A young boy’s grandmother lives far away, but they keep in touch using cell phones and other devices. She calls him every day, and they talk, play games and sometimes even sing songs. She sends him photos of her dogs, Ambar and Goliath, and he uses his dad’s phone to show her their house and send videos.
He always waits expectantly for her daily call, but one day he doesn’t hear from her. The next time they talk, she is wearing a mask that covers her nose and mouth. She said she wasn’t feeling well. A few days later on their video call, she wears a mask with a tube attached. His father explained the tube was connected to an oxygen tank to help her breathe. Then she stops calling altogether, and the boy is worried. Will he need to go rescue her?
This bilingual picture book for children ages 4-8 explores contemporary society’s reliance on cellular and digital devices in communicating with friends and family. Airy Sindik’s moving story, combined with Tony De Luz’s warm illustrations, also portrays the very serious issue of the Covid virus and its impact on loved ones, all seen through the eyes of an imaginative boy.