The Dewpoint Show

Gr 6—9—Leonard gazes through his bedroom window like he's watching television. He doesn't observe as much activity in his new home in a rural Canadian town as he did when he lived in the city, and he is content with little to observe beyond his elderly neighbor and her hot tub. Although his parents seem to be interested in their son, they lack their own observational skills as his mother buys two chairs, but doesn't remember to buy one for Leonard, and his father gets a car with only two seats. The story uses television and remote vocabulary such as "zoom in," "zoom out," "episodes," "pause" and "remote," etc., to focus on how connected Leonard is to his limited life. The book may serve as a cautionary tale to remind readers of the limitations of passive technologies. Leonard's behavior might seem peculiar to kids, but they're sure to compare his actions with real television watchers (and other technology users) who focus on viewing rather than participating in life. Schools hosting events that encourage families to boycott TV for a week or similar programs will welcome this thought-provoking book as a fine read aloud that is sure to stimulate some active thinking.—Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego