Doug Unplugged

Reach for this book when you notice your child is becoming increasingly tethered to tablets or struggling to engage with the world beyond a screen. It offers a gentle nudge toward the tactile joys of childhood without being preachy or anti-technology. Doug is a little robot who spends his days being 'downloaded' with facts until a curious bird lures him outside. He soon discovers that while his database can tell him about a city, it cannot teach him the feeling of wet grass, the smell of a bakery, or the warmth of a hug. It is a perfect selection for preschoolers and early elementary students (ages 3 to 7) to help them understand the difference between knowing about something and actually experiencing it. Parents will appreciate how it validates curiosity and models the bravery required to try something new, making it an excellent bridge for conversations about finding balance in a digital world.