Trending: How and Why Stuff Gets Popular
Trending: How and Why Stuff Gets Popular
Slime has been popular before, probably because a lot of kids make it for the first time at school in science class. But social media quickly helped turn slime into a “thing”.
For months, kids were making videos of themselves poking, squishing, and stretching colorful, glittery slime. Others were selling it online for five, ten, or twenty-five dollars per tub. The Instagram hashtag #slime appeared seven million times that year. Stores even ran out of Elmer’s Glue, a slime ingredient, and the company had to ramp up production. But by the end of 2017, slime slumped, and kids went online looking for new crafts to try.
What do Beanie Babies, Pokemon Go, Crocs, Slime and Quinoa have in common? They all fall into the category of fads. In this nonfiction book, Trending: How and Why Stuff Gets Popular, readers explore how fads like these just cited and others are able to capture and captivate the attention of so many people. In this fun and appealing book, award-winning author Kira Vermond examines the reasons for trends and fads, how they work and their impact which can include dangerous effects.
The format of Trending: How and Why Stuff Gets Popular includes clearly written text and funny, eye-catching illustrations. Each double page spread includes two sections: “Here’s the Story” followed by “What Does It All Mean?”. The first section discusses a fad or trend, such as the Unicorn ‘Frap’, Hula-Hoops or the Vaccine Scandal. The second section provides explanations and further information. The book’s two page “Introduction” grabs the reader’s attention with questions such as: “Would you swallow a live goldfish? Would you dance for nine hundred hours straight? Would you spend a whopping $10 000 on a stuffed animal?” Vermond then gives a classic historic example of a fad from the 17th century: beaver felt hats. Tracking this fashion fad illustrates the impact one fad had on the world. There are four 10-page chapters. “What Makes a Fad?” analyses the characteristics of a fad. “Spread the Word” explains how fads spread. “Made, Not Born” shows how fads can be cleverly crafted to get people on board, and, finally, “Bad Fads” highlights fads and trends that have long lasting and dangerous effects on people. The “Conclusion” provides a challenge to readers to use their knowledge of fads to make positive change and to help others. An index and a list of other selected sources are included.
The attractive layout of the book with the humourous cartoon illustrations by award-winning illustrator Clayton Hanmer provides readers with a comfortable background to explore the critical thinking behind trending and fads. Why people choose to adopt a fad, how people are manipulated by trend setters, what is meant by propaganda and obsession and what are example of dangerous trends will likely lead to more questions and the need for discussion. Trending: How and Why Stuff Gets Popular invites the younger audience to engage with adults to share their questions as well as their opinions on this relevant topic. Teachers, parents and grandparents will relate to some of the past fads and trends and can likely share their own experiences. Trending: How and Why Stuff Gets Popular will be an opportunity for everyone to share and learn more about this interesting and stimulating subject.
Janice Foster is a retired teacher and teacher librarian in Winnipeg, Manitoba.