Goodnight Selfie

This is a fun story and I have enjoyed reading it to my students while doing a unit on digital citizenship and balance using our devices.

Great book for elementary kids!

So up with the times. Super fun

Love it. .illustrated perfectly. .

In GOODNIGHT SELFIE, a young girl is given her brother's old smart phone and soon becomes obsessed with taking selfies. She takes them of everything. At one point, her parents encourage her to also take pictures of other people, and for a small time she does, but then becomes obsessed again with selfies. Her obsession doesn't stop until it's time to go to sleep and like the phone, she's forced to quit and charge her batteries. Selfies aren't really a bad thing. However, addiction is. Although it makes a brief attempt at showing the negative side of being so self-involved, GOODNIGHT SELFIE never really addresses the issue. Instead, the story just follows the self-observed girl and allows her to do what she wants to do. The illustrations are cute and somewhat creative, but there's something about the narcissism, self-obsession, and selfishness in GOODNIGHT SELFIE that I find quite disturbing. There is no real correction to the young girl's obvious self-absorbtion. Other than a small suggestion, she is pretty much allowed to do as she pleases to the detriment of the people and the world around her and ultimately, to her own self. So, while GOODNIGHT SELFIE has some really cute illustrations and at face value appears to be a harmless children's story, it's not a story I'd want to read to any children I know because it encourages selfishness and pretty much ignores the evils of addiction.

SUMMARY: Elsie gets a hand me down smart phone from her brother who teaches her how to take a selfie. She becomes obsessed with taking every possible kind of selfie she can. Her parents advise her to try taking pictures of others. She tries, but always includes herself in the pictures. Then she goes back to taking selfies. But it's bedtime and the selfie time must come to end. Elsie takes one last selfie to last until tomorrow.ILLUSTRATIONS: The pictures were created digitally. They are cartoon in style, full of color and humor.THE GOOD: This book is chock full of humor that makes you laugh out loud. Elsie has quite an exuberant and quirky personality. The writing is very creative and fun.THE NOT AS GOOD: I have a problem with Elsie being allowed to be so obsessed with taking selfies literally all day long. She is not given any boundaries and she looks to be a young girl (maybe 6-8). She even takes the phone to bed with her. Her parents suggest she take pictures of others, but that doesn't really happen. And where are Elsie's friends? This story ends up being about a very self-centered little girl who is allowed to be on her phone all day. I would have loved to see her take the advice about taking pictures of others and to have seen some limitations. Unfortunately, this story only enforces an already technology centered society which is a shame because the book was so cute.AGE RECOMMENDATION: Advertised for ages 4-8. But honestly, I don't think this should be read to the younger ones because of the example it sets. This book is better for the age of children who can read this book for themselves 7-9.