World Book Day is a celebration of books, reading and storytelling, with the power to bring generations together through literature. We are pleased to continue collaborating with Technology Books for Children, a charity who introduce readers to the possibilities of technology through engaging fiction and non-fiction books. Storytelling, whether through historical records or children’s literature can help to bridge the gap between past innovations and future generations.
Tech-Themed Book Recommendations for teens
Recent studies have shown a significant decline in the number of children and teenagers reading for pleasure. A 2024 report by the National Literacy Trust found that only 35% of eight to 18-year-olds enjoy reading in their spare time, marking a sharp drop from previous years.
This decline in recreational reading is of concern, as reading for pleasure is linked to numerous benefits, including improved literacy, empathy and critical thinking skills. All much needed in the world today and in the future of work, by encouraging children to engage with books, especially those that align with their interests and also have a technology-theme, can help reverse this trend and equip young people with the knowledge and skills that they need.
Book Recommendations
Here are some recommendations from the book review team at Technology Books for Children, which will work for the school or home book-shelf, to inspire young readers about technology, with topics ranging from Cyber security, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Citizenship.
“Gets straight into technical topics (e.g., multi-factor authentication is covered in chapter 1). It addresses topics teenagers will have covered at school, such as cyber-bullying and follow requests, but also a range of practical topics that get less emphasis. It goes beyond smartphones and considers a range of devices including smart speakers, and use of public and private wi-fi networks. It ends by highlighting potential cyber security careers”.
“A perfect pocket companion for the older child and for grownups. Learn about the origins of AI and ponder upon the possibilities and impact that this disruptive tech can have on all societies. Lots of historical information beautifully presented such as The Turing test, which learners would have covered at school. This makes this book perfect for forming a link between home and school”.
“Regardless of your knowledge level about AI and machine learning, this book will enhance your understanding. It begins with a recap of stories from the Netflix documentary “Coded Bias,” introducing AI and machine learning terminology. Joy provides excellent descriptions of key aspects throughout the book. The narrative then delves deeper into computer vision and its ethical considerations. Boulamwini’s internal struggles with creating a dataset and the ‘power to label’ stand out. She found this power unsettling and explains the ethical concerns related to data classification extensively. This self-questioning approach is crucial for handling datasets ethically. However, it raises the question of how many would take similar care in creating and classifying datasets, or if they would overlook the biases involved. This book is factual, thought-provoking, and essential for understanding the impact of AI systems on the world and its inhabitants. Additionally, it offers delightful snippets of life at the MIT Media Lab and the Lifelong Kindergarten group, where the popular programming language Scratch was created by Mitch Resnick and his team. A must-read for anyone interested in the ethical implications of AI and machine learning. Get Reading”!
“The two main characters of this fiction book are a boy and girl (twins) that readers who have an interest in technology, and particularly gaming, will relate to. The author uses humour throughout to engage the audience, but balances this with enough emotion to bring the characters to life, making them believable and ensuring the story feels meaningful. Whilst the technology in this book would definitely be described as ‘science fiction’ – or even magic (characters control each other using a video game controller) – there are frequent references to well-known real-life video games as well as other cultural references such as YouTube and Amazon, which will again appeal to readers in this age bracket. At times, the book is in danger of reinforcing gender stereotypes, as well as other stereotyping such as ‘nerds’, ‘bullies’, and messages around self-esteem related to body image. But this feels deliberate, to help readers relate to the feelings of the characters, and is balanced by the book’s ending, which emphasises the importance of believing in yourself and not pretending to be someone you’re not. There are other more subtle challenges to gender stereotypes too, such as the female twin being better at playing video games, while the male twin prefers to style their hair and clothes. With its humour (including just the right level of toilet humour for this age group), excitement and variety of funny characters, this book is likely to appeal to gamers who are already keen readers, as well as those who may not usually read as much”.
Inspiring the Next Generation
By integrating these books into a young person’s reading repertoire, children are not only provide them with entertaining stories but also gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of technology. This World Book Day, let’s use the power of storytelling to connect generations, spark curiosity and ensure that IT continues to inspire the digital innovators of tomorrow.
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Beverly Clarke MBE, Founder and CEO of Technology Books for Children, is also a writer and trustee featured in Archives of IT.
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