Synopsis
Cell phones, MP3 players, the Internet - there are so many new technologies out there. So how does new media get you to pay attention to its messages? And what are those messages really saying? Well, flip open your phone. It's time to ask questions about new media messages.
Children's Literature
This slim volume is one of a Capstone Press' teaching series about various types of media. The "new media" of this title refers to hardware and software for communications, namely computers and cell phones. The main effect of this book should be to stimulate curiosity about messages received and to be alert to their unwritten meanings. At the same time, the author teaches plenty of information about new media and helps readers gain a sense of confidence about using new media safely and successfully. The set-up of the book is to pose five questions, and then to explore each one. For example, "Who made the message and why?" and "How does the message get and keep my attention?" Textboxes and a short glossary explain jargon. However, "podcast," "blog," and "spam" are used without explanation. Perhaps the author assumes that modern readers already know these terms. In practice, teachers should be prepared to define them. Two special tools are a timeline of new media development that provides historical context and a website related to this book. The website offers links to age-appropriate, child-safe websites on all sorts of interesting topics, plus a list of related book titles. Altogether, this book would be a fine, high-interest tool for teaching information literacy, especially alongside computers and cell phones. Reviewer: Margaret C. F. Pollock