Picture Books to Unplug With
Whether you’re an adult, a kid, or somewhere in between, putting down our devices and unplugging for a moment is hard. But taking time away from our screens is so important for expanding imagination and curiosity.
Can’t I watch just one more episode of Bluey?
No child! It’s storytime!!
If it’s one of those days, never fear: Your new friend the Curious Why will show you that there’s always something new to discover about the world around you! Do you want to know where the dinosaurs went? How crayons are made? Or what makes a bee sting?
Dragonboy is curious. He is playful, pensive, and kind. More than anything, he is himself: an imaginative little boy who loves to be a dragon. His stuffed-animal friends—Darwin, Yellow Kitty, Simon, and Drako—are always by his side as he explores and discovers something new. Because the best part of an adventure is being with the ones who know you best.
Hidden high above the ground, we welcome you to Treehouse Town!
Wander through the Birch Bazaar, hitch a ride on the Tulip Train, explore the library in the hemlocks, or play birdball high in the sky. There’s something for everyone in Treehouse Town, a world built by children that’s as endless as their imaginations.
This girl is determined to express herself! If she can’t draw her dreams, she’ll sculpt or build, carve or collage. If she can’t do that, she’ll turn her world into a canvas. And if everything around her is taken away, she’ll sing, dance, and dream…
Here is a hilarious (and heartfelt) reminder of how technology can take us backward…all the way to the times of prehistoric man! Tek is a cave boy in love with tech: his tablet, videogames, phone, and TV keep him deep in his cave, glued to his devices, day in and day out. He never sees his friends or family anymore–and his ability to communicate has devolved to just one word: “UGH!” Can anyone in the village convince Tek to unplug and come outside into the big, beautiful world?
Bob Odenkirk began writing these poems with his children when they were little, compiling the poetry into a homemade book entitled Olde Time Rhymes. He wanted Nate and Erin to understand that actual people had written the books the family loved to read and to instill in them the feeling that they could be writers and illustrators themselves. Almost twenty years later, when the Odenkirks found themselves quarantined under the same roof, they revisited these mostly silly, sometimes poignant works. It wasn’t until Erin began to create illustrations to accompany the words, though, that the book grew to be something much bigger than an Odenkirk family treasure.
From the joy of smearing glue on paper to the screaming delight of a bubble-blowing relay, kids love to play. In fact, it’s every kid’s built-in tool for experiencing the world at large. A parent-friendly encyclopedia, UNPLUGGED PLAY (“A wonderful guide,” says Daniel Goleman) offers hundreds and hundreds of battery-free, screen-free, chirp-and-beep-free games and fun variations that stretch the imagination, spark creativity, building strong bodies, and forge deep friendships…and keep kids busy at the table while mom or dad makes dinner.
