l to r: Joyce Grant and Jan Dolby.

Burst Your Bubble!: Outsmart the Algorithms and See What You’re Missing unscrambles a technical topic – online algorithms – and makes it easy for young readers to grasp. 

Our internet habits can put us in an information “bubble,” missing out on many topics and perspectives without realizing it. The book begins with an example of preferences: cats or dogs? Weeks of watching cat videos fills your news feed with cats. You’re in a cat bubble! The simple set-up leaps swiftly to more chilling examples: What if your online information bubble only shows you “people who have the same skin colour” or “only people who think exactly like you do?” By limiting exposure to information, web-based filtering can be dangerous. Readers learn how to burst their bubbles, step out of their comfort zones, and access “a whole new world of information!” 

This 48-page illustrated book is smartly organized into seven cohesive chapters, with an introduction and conclusion. Additional layers of information appear in sidebars, charts, coding diagrams, and a glossary; the book also includes a short resource list and an index. Joyce Grant – an award-winning author from Hamilton, Ontario – presents understandable chunks of information with compelling examples, engaging questions, and a friendly tone. When defining “algorithm,” the narrator quips, “It’s hard to describe in words – and much more fun to try for yourself.” Embedded in the main text, three “Try This!” activities offer hands-on investigations that have kids flipping to various pages, reading upside down, and answering guided questions. A few activities are also tucked into sidebars without a “Try This!” designation. 

Illustration: Jan Dolby.

Aurora, Ontario, artist Jan Dolby adds whimsical drawings with lots of kids outdoors, skateboarding, cycling, and wheeling. Not all strike the dreaded bent-neck, staring-at-phone pose. Instead, friends wave, snap selfies, and high-five; another kid reads a book. Teeming with motion and creativity, the artwork ramps up reader engagement.

Once they recognize how limited information can narrow world views and promote ignorance, readers will appreciate, hopefully, the value in expanding their sources of information – even if it means embracing discomfort and retraining their brains. Practical suggestions include checking sources, conversing with real people, and limiting screen time. Freed from confirmation bias and echo chambers, kids can gain exposure to new or less-popular topics, witness a more balanced representation of people, and respect dissimilar points of view. 

Burst Your Bubble! stitches together salient points in an upbeat, easily understood manner. Reliable and comprehensive, this essential resource will help readers understand and control the influence of algorithms, tweak online behaviours, and grow into better people – keenly important in this age of misinformation and divisive messaging.