online safety early, and can also be used at home by parents. Use the books to facilitate age-appropriate discussions about some of the things young children like to do online (YouTube Kids, Games).
As well as EYFS and KS1, a lot of thes stories would be suitable for KS2 and SEND children.
Here’s some books to get you started:
#Goldilocks (A Hashtag Cautionary Tale) by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross. 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?
Troll Stinks by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross. Billy Goat and his best friend Cyril are messing about with the farmer’s mobile phone, taking selfies and playing games… until they discover the number for a troll. Grandpa Gruff says all trolls are bad, so Billy and Cyril decide to get their own back by sending mean messages. After all, trolls really do stink! Don’t they?
Chicken Clicking by 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…
Old Macdonald Had a Phone by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross. Old Macdonald loves his phone: it helps him organise his farm. But when the animals each get one of their own, they are soon on their phones all day – “Here a tweet, there a chat, WhatsApping the farm cat” – and before they know it, no work is getting done! What can Old Macdonald do?
When Charlie McButton Lost Power by Suzanne Collins and Mike Lester. 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.
Once Upon a Time Online by David Bedford and Rosie Reeve. Find out what happens in Fairy-tale land when a laptop arrives in Once Upon a Time… Online.
Dot by Randi Zuckerberg and Joe Berger. Dot knows a lot. She knows how to tap . . . to swipe . . . to share . . . online, but she’s forgotten how to do things in the world surrounding her. (Randi Zuckerberg is the sister of Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg!)
Dot Unplugged by Randi Zuckerberg and Joe Berger. It’s pouring with rain and now the power’s gone out at Dot’s house. What should they do to pass the time with no tech? It turns out that improvised game keeps Dot’s family so entertained, they just might decide to stay unplugged a bit longer!
But it’s Just a Game by Julia Cook and Michelle Hazelwood Hyde. Meet Jasper! A young boy who is totally absorbed with playing video games. This creative story book teaches both kids and adults how to switch out their game controller for a “life controller.”
Webster’s Friend by Hannah Whaley. 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!
PenguinPig by Stuart Spencer and Amy Bradley. The story of a little girl who reads of an exciting creature known as a penguinpig on the Internet. Filled with delight and intrigue, she decides that she must go and find one.
MonkeyCow by Stuart Spencer and Amy Bradley. When a little girl creates the most delicious chocolate cake imaginable for the summer fair, she hides it in a top-secret underground base with a password for the door.
The Internet is Like a Puddle by Shona Innes and Irisz Agocs. The Big Hug Book series deals with emotive issues that children face in direct and gentle terms, allowing children s feelings and problems to be more easily shared and discussed with family and friends.
Unplugged by Steve Anthony. 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?
DigiDuck Stories by Lindsay Buck. This is a series of 5 free downloadable books by Childnet. They are created to help parents and teachers educate children aged 3–7 about online safety, with accompanying teaching activities.
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If you’ve got any favourite story books, let me know in the comments.
See this blog post for more resources to teach Online Safety.
15 Picture Books to Teach Online Safety to Young Children
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