Between Reading and Screens (Paperback)

Sybil Nolan

ISBN 10: 0522882315 / ISBN 13: 9780522882315

Published by Melbourne University Press, Carlton, 2026

About this Item

Paperback. When the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, Australian children's screen use surged - and with it came urgent questions about what this meant for reading, learning and family life. Drawing on national surveys and interviews with families and librarians, Between Reading and Screens uncovers how deeply digital devices have reshaped contemporary childhood.Children are now more likely to own a tablet than a shelf of print books. Yet the story is far more complex than the familiar 'screens versus books' debate. Lockdowns, remote learning and other pandemic restrictions not only intensified children's media use - they also transformed many parents' attitudes. For some, closer involvement in children's digital lives fostered understanding rather than fear. For others, particularly those with limited support or resources, the challenges were profound.This richly researched study situates children's engagement with books and screens where it matters most: within the everyday rhythms of family life. Through survey data and diverse family portraits, it reveals how reading and digital media now intertwine, how parental habits shape household media cultures, and what all this means for the future of children's literacy and imagination.Between Reading and Screens offers a fresh and essential perspective on how families are navigating a rapidly evolving mediascape - and what's at stake for the next generation of readers. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780522882315

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Between Reading and Screens (Paperback)
• Publisher: Melbourne University Press, Carlton
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0522882315
• ISBN 13: 9780522882315
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

When the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, Australian children's screen use surged - and with it came urgent questions about what this meant for reading, learning and family life. Drawing on national surveys and interviews with families and librarians, Between Reading and Screens uncovers how deeply digital devices have reshaped contemporary childhood.

Children are now more likely to own a tablet than a shelf of print books. Yet the story is far more complex than the familiar 'screens versus books' debate. Lockdowns, remote learning and other pandemic restrictions not only intensified children's media use - they also transformed many parents' attitudes. For some, closer involvement in children's digital lives fostered understanding rather than fear. For others, particularly those with limited support or resources, the challenges were profound.

This richly researched study situates children's engagement with books and screens where it matters most: within the everyday rhythms of family life. Through survey data and diverse family portraits, it reveals how reading and digital media now intertwine, how parental habits shape household media cultures, and what all this means for the future of children's literacy and imagination.

Between Reading and Screens offers a fresh and essential perspective on how families are navigating a rapidly evolving mediascape - and what's at stake for the next generation of readers.

About the Authors

Sybil Nolan is an associate professor in Publishing and Communications at the University of Melbourne, where she co-leads the Child and Family Mediascape Research Group. Before her current role, she worked in book publishing and journalism. Sybil is currently a publisher at Grattan Street Press, the teaching press at the University of Melbourne.

Wonsun Shin is an associate professor in Media and Communications at the University of Melbourne, where she co-leads the Child and Family Mediascape Research Group. Her awarding-winning work has been published extensively in leading communication journals such as New Media & Society, Communication Research, Computers in Human Behavior, the International Journal of Advertising, the Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, and the Journal of Health Communication.

Katherine Day is a senior lecturer in Publishing and Communications at the University of Melbourne. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a fiction and non-fiction trade book editor. She has been published in leading journals New Writing, TEXT Australia, and AI & Ethics. Her most recent monograph, Digital Children's Picture Books: Readers and Publishers, investigates publishers' development of digital reading for young children.

Xin Pei is a lecturer in Media and Communications at the University of Melbourne. Her current projects include comprehending the perceptions and acceptance of medical AI by older adults, developing a co-design approach to involve epilepsy patients in the design of AI-assisted seizure detection and diagnosis tools, and identifying the concerns and risks associated with children's use of AI for reading and storytelling. Her research has appeared in leading journals such as New Media & Society, Information, Communication & Society, and AI & Society.