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DOT. by Randi Zuckerberg

DOT.

by Randi Zuckerberg ; illustrated by Joel Berger

Pub Date: Nov. 5th, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-06-228751-9
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Dot is tech-savvy. Dot really likes using her many devices—all the time. But one day, after Dot appears to have overdone it, her mother tells her to go outside and reboot—which leads to a surprising discovery.

Zuckerberg—CEO of her own media company and sister of Facebook’s CEO Mark—is all too aware of the impact of technology on children’s lives. With this title, she shows a respect for kids’ interest and skill with technology but also illustrates the value in going out to interact with others. In the first half of the book, readers see Dot “tap” on a keyboard, “touch” a screen, “tweet” at a desktop computer and “tag” by using a mouse. She also “knows how to surf… / to swipe… / to share… / and to search.” The second half of the book utilizes the same terms, but this time, Dot is happily tap dancing, touching a sunflower, whistling or tweeting like a bird, playing a game of tag with diverse friends and swiping paint to create a picture. Berger uses both traditional and digital media to portray a confident, squiggly-haired girl dressed in a pink, polka-dot dress enthusiastically immersed in whatever activity she chooses. On the pages where Dot is glued to a device, he limits the palette to bright pinks and oranges that contrast sharply with the remaining white space. Once she exits the house, walking like a sleepwalker, the spreads take on more color, with pale greens, blues and yellows.

The story is a bit slight, but many parents who struggle with tech-obsessed kids will appreciate the message. Like it or not, Dot is truly a modern child navigating online and in person with equal success.

(Picture book. 4-7)