Babbit & Joan, A Rabbit and a Phone

When the cell phones go on strike, Babbit the rabbit takes a break from technology. He finds that his own phone, named Joan, is exhausted from “taking pictures and sending texts for Babbit all day, every day.” Babbit decides that he and Joan need some time apart, so he goes out on a solo excursion. Now that he has no distractions, Babbit finds the most wondrous things in the forest. He even finds some new friends, who also have no access to technology. A blue bird ran down his phone battery, while a brown bear lost his phone in the river. Babbit and his friends have a lot of fun together, but they eventually find themselves lost in the forest. Without Joan, will Babbit be able to find his way back home?

Denise Turu’s Babbit & Joan, A Rabbit and a Phone is a tongue-in-cheek tale about discovering what the world has to offer when one looks up from one’s cell phone. Turu’s bright forest colors and creatures liven up the pages, and the humor will entertain adult readers, too. Given that children in today’s world are well-versed in technology at such a young age, Turu’s story is an excellent way to encourage young readers toward low-tech adventures of their own.