For Screen-Free Week 2022, in partnership with Children’s Book Week, we invited the authors from our Screen-Free Week Booklist to send in videos of them reading their books. The Manic Panic by Richa Jha and Mithila Ananth is one of our favorite new books on the list; below, author Richa Jha reads from their amazing tale.
More about The Manic Panic: Some grown-ups have so much screen time that they just can’t cope when the wifi goes out. Luckily the grown-ups in The Manic Panic live with a smart kid who loves to read and an adventurous grandma who knows how to have fun without the internet. The Manic Panic is a wry look at the value of unplugged family time, even when someone is resistant to the real world. (AGES 5-11)
Next, Roopa Raveendran-Menon, the author of Chandu and the Super Set of Parents, reads from Chapter 1 of her wonderful new book. Chandu and the Super Set of Parents is a heartwarming examination of the meaning of family.
More about Chandu and the Super Set of Parents: When Chandu’s strict parents threaten to ship him off to boarding school, Chandu wonders what it would be like to have different parents and comes across a curious storefront: The Exchange Your Parents Shop. Chandu has the opportunity to become the child of math geniuses, movie superstars, or sports icons. Including themes surrounding screen use, this is a fantastical tale set against a rich tapestry of Indian food, culture, and customs. (AGES 7-12)
Finally, author Adam Ciccio and baby June read Go Out and Play, an adorable children’s picture book about putting down the screens to play outside, illustrated by Katrien Benaets! This book is an awesome addition to our 2022 Screen-Free Week Book List!
More about Go Out and Play: The clouds are gone and the sun is out. It’s time to put the phones away and enjoy the sunshine before the sun goes down. There are so many things to explore outside. Play soccer, skateboard, or find new bugs! What will you do with your time outside? (AGES 0-11)