This book is adorable! What a sweet way to talk about tech Sabbaths! I love that during Babbit's time away from Joan, he has an adventure out in nature, makes friends, and figures out how to do things without Joan the phone. A great narrative that gives us permission to take a break from our phones.

I could not open this book. It just kept giving strings of gobbledegook. sorry, I am sure it is user error and nothing to do with you and I love the sound of the book. I will keep trying and hopefully will come back and review properly The stars are for the idea and cover.

I loved this book! As an adult, I always try to keep my distance with my phone, and I understand in these times, children need to learn this from the very early ages. I'm sure adults would also learn a lot from it.

This one was so cute, but it also gave a very necessary message. I love the format, and the fact that this is a children's book giving such a message. I think more advocacy on technology use is something that is highly needed. I love the art style and the colors, and the writing style is fun and fluid. Overall, I quite enjoyed this one.

I love the premise of this book. We live in a society where we are so tied to our phones and children at such a young age become addicted to devices. This book shows the importance of putting down your phone and getting outside in nature and using your senses. It also shows the importance of community and how we do need people. Overall I highly recommend this book because of the message behind it.

An adorable reminder about not letting our phones rule our world. With kids younger and younger getting phones nowadays, this is a great message for any families with young cell phone users.

Babbit's phone has had enough. It never gets a break from all the work Babbit makes it do. Babbit decided to tuck his phone in and go outside on an adventure. Originally, he feels very lonely because everyone is so distracted by their phones. After a bit, he runs into a bear. Together, the two go on an amazing adventure through the woods and river. At the end of the day, Babbit returns home and tells his phone all about the fun he had with his phone-less day.

Babbit & Joan, a Rabbit and a Phone by Denise Turu deals with a very important issue. We are missing out on life experiences by spending too much time on our phones.
The story begins when the phones go on strike. Babbit’s phone, named Joan, is tired from texting and taking photos. To give his phone a much needed break, Babbit decides to spend the day without it.
Babbit starts off feeling alone. His neighbors don’t notice him, they are too busy on their phones. As the rabbit starts walking through the forest, he begins to see things that he never noticed before. He gets lost and can’t find his way back home without his phone, but then he makes new friends. Eventually, Babbit and his friends get where they are going. They also learned a valuable lesson.
Denise Turu’s story reminds children that there is a world waiting for them away from their phones. Technology is great, but so is getting away from it.
The book teaches children that even phones need a break to recharge. To make a deal with their phones, like Babbit. “…And sometimes Babbit would go out on his own to explore the world.”

A cute picture book about a rabbit who has to go without his phone for awhile. A good read aloud and addition to a collection of picture books to discuss digital citizenship and tech use.

This is a very attractive picture book with a worthy message. I did struggle a little bit to understand what age group it was aimed at since obviously EYFS children wouldn’t have mobile phones. And there are a couple of problematic moments (like wandering off with no way of getting help and being too easily trusting of strangers). However, it’s essentially a good concept with cute illustrations.

Babbit the Rabbit must learn to fend for himself when the phones go on strike in this rather confusing picture book.

My issue:

Okay so phone are sentient beings who strike. I'll follow that.


But then Babbit puts his phone to bed for a nap and heads off to explore. During this every single house he walks by shows another on a phone.


So whose phones went on strike? Were these ones being forced to work? This is some pretty heavy implications...

The illustrations are bright and fun and the story is short and sweet. This book is perfect for Screen-Free Week in April. Without any negative judgement about phones and technology, this book shows children how important it is to have a balance. This book would be useful to begin class discussions about setting limits on technology and also, how to gain confidence in one's own abilities to gain independence. I plan to buy this for my library.

The phones decide to go on strike because they have been overworked and overused. Babbit decides to take good care of his phone Joan and put her to nap and recharge. While she is resting Babbit goes on a walk and is able to discover things that he normally does not notice when he has his phone. At first he feels lonely without Joan as company but makes new friends along the way that help each other to where they need to be. When Babbit find his way home he talks with Joan and they discuss how important it is for them to have breaks from each other so that Joan can rest and so that Babbit can explore the world around him.

