There’s a lot of learning in today’s picture books, from how to manage screen time to respect for a transgender mother, and what to do with a nose-picker. To touch hearts, there’s…
There’s a lot of learning in today’s picture books, from how to manage screen time to respect for a transgender mother, and what to do with a nose-picker. To touch hearts, there’s a lonely dog who finds his place in Minnesota. In these new entries in the top-selling Best Behavior series, Elizabeth Verdick uses rhythmic prose and Marieka Heinlen adds colorful illustrations to help kids understand why “screen time” should be limited. The Best Behavior books are meant to guide children to choose positive behaviors and are available in two versions: a durable board book for ages 1-4 ($8.99) with simple, two- and three-word sentences, and in paperback with more text for older children ($11.95). The board book begins “Screens/are/for a little/ downtime, /a not-too-long/time.” Urging the little ones to push the button and “Make the screen STOP,” the following pages urge kids to “jump and run, swing and sing, find a friend, play pretend…” In the end, “Remember,/screen time is/not forever… Spend more time TOGETHER.” The paperback helps older kids understand how to be “screen time smart” and that screen time is “one little part of our life… Bigger parts are Family time, Friendships, Reading, Sleeping, Playing, Moving!” There are suggestions for families to make a screen schedule, with specific start and stop times. But there are also benefits to using screens, such as video chatting, finding educational apps, games and shows. Both books include additional information and activities for adults to help navigate screen time and screen-free time for children. Miguel doesn’t know what to say when his classmates tell him, “Your daddy’s here.
