By Kitty Felde
Remember when parents complained about the amount of TV their kids watched? Now, it’s YouTube.
I hear from parents over and over again that their kids aren’t reading, not because they’re distracted by video games or binge-watching Netflix, but because their eyeballs are glued to YouTube videos.
Yet, YouTube can also be a valuable tool. I’ve learned how to edit photos, sew welt pockets, and hook up my Roku by watching YouTube videos.
Candace Williams, Teen Services Library Assistant at the Tracy Public Library in California, says YouTube can also be a way to get reluctant readers to pick up a book. Williams notes that many YouTube stars have written books “about their life, about their show, about their beauty tips.” She says that whatever the topic,when she pulls a book by a YouTube star off the shelf, she watches her patrons’ eyes light up. “Oh, I know that person!” they tell her, and then they go home with the book.
Here’s a few titles that might tempt your YouTube fan:
- This Book is Not On Fire (https://bit.ly/30ou7uf) is by a couple of awkward Brits named Dan Howell and Phil Lester, who use the YouTube handles “danisonfire” and “AmazingPhil.” Their quirky videos are followed by more than eight million subscribers.
- Robby Novak, otherwise known as Kid President, has a book (https://bit.ly/3Cf58Gt) called Kid President’s Guide to Being Awesome.
- Lilly Singh, who uses the YouTube handle “superwoman,” wrote a series of motivational essays in How to Be a Bawse: A Guide to Conquering Life. (https://bit.ly/3olab3r)
Common Sense Media put together its own booklist by YouTube stars. (https://bit.ly/3FgvHxf)
Of course, YouTube is also a place where you can watch author interviews (https://bit.ly/3Hkylnw), book trailers, and even book reviews (https://nyti.ms/3D6Neai).
In addition, Book Club for Kids has its own YouTube channel (https://bit.ly/30tmkey).
Kitty Felde is the Executive Producer of the Book Club for Kids podcast and The Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast. She’s also the author of State of the Union, a Fina Mendoza Mystery.