WHAT JOHN MARCO SAW

While all the older people around him are lost in their own worlds, little John Marco notices all the small—and big—things around him.

John Marco’s siblings are older and louder than he is. They are interested in money, music, sports, and their smartphones but not in the things John Marco is interested in. Mr. Jordy, his neighbor, likes to sit on his porch and read the newspaper and whistle. But he too does not pay attention to John Marco. Even John Marco’s mother is engrossed in the world of self-help books and finances and “doing four things at once.” So when John Marco sees a grasshopper in the yard, or digs a hole and finds a bunch of worms and a rock with a white line on it, or spots a fat orange cat in the yard, nobody listens when he tries to tell them about it. It is only when he notices something really big that he finally gets their attention—though he does have to yell, “The tree in the front yard is falling down!” before this happens. The cartoon illustrations playfully convey information that goes beyond the text and cleverly zoom in when John Marco is contemplating the small things, thus amplifying his world. The family is depicted with black hair and olive skin; Mr. Jordy is black.

A sweet reminder to slow down and notice the world around us.