I think this is a very creative and cute way to teach children that electronics are to be used in moderation. By giving the phone its own personality children can see how a phone/electronic might need a rest or some time off. They also can see all the things that can be experienced and seen without electronics.

I also really loved the illustrations in this book. very colorful and loved the richness of the texture.

I received an ARC through NetGalley. I'm often a sucker for a story about a rabbit. This one is a bit preachy in getting the point across about overuse of phones--- but, hey---I'm guilty! It's a bit hard to believe that Babbit would have never seen all the things he noticed when he left his phone behind, but that's the point. Of course, a cell phone doesn't really have to go on strike, it's battery can give out. The pictures are very vibrant, a definite plus. I was a bit concerned that the bear might eat Babbit, but we didn't have to worry about that!

Babbit & Joan is such a colourful, detailed children's book. My son was immediately captivated by every page. The story is about Babbit the Rabbit and his phone, Joan. The mobile phones are going on strike. They're tired and want to be switched off. Joan works hard for Babbit all day, so Babbit gives Joan the Phone a day of rest and goes outside without her. Without his phone he explores the world and sees loads of cool things he wouldn't have seen before, like animals and plants. He makes some new friends who also don't have a phone, but they get lost! Instead of looking up the information on their phone, they have to work together and figure out how to get home again. What an adventure! Babbit and Joan agree to take some time apart now and then, with their new found appreciation of being apart.

I love the message, although I do wonder whether parents and children who are so absorbed in their phone that they really need to hear it, will be the ones to pick up a book and read to their children. Nonetheless this is a very charming way of imparting an important message about getting away from technology and enjoying the world around us. The simple language and bright illustrations will appeal to young children, but the message will be for older children and their parents. Hopefully this reaches the people it needs to reach!

Five stars for the illustrations, four stars for the story.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Cute story about a phone, Joan, going on strike and her owner, Babbit (who is a rabbit!) giving Joan a rest, and going out for a walk. Good reminder to put our phones down, give them a rest, and ourselves too! Plus when we put our phone down, we can notice and enjoy so much more around us, like beautiful singing, new friends, and stories. #DeniseTuru #BabbitandJoanaRabbitandaPhone #NetGalley

As the story opens, Babbit the rabbit is looking out his window. He sees a disgruntled group of cell phones, tired of being overworked, on strike. Their unhappiness makes him think about his own phone, Joan. Seeing how exhausted she is from taking pictures and texting for him the whole day, every day, Babbit tucks her into bed and tells her to sleep well.

That afternoon, the rabbit goes aside alone for the first time. Deciding to go for a walk, he enters the forest. Babbit notices things he hasn’t seen before: a mother snail with her baby on her back, a beautiful plant, and ants carrying leaves ten times their size. As the rabbit continues on his way, he realizes that he is lost. How can Babbit find his way home without Joan to help him?

The theme of Denise Turu’s ingenious picture book is sure to resonate with young readers and listeners and the adults in their lives. The author’s vivid and colorful illustrations bring the story to life and beautifully capture its varying moods: from the striking cell phones, the deepening colors in the forest as night begins to fall, and the brightness of the moon and stars. Signs carried by the striking phones bearing messages like TURN US OFF! and WE WANT BREAKS! add a touch of humor even as they make a statement. The simple text makes the story one which beginning readers can read by themselves.

The adventures of Babbit and the new friends he meets on the way become the material for stories they can share with others when they return home—showing the value face-to-face encounters with the people in our lives. (There is only caveat: the attachment Babbit feels for Joan might reinforce a child’s attachment to electronic devices. Parents and teachers may wish to focus on the protagonist’s friendships with real life characters.)

A delightful way to encourage readers and listeners of all ages (even the grownups) to give the phones a break and discover the world. Babbit and Joan is ideal for story time and discussions on the use (and overuse) of electronic devices and the value of enjoying the wonders of real world and the people in our lives.

