Book Review
A short overview of this book
Dennis and his Online Gaming Adventure! Cyber safety can be fun by Nina Du Thaler is a book for older children about cybersafety. This book is one of many in a series of short novels from Bright Zebra, with each book focusing on a different aspect of cybersafety. You can find the rest of these books by Nina Du Thaler here.
This book focuses on online gaming and will help children to identify the signs of when gaming is becoming a problem, what to do when it does become a problem and how to manage it (so that it doesn’t become a problem).
In this book, It’s like Dennis has a new language – skins, noobs and loot boxes. Elle is intrigued, perhaps it’s online gaming. But when Dennis starts getting smelly, moody and skipping school she wonders what is happening. What will Elle discover when she delves into Dennis’ world? But more importantly, can she teach him how to manage his online world safely?
These are a great resource for children who need to learn about staying safe online but find picture books too babyish. They are perfect for reading together and discussing your family rules for online safety.
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 8 to 12 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Dennis and his Online Gaming Adventure! Cyber safety can be fun by Nina Du Thaler from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! I’m Cath Hak, and welcome to Sex Ed Rescue. On my YouTube channel and website, I review books and resources to help parents with sex education and important topics like online safety and gaming. If you want to find some great resources, head over to Sexedrescue.com.
Today, I want to talk about a book called Diary of Elle: Cyber-safety Can Be Fun by Nina Du Thaler. It’s part of a series of seven books, and I’ll be reviewing the first five. I’m really excited for the last two because they cover topics like sexting and porn, which are important to discuss.
These books are chapter books that tell the story of a kid named Dennis and his online gaming adventure. He starts spending more time with his online friends than his real-life friends, and it starts affecting his schoolwork. But here’s what I love about these books: they have dot points at the back that give you talking points as a parent. It’s like a guide on what to discuss with your child.
The book reminds us that while gaming is fun, we need to be careful not to spend too much time on it. It suggests setting a timer and balancing outdoor play with online play. It also emphasizes the importance of being cautious about who we interact with online. Some people may pretend to be friends but have ulterior motives. The book advises protecting personal information and being wary of requests to take risks or pay for hidden things. If you do spend real money, make sure to get permission from a trusted adult and set a weekly limit.
The book also teaches kids that gaming is about having fun, not just winning or losing. It encourages them to be respectful to others and treat them how they would like to be treated. It even touches on the topic of malware and viruses that can sometimes come with games.
One important aspect the book addresses is recognizing signs of addiction or spending too much time online. If you or your friends start acting cranky, moody, or falling asleep in class, it might be a sign to reevaluate how much time is being spent online. Balancing time between the online world and the real world is key.
As parents, we need to set a good example for our kids. I’ve had to have a chat with my husband about his device use because we can’t expect our kids to stay off their devices if we’re always glued to ours. It’s important to be responsible role models.
Now, my kids aren’t into gaming because we choose not to have those things in our house. But that doesn’t mean I don’t talk to them about it. Things might change in the future, and it’s good to be prepared.
I hope this review was helpful for you. Remember, it’s all about having open conversations with our kids and guiding them through the world of online gaming. Cheers!
