Winner of Gold Mom’s Choice Award
Winner of Skipping Stones magazine Honor Award for multicultural and ecological awareness
Winner of bronze for best picture book for children of all ages in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards
Ella is really frustrated. Lately it seems like the whole family has forgotten how to be together. Instead of playing Hangman and making blueberry waffles, everyone is talking on cell phones, playing video games, or using the computer. What’s a girl to do? When Ella finally makes her move, it gets everyone’s attention. This is a lively book about the issue of managing technology so that it can become more family friendly.
(Tilbury House)
“Being tethered to our screens 24/7 is of huge societal concern to children, families and teachers. It seems insolvable but it isn’t! In an inspired and inspiring example of ‘taking on challenges,’ Laura Pedersen’s UNPLUGGED shows how a child comes up with a solution that gives her and her family what our studies show they want most―time to be together and have fun.”—Ellen Galinsky, President, Families and Work Institute, and author of Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills That Every Child Needs
“This book is fantastic! It makes me feel like I’m not crazy for not letting my son get plugged in yet to television, apps, or cell phones.This is a great book for all families and is a gentle request for families to unplug and remember to spend time with each other…. It’s a fantastic book that is entertaining and gently asks you to assess being constantly plugged in and the toll that it can take on your family, We highly, highly recommend this book.”—The Picture Book Review
“I love the message of this book! It is well-told in the story. I like Ella’s cleverness and creativity. She probably has it because she is not plugged in! All families should read this book and learn from the message given in it―spend more time with each other!”—This Kid Reviews Books
“Laura Pedersen’s Unplugged is a delightful book about the importance of face-to-face family time. Parents today need to model a balanced approach to technology use, but our children, like Ella in this timely story, know how essential it is to have a chance to talk, play games, and eat together.”—Anne K. Fishel, Ph.D., co-author of“The Digital Family,” PsychologyToday.com, and Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology, Harvard Medical School
“A must-have book for go-gogo-thumb-thumbtap families. We LOVE the illustrations, the story, the characters, and the critical message about being mindful to spend time WITH each other. Great book!”—Reach & Teach