You’re Missing It!

PreS-Gr 1–A small child pulls his father through a city park: “Come on! Let’s go, Daddy!” Dad follows but looks down at his phone the whole time. The child greets various wonders, like birds and squirrels. Dad continues to “Beep bop beep” on his phone. Then things get sillier. A roller-skater is pulled off balance by dogs chasing a jogger. A little girl watches from the bushes while her mom engages with her own phone. Together the kids watch a bird hatch and get sneezed on by a rhinoceros, all the while repeating to their parents, “You’re missing it!” At last the first child’s dad looks up from his phone to enjoy a beautiful butterfly. He hugs the boy and carries him out of the park on his shoulders. The girl says hello to the butterfly and goodbye to the boy as she trots behind her phone-obsessed mom. The squirrels stare curiously at the phone that the dad presumably left behind. While not subtle in its messaging, this is a refreshing reminder that kids aren’t the only ones who benefit from a break from their electronics. The bright watercolor illustrations and playful details keep the story light and fun. The hand-lettered text adds an especially lively touch.