LCD Writing Tablet and Books

Straddling the divide between screen and paper, these writing tablets are a not-too-digital way of helping your kids have the feel of a tablet, with more creativity and open-ended opportunities. The ‘screen’ runs off something like a watch battery, which we have easily replaced when required (not very often at all). Children use the stylus to write or draw and then when they want to start again they press the one and only button. These are a fun resource for kids to build their fine motor skills.

We have both a generic one and the branded Boogie Board version which comes with cards for tracing and playing games. They have been used often and are an easy toy for kids to take somewhere they are going to need to wait or be quiet; they create no mess and no noise. We’ve had lots of other kids enthralled by them and want a turn.

These are robust, long-lasting toys. We got them for our girls when they were about 4 or 5-years-old and 4 years later they still get pulled out when the girls want to play pretend school, pack a toy for a quiet event, or do some doodling or scribbling.

Below I have put together a few books about drawing and scribbling that will pair nicely with a writing tablet.

Never Let a Unicorn Scribble, by Diane Alber

“All great art starts with a scribble.” A young girl gets a unicorn and she has been warned by others to never let a unicorn scribble. She wonders what would happen, curiosity wins out, and when she tries to give her unicorn a crayon it eats it. Willing to give the unicorn another chance she demonstrates how to scribble, but still the unicorn eats the crayon. Her next attempt at teaching the unicorn results in some pretty colourful and chaotic results.

A picture book for 3-8-year-olds, this combines the now ubiquitous unicorn with drawing and colour and a very understanding mother to create a fun story.

It’s Not Scribble to Me, by Kate Ritchie and Jedda Robard

I know I have over-reacted to my children’s messes more often than I would like to admit. While they are carefully trying to get an idea out of their head into the world, I am trying to minimise the clean-up. This book is really a reminder for parents that they see the world differently than their kids do. What might seem like a scribble is actually a work of art.

The First Drawing, by Mordicai Gerstein

Drawing has been around for thousands of years, but this book encourages children to consider what life would have been like before drawing. It helps them see how much we rely on sharable images to communicate with others about the world we are experiencing. Kind of a deep theme for young children, but this is a very successful picture book.

Drawn Together, by Minh Le and Dan Santat

An almost wordless picture book about the way images and drawing transcend other communication barriers to bring generations together. This wonderfully illustrated book will strike a chord for families who have trouble understanding each other. The vibrant images and emotional scenes will stay in readers’ minds for years to come.

This is ideal for 4-10-year-olds. My original review of this book can be found here.