WhaZoodle? WhaZ THAT?

Written by Kirk Johnson, Prince William Public Libraries Materials Services Division 

In the age of mobile devices and the “Internet of Things,” where internet connectivity and interactive capabilities are taken for granted, concerned parents and guardians of young children are often caught in a bind. On the one hand, there’s the desire for children to benefit from the connectivity and functionality that smart devices offer. Busy caregivers know that interactive digital devices can keep little minds busy when the adult in the room needs to focus on other things.

Yet, concerns about the appropriateness of online content and the danger of leaving children’s cognitive development in the hands of profit-oriented algorithms cannot be ignored. Fortunately, there are safe, non-commercial, child-appropriate alternatives available.

Prince William Public Libraries is excited to announce the addition of a new product to our collection. The WhaZoodle is a fun, interactive audio device that looks and works like any portable audio device but is preloaded with podcasts, music, and other audio content. The device has multiple age range settings and is intuitive and easy to use. It’s from the Playaway company that also makes our popular “Launchpad” devices, so the functionality and packaging will be familiar to many patrons.

The WhaZoodle is durable and made for young, inquisitive users to discover and learn on their own. It’s another new product Prince William Public Libraries is bringing to patrons as we are always looking for new ways to meet your needs. Come to your local branch and pick one up or search “WhaZoodle” in our Online Catalog at pwcva.gov/library to place a hold on more than 30 WhaZoodle devices.