The Fabulous Friend Machine by Nick Bland

Short Summary

The Fabulous Friend Machine by Nick Bland is a fun yet important picture book that introduces young children to the basics of online safety. Through the story of a friendly chicken who learns that not everyone online is who they say they are, it encourages safe online behaviour and reminds kids of the value of real-life friendships.

Age Group

Suitable for children aged 4 to 8 years.

Topics Discussed

Internet Safety

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Buy a Copy

Buy a copy of The Fabulous Friend Machine by Nick Bland from Amazon.

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What this book is about

  • The Fabulous Friend Machine follows a chicken who finds a mobile phone in the barn and starts making online friends.
  • As she spends more time chatting online, she neglects her real-life friends and even puts herself in danger by not paying attention while crossing the road.
  • The story escalates when she invites her online friends to visit – and discovers they are actually wolves with bad intentions.
  • Luckily, her real friends save her and take away the “friend machine.”
  • The book introduces the idea that not everyone online can be trusted and that meeting people in person from the internet can be dangerous.
  • Encourages early conversations about online safety, including being careful about sharing information and valuing in-person friendships.
  • Works as a reminder for parents to model healthy device use – kids notice how we use our own phones and devices.
  • A lighthearted yet powerful resource for building cyber safety awareness before children start using their own devices.
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I hope you find this book review helpful!

Happy talking!
❤️ Cath

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Cath Hakanson is a qualified family sex educator, sexual health nurse and author with 30+ years of clinical and education experience. As an AuDHD parent of two neurodivergent children, she creates clear, practical sex ed resources that help parents talk about bodies, puberty, consent, porn, relationships and sex without shame or judgement.