Title: Babbit and Joan, a Rabbit and a Phone

Author and Illustrator: Denise Turu

Publisher: Flyaway Books

Date: April 2020

Pages: 40+

One of my favorite things to do is to go on hikes. I love hiking by the side of a stream or creek or river, through the woods, on a path, or making my own. In fact, I went on a short hike last night and ended up beside the river turning over rocks. It was great. Found a crayfish and some other worm like slimy creature wriggling around in the moist riverside soil--it is called a hellgrammite and there's a video below if you'd like to see it. I found a couple of rocks that had really pretty fossils on them. While on the path we saw a hummingbird nest. We heard sounds of birds and bugs and other people walking on the trail. It was a great evening, a great walk, and a great explore. 

It's amazing how much stuff one can find simply by turning over a few slimy rocks and hoping against hope there's not a poisonous snake or something hidden under it. (Although, that might be fun too.) And of course, after my walk, I shared all my pictures with my family hoping to catch them up in my enthusiasm for creatures. 

That's where my review comes in for Babbit and Joan. I think it is especially important, right now during all this COVID-19 lockdown and stay at home order stuff, when it is so easy to get stuck on a phone or a tablet, to share a book like this. And then after reading the book, to put the device down and go on a walk. To go on a walk and see what you can find by opening your eyes and opening your ears. There is nothing about this book that I dislike. It's the perfect book for our current season--perfect for kids and perhaps even more perfect for teens who cannot live without their technology. 

A favorite musician of mine named Rich Mullins once wrote a very simple song ("Here in America") where one of the lyrics goes, "There's so much beauty around us, but just two eyes to see." But how much those eyes are able to take in! How much our ears are able to hear! And I would tell people: go out, go for a walk, see what's there to see; hear what's there to hear. (I teach visually impaired students, so even for them I encourage their parents to give them as much experience as they can out in the world, around the stuff of nature, and away from technology.)

This is a wonderful book. It is beautifully illustrated. The story is simple and profound. The colors in the book enhance what the author wants us to know: that there is no technology that can replace the vibrancy and beauty of that which occurs naturally. It's almost as if every page in the book has a different color palette.

The author doesn't tell us technology is bad. She doesn't tell us to avoid it at all costs. (I was glad I had my phone with me last night so I could take a short video of that beautiful bug!) But she does remind us that there's far more to life and far more intimate relationships with other people, when we put down our technology for a minute and talk to real people, see real colors, and go on wonderful adventures. 

So go out today, walk along a stream or a river, and turn over a few rocks. 

And leave your phone at home. 

5/5 stars

I was provided a digital copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I was provided no other considerations--in fact, I've already deleted the book from ADE. I will, however, be purchasing my own copy of this wonderful, wonderful book.

Everything changes the day the phones go on strike. Babbit, a rabbit, tucks his beloved phone, Joan, into bed for a much-needed rest. He then strikes out through the neighborhood, never expecting to encounter adventure.

Along the way he makes new friends, learns new things, and experiences things he never thought possible.

A charming tale for all ages with a lifelong lesson—sometimes friends (or people and their phones) need breaks from each other. The whimsical illustrations have plenty of fodder for starting discussions with little ones (or older ones) about friendship, adventure, and technology.

Babbit the Rabbit has never left Joan at home before. Does he dare go out without her? How will he know what to do? What if he gets lost?
Well first off, you need to know this... Joan is Babbit’s cell phone.

This book has a good message overall. It’s a picture book intended I assume for children, but my hope is that young children who enjoy picture books aren’t plugged into a cell phone.

Here’s the story...

One day, the phones are feeling overworked so they go on strike. Babbit decides to let his friend, Joan have a break, so he puts her to bed for a nap and heads out into the world. Without Joan’s help, he quickly becomes lost. As he is wandering around, he meets other creatures who are also lost because their phones have been misplaced or broken. As they make their way back to civilization, they see all sorts of things they hadn’t noticed when they had their noses buried in their devices. After a pleasant and meaningful time together, the new friends part ways and make plans to meet again.

When Babbitt gets home he notices his neighbors haven’t moved since he left hours ago. They are in the same position holding their cell phones to their ears. He realizes that no one has even missed him. The pictures of the neighbors as an elephant, a giraffe, pigs and ground hogs are quite cute.

The moral of he “fable” is... put down your phone and go outside to explore and see wha you are missing in life.

But, would a picture book make one abandon the cell phone? I don’t know, but it makes you think.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flyaway Books for providing me this cute and relevant book.