Kids, You Can be a Media Literacy Detective

If you haven’t, that’s probably because neither of those things are true at all! According to World Book Student (which you can access through our page of children's databases) Northern Cardinals can fly at a maximum speed of about 25 miles per hour, and Lake Michigan is regular old fresh water, for the record.  

This is an example of a kind of misinformation, which is when information gets shared that isn't true. This can happen by accident or on purpose, and everyone comes across it in their daily lives. Sometimes we realize that something we've read or heard isn't true right away, but sometimes it can take a long time.

Figuring out if something is true or not can be a bit like a puzzle or a mystery. Being able to figure it out is a skill called media literacy. How can you strengthen your media literacy powers and avoid falling for misinformation? By learning how to ask good questions about what you read and see! Here are some quick questions to ask yourself when you think you may have come across misinformation:

• Can I find another trustworthy source that says the same thing?
• Does it come from a source I've heard of before?
• Is it missing important information?
• Does it tell you who and where the information comes from?

So if you're reading to put on your detective hat, here are some great books to check out next!

Killer Underwear Invasion! Being a media literacy detective isn't all serious business -- in fact it can be downright hilarious sometimes! This laugh out loud comic-style book keeps you reading with silly scenarios (using shampoo as medicine, for instance) while taking a serious look at the impacts that misinformation can have.

Two Truths and A Lie: Put your detective skills to the test with this collection of fascinating facts about the natural world -- but stay alert, because one out of every three facts is a lie! Can you figure out what is fact and what is fiction here?

Spooked! In 1938, a young Orson Welles broadcasted a radio dramatization of the science fiction book The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, where aliens arrive on Earth and invade. But because of the way it was adapted, many people didn't know the radio show wasn't real, and in an early example of fake news, rumors began to spread quickly that Martians really were invading planet Earth! This is a fascinating look at how and why this happened.

Plagues and Pandemics: Kate Messner's History Smashers series looks at all sorts of well-known moments in history, from Ancient Egypt to the Space Race, and uses comics, dialogue and humor to figure out what was real and what wasn't. This installment takes a look at sicknesses, germs and pandemics from the Black Death to Covid-19, and how misinformation spreads during health crises.