
A parent would reach for this book when their child starts repeating suspicious facts they heard on the playground or when they are ready to begin exploring the internet independently. It is the perfect tool for addressing that moment when a child first realizes that not everything printed or posted is actually true. Elise Gravel uses her signature silly monsters and high-energy humor to demystify complex concepts like disinformation, echo chambers, and confirmation bias. By framing digital literacy through the lens of a ridiculous conspiracy about killer underwear, the book builds a child's self-confidence and integrity without feeling like a dry lecture. It is a vital resource for navigating the modern media landscape, empowering 8 to 12-year-olds to be skeptical, curious, and fair-minded digital citizens.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewDiscusses why people lie online for money or power.
The book deals with social and political manipulation in a secular, direct, and non-partisan way. While it mentions how disinformation can lead to real-world harm or prejudice, the approach remains hopeful by focusing on the reader's agency and critical thinking skills.
An inquisitive 9-year-old who loves YouTube or TikTok but has recently been tricked by a 'life hack' or a hoax and is feeling frustrated by the lack of clarity online.
This book can be read cold. However, parents might want to preview the section on 'Fear' to see how the book explains why some people create scary stories to control others. A parent might see their child get upset about a fake news story or notice the child falling down a 'rabbit hole' of related, increasingly strange videos on a streaming platform.
Younger children (ages 8-9) will gravitate toward the silly monster illustrations and the 'Killer Underwear' premise. Older children (ages 10-12) will better grasp the systemic explanations of algorithms and financial incentives behind fake news.
Unlike many media literacy books that feel like school textbooks, this uses the graphic narrative format and absurdist humor to make a 'scary' or 'boring' topic feel accessible and even hilarious.
This non-fiction graphic guide uses a humorous, monster-led narrative to explain how fake news is created, why it spreads, and how readers can protect themselves. It covers technical concepts like algorithms and bots alongside psychological concepts like the 'illusory truth effect' and emotional manipulation.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.