Dot is about a young girl who loves technology and comes to learn about the importance of having a balance between technology & ‘other forms of play’

I was interested in this book as someone addicted to checking their smart phone, it’s the first thing I do when I wake, and as I spend most of my time at work in front of a screen I thought it might teach me a thing or two.

Bryn immediately picked up on the humour in this book which uses the same words for when Dot is using technology as when Dot is outside. His use of technology however is limited so concepts such as tagging & surfing had to be explained.

The highlight of the book for me was the illustrations, which uses colour to help create the mood between the two halves of the story as well as adding a sense of fun & a spark to the book. My favourite spread is the last page showing the children having fun outside but also using some technology.

This book gets across a message about the importance of balance in a light sunny tone. It’s a message we do try and teach the kids (it’s harder to do ourselves) , the idea of moderation in most things whether it be screen time, cake consumption etc. The main exception is books, you can never have too many of those can you?

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I was not asked to write this post, nor was I given any money for doing so, and the review represents my own honest opinion.

We are a family who like gadgets & new technology but there is one area I’ve been slow to take up & that’s ebooks.

Most of the children’s books in our house are on low shelves or in boxes so the children can help themselves to whatever they like whenever they like. (The only exception to this is some pop up books which I can’t bear too see destroyed by little fingers). If they want an ebook however, they have to come and ask us.

I recently borrowed a picture book using our local library’s ebook service & decided to read it to the children as one of their bedtime stories. This experience felt pretty flat. The book on the iPad it was smaller than the average picture book & it was difficult to pour over the pictures & point to all the things we spotted, as when they touched the screen it prompted an action such as turning the page or defining a word. We have had more success with ebook apps which are often more thoughtfully designed, such as Nosy Crows Red Riding Hood but this still suffers from the drawback that this is something the kids have to request.

I have no doubt that as they get older they will be reading more ebooks & with the current creative innovations in technology I can imagine there will be huge changes to the reading experience, as we have already seen with ebook apps.

But right now while I still have influence we shall stick mainly with print I like the feel of a book in my hands, I like the walls covered in bookshelves with the spines offering a picture of our lives & I like that quiet moment with the children when we are all caught up in the pages of our favourite book.