BYE-BYE WI-FI

In Meyers’ debut picture book, a device-obsessed child is presented with an array of healthier options for spending his time.

“For Jay, each day was quite precise, / It started off with his device.” So begins the story of fair-skinned, brown-haired Jay, who spends hours and hours glued to his tablet. Too much screen time makes Jay tired and mean. His mother tries to interest him in more constructive activities, periodically involving readers in this discussion: “Please tell him what / you think… and quick! / What option for Jay / would YOU pick?” Eventually, Jay goes outside and plays with his neighbors (one Black, one white)…and has a great time. Meyers tackles an issue of relevance to many children and parents. The rhyming text fits a consistent-enough meter and should serve to make a game out of an otherwise serious piece of parental negotiation. Tivey’s illustrations are straightforward and have an element of sameness about them (Jay, for example, hardly changes from picture to picture). Compensating for this lack of dynamism, the images feature bright, vivid colors with ample variation in the background details—Jay’s baby sister is always trying some new activity, and all the suggestions Jay’s mom puts forward are portrayed in miniature, framed-picture illustrations. It’s a cheery book that children should engage with when read to.

A bright and playful read-together story.