📖 Overview
Square Eyes follows Danny, a young boy who spends hours each day watching television instead of engaging with the world around him. His parents worry about his TV obsession but struggle to break him away from the screen.
When Danny receives a mysterious pair of glasses in the mail, he discovers they have an unusual connection to his television viewing habits. This launches him into an adventure that forces him to confront his relationship with screens and reality.
The story moves between Danny's suburban home life and a parallel world linked to television, building tension as the consequences of his choices become clear.
This modern-day fable explores themes of technology addiction, family relationships, and the boundary between entertainment and real-life experiences in ways that resonate with contemporary concerns about screen time.
👀 Reviews
There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Craig Smith's overall work:
Readers connect with Smith's rhythmic writing and playful verses, with "The Wonky Donkey" accumulating over 89,000 ratings on Goodreads (4.16/5 average). Parents report their children request repeated readings and enjoy participating in the cumulative verses.
What readers liked:
- Simple yet memorable rhyming patterns
- Interactive elements that engage young children
- Musical components that enhance storytelling
- Illustrations that match the humorous tone
What readers disliked:
- Some find the stories too repetitive
- A few parents note the verses can be challenging to read aloud smoothly
- Limited plot depth compared to other picture books
Ratings across platforms:
Amazon: 4.8/5 (32,000+ reviews)
Goodreads: 4.16/5 (89,000+ ratings)
Book Depository: 4.5/5 (2,100+ reviews)
Several reviewers highlight the viral grandmother video as their introduction to Smith's work. One Amazon reviewer wrote: "My 3-year-old loves this book so much we've had to buy three copies because they keep wearing out."
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Feed by M. T. Anderson A dystopian story follows teenagers with internet implants in their brains who face the consequences of constant connectivity and corporate control.
Warcross by Marie Lu A hacker turned professional gamer uncovers dark secrets within a virtual reality game that has consumed global society.
For the Win by Cory Doctorow Young gamers across the world unite to fight exploitation in online gaming economies and virtual workplaces.
You by Austin Grossman A video game designer discovers mysteries within the code of games he helped create while examining the impact of gaming culture on real life.
🤔 Interesting facts
🎮 The book explores the impact of screen time and gaming on young minds through playful rhyming verse, making a complex topic accessible to children.
📚 Craig Smith is also known for his bestseller "The Wonky Donkey," which went viral after a Scottish grandmother's reading of it became an internet sensation in 2018.
🌏 The book resonates with a global audience as screen time concerns have become universal, especially following increased device usage during the COVID-19 pandemic.
🎨 The illustrations, created by Scott Tulloch, use humor and relatable scenarios to help children identify their own screen habits without feeling judged.
📱 While the book addresses concerns about excessive screen time, it takes a balanced approach rather than demonizