Tek the Modern Cave Boy: A Review

A new children’s book being added to our library’s collection caught my attention today.

At first, I thought Tek The Modern Cave Boy was a baby board book because the front and back covers are so thick and board like. They were smooth and black, resembling, an i-phone. However, when I opened the book, I was surprised to see regular paper pages. And, you know, that first page had me hooked. This is just what an author works for: a cover that gets noticed and a first page that hooks the reader!

Picture courtesy of Google Images

That very first page looked like a three-by- three  i-pad security keyboard screen, but instead of numbers zero thorough nine, it had a mixed up variety of letters of the alphabet. The next page highlighted the security password: T E K. ---- And we were in! Time to read!

Tek, a little caveman boy who won’t do anything except game is missing out on all the adventures his world has to offer--- he could be seeing real live dinosaurs but he doesn’t even care! Evolution happens. He doesn’t care. His parents intervene- to no avail. All Tek ever does is game. (I love how the art work tells the story too.)

That is, until a volcano has a huge explosion and Tek’s tiny, narrow world changes.

This cute story, written by Mutt’s creative genius, Patrick McDonnell, tells a cautionary tale of how a person can get pulled into technology causing erosion of all other interests and activities.

I’ve written about the infiltration of technology into our daily life in previous posts. It’s a real problem. Patrick McDonnell’s approach to this topic is fun and hopefully, will be inspiring to young readers and their parents.

Look for this book at your local friendly library or bookstore. You won’t be disappointed.

Until next time,

Be Good to Yourself,

~Nadine

The Gift of Nothing

There’s a children’s book called The Gift of Nothing, by the creator of the Mutts comic strip, Patrick McDonnell.  If you’re familiar with Mutts, you know the main characters are a dog named Earl and a cat named Mooch. 

In this story, it’s Christmas time and Mooch the cat, can’t think of anything to get for his friend, Earl- who seems to have everything a dog could want or need.  As Mooch tries to solve his problem, he notices that everything seems to be loud, commercialized, and excessive. Finally, after much careful thought, he decides to get Earl a big box of nothing.  At first, Earl is confused, and then he understands: Peace and friendship were the gifts he received from Mooch.

The Gift of Nothing sits next to a Wild Thing
created by my daughter, Erin

This book holds a prominent place on my book shelf because I understand Mooch. Sometimes I get so stressed out about gift giving.  I enjoy shopping for and  giving gifts, but I always seem to worry about spending too much, spending too little, giving enough, or not enough.  I feel conflicted about the amount of time I spend or do not spend with different groups of friends and family. Truthfully, I always breathe a sigh of relief after the holidays are over.  I know I'm not alone in this.

If I were to give the gift of nothing to my loved ones, maybe it would be this:

My Gift of Nothing Christmas List

1.    Walking in the woods with Tim

2.    Sitting on a fishing dock, talking with Nate

3.    Talking about books and writing with Kiley

4.    Crafting and talking about motherhood with Erin

5.    Planting and harvesting a garden with Phil

6.    Reading with my granddaughters

7.    Listening to my parents stories of growing up back in the day

8.    Playing cards with my in-laws

The greatest thing about each of these gifts, it that they would also be a gift for me!

What would your gift of nothing be?  Who would you give it to?

Merry Christmas everyone-

As always,

Be good to yourself.

~Nadine

Clip art from Mutts by Patrick McDonnell