Author: Shannon McClintock Miller
Illustrator: Clara Reschke
Publisher: Picture Window Books
Publication Date: August 1, 2023
Pages: 32 pages
Interest Level: Grades K - 2
Reading Level: Ages 5 - 7
About the Author
Shannon McClintock Miller, an international speaker and author, is the K-12 district teacher librarian at Van Meter Community School District in Iowa. She earned the Making it Happen Award by the International Society for Technology in Education in 2016 and was named the American Association of School Librarians Social Media Superstar Leadership Luminary in 2018.
Sonia Uses Technology for Communication, Collaboration, and Learning
Sonia is a very tech-savvy young lady.
She uses technology (cell phone and camera) to stay in touch with friends and family. Her grandparents are far away but watch a school play on their laptop computer.
Sonia learns how to share new things she is learning by collaborating with other students on her tablet.
Sonia's teacher connects with classrooms across the world with technology.
Sonia can look up information on the Internet and find answers to millions of questions.
Sonia learns how to use technology to help others in her community and the world.
The book ends with five questions that focus on the main ideas presented in the story.
My Thoughts
Most school-age children have an abundance of experience using technology for entertainment. They have watched videos and played games for many years.
This book emphasizes the use of technology for bringing people together and increasing knowledge. The author defines collaboration in a kid-friendly way...."We can put our minds together."
The book contains very diverse characters. There are children of different races and nationalities. There is a boy in a wheelchair and several children wearing glasses. There is also generational diversity with children, parents, and grandparents participating in the story.
The story takes place in many different settings where technology is used. The color illustrations are excellent and add value to the story. If you take a close look at the pictures you will see examples of technology that are not mentioned in the text...cell phone tower, a drone, and an Internet dish on a building.
The questions at the end of the story are excellent for discussion. There is also a chart that displays the ISTE Standards.
I think this book provides a wonderful learning experience for young children. It combines learning and fun...a great combination!
RATING: 5 Stars Out of 5
FYI ~ I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley.
