Less Hansel-Gretel, More Diffie-Hellman: Our Favorite Cybersecurity Books for Children

If your kids are on the internet – and let’s face it, they are – you need to talk to them about staying safe online. These cybersecurity books for children present a great way to introduce complex topics to younger audiences.

• Ben the Cyber Defender

  Madhu Debnath, Michael Rau

  • When his cousin Ethan accidentally triggers a device-ruining virus in their town, Ben, a typical kid with an extraordinary passion for cybersecurity, must use his skills to thwart the cyberattack and demonstrate his readiness to be a genuine cyber defender.

• Castle Defenders: What Do Cyber Parents Do?

  Dana Meschiany

  • Mommy is late for dinner again, and Emma and Oliver are frustrated. Daddy comes to the rescue with spaghetti and an enchanting tale of brave knights and mysterious castles, revealing how he and Mommy work tirelessly to protect the people on the internet from bad hackers and other online threats.

• Skadi

  Chris Cochrane, Maril Vernon

  • In a digital world where data is currency and cyber threats lurk in every corner, Skadi, a fierce teenage threat hunter, navigates the vibrant and perilous streets of Cyber City alongside her best friends: intelligence expert Max, and trusty bot Homer. Armed with her trusty keyboard and mouse, she battles malware, hackers, and social awkwardness.

• M is for Malware

  Curtis Brazzell

  • The world's first security-focused children's book introduces monsters as educational tools to teach kids essential security concepts.

• Nettie in Cyberland

  Wendy Goutcher

  • This book takes Nettie, and her friend Webby on her first adventure in Cyberland where she finds not everything is cute and fluffy. Using the story of Nettie and Webby we introduce cybersecurity to young children and start the conversation about going online safely between the child and their adult reader.

• Oh No… Hacked Again!

  Zinet Kemal

  • Meet Elham, a fun eight-year-old girl who loves online games. What happens when she suddenly cannot log in to her favorite game? She’s been hacked before; how will she recover if it happens again?

• Ready, Get Set, Connect!

  Nina Bual, Michelle Yao

  • Get ready to embark on a wild adventure! Travel through Cyberspace to explore the wonders and perils of the online world and learn to face off with dangerous villains and unmask their true intentions, while understanding how to protect personal data with security weapons.

• Sarah the Cyber Hero

  Emily Rauer, Michael D. Rau

  • In a town of superheroes, Sarah strives to earn her own cape, and when her older brother, Andy, inadvertently unleashes a malware virus, she must rely on her newfound cyber skills to save the day.

• The Little Cyber Engineer

  Amber Devilbiss

  • Sure to be a bedtime favorite, this fun-to-follow book is full of rhymes and whimsical illustrations, making it the perfect introduction to IT Security for children…and even some adults!

• The Savvy Cyber Kids at Home: The Family Gets a Computer

  Ben Halpert, Taylor Southerland

  • The Savvy Cyber Kids are just the right playmates for pre-school children and Emma and Tony speak their language. This book will teach your children to keep their information private before they start playing in the virtual world.

• Threat Intelligence and Me (Robert M. Lee, Jeff Hass)

  • This book takes a lighthearted look at the threat intelligence community and explains the concepts to analysts in a children's book format that is age-appropriate for all.

• Three Little Hackers

  Marcus J. Carey

  • This book revamps the classic Three Little Pigs story to help kids stay safe online. By combining a classic story that they know with real life situations they may see online, the lesson is sure to stick.

• When Surfing the Internet…: A Kid’s Guide to Internet Safety

  Kimberly Heath

  • This book is a guide to safely using the internet with the lessons being taught by funny surfer birds.

• Bonus: KnowBe4 Children’s Interactive Cybersecurity Activity Kit