A commendable look at how tablet and smart phone use can be all-consuming. Polly normally enjoys her birthday week on her grandparents' farm, but it seems as soon as she gets gifted a tablet it's game over for real life, her cousins and so on. It's a bit cheesy how just one period of recharging it is enough for Polly to see the error of her ways, and this is definitely a book intending to educate rather than entertain, but it doesn't really go about its business at all wrongly. Even the religious grounding for the lesson is done well.

I love the lesson this story taught. I read this with my kids for all our first times reading it and it was a great quick read for story time. Like most kids, technology is high on their priority lists and they always jump for screen time when it’s available. This book does a good job of showing how much you miss out on and how it affects the people who love you when you’re always on a device.

This beautifully illustrated children’s book is the perfect story to introduce to young children wanting their own electronic devices. The story follows Polly who gets an iTab for her birthday while visiting her grandparents on their farm. Polly discovers what happens when her battery runs out and how much she’s been missing by playing on her screen.

The story is succinct, yet written so that young ones will understand. There is a great moral given, and the story encourages children to enjoy life rather than focus on the screen. It’s a necessary story given the prevalence of electronic devices.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Polly lives in the city and enjoys every opportunity to visit with her grandparents on their farm. There are animals and cousins her age next door and lots of fun things to do. When she arrived at the farm there was a great surprise for her - an iTab for her birthday! She very quickly got immersed in the games and videos on the device that she did not have time for her family. What will she do when the battery runs out?

This book is full of insights that will help young children think about what they might be missing when their devices fill all their time. The illustrations are especially charming. There are tips at the back of the book to help parents talk with their children and work with them to make the best decisions. What a lovely and wise book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Crossway for a free digital copy.


An adorable book about a little girl missing out on real life fun to participate in virtual fun. The illustrations are lovely and the message is powerful for kids and adults alike.