Elle gets a mobile phone: Cyber safety can be fun [Internet safety for kids] - Paperback

by Fanny Diem (Illustrator), Helena Newton (Editor), Nina Du Thaler (Author)

Is your child about to get their first mobile phone - or already glued to one?
Most kids receive their first device with zero preparation for what comes next: unexpected messages from strangers, bill shock, lost devices, and the pressure of always being reachable. This book gives children the safety knowledge they need before problems arise - wrapped in a story they'll actually want to read.

The Story

She's been waiting her whole life for a mobile phone. But is it everything she dreamed of?

Ten-year-old Elle is bursting with excitement - she's finally getting a mobile phone for her birthday! But before her big day arrives, her friends start sharing stories she wasn't expecting to hear. Maya received horrible anonymous messages and didn't know who to turn to. Lucy racked up a phone bill so enormous her parents nearly fell off their chairs. And when a mobile phone goes missing on the bus, Elle learns that even losing a device can lead to a whole new set of worries.

Told through Elle's hilarious and relatable diary entries, this charming story follows an ordinary girl navigating the very real challenges of entering the digital world for the first time. With warmth, humour, and just the right amount of kid-logic, Elle and her friends discover that knowing the rules of mobile phone use can make all the difference between a fun gadget and a total disaster.

Perfect for children aged 7-12, this first book in the Diary of Elle cyber-safety series is a funny, fast-paced read that turns essential digital literacy lessons into an adventure kids will actually enjoy.

What Children Will Learn

- Why it's important to only share their mobile phone number with trusted people
- How to handle unwanted or hurtful messages - and who to tell
- What call and data limits mean, and how to avoid a surprise phone bill
- What to do if a mobile phone is lost or stolen
- The basics of responsible mobile phone ownership

Why Teachers and School Librarians Choose This Book

Teachers and school librarians choose this book because it seamlessly embeds digital literacy and cyber-safety education into an engaging, age-appropriate story. The diary format encourages reluctant readers while the relatable characters spark classroom discussion about responsible mobile phone use - a topic central to many school digital citizenship programs.

Aligned to curriculum areas covering technology, personal safety, and social-emotional learning, this book works equally well as a guided reading text, a library recommendation, or a springboard for PSHE and wellbeing lessons.

Perfect For

- Children aged 7-12 who have just received or are about to receive their first mobile phone
- Parents wanting to start conversations about responsible screen time and digital safety
- Primary school classrooms exploring digital citizenship and online safety
- School libraries building cyber-safety and wellbeing collections
- Children who love diary-style, relatable fiction with a touch of humour

Cyber safety can be fun - and it starts with one brave story.
Explore all 5 books in the Diary of Elle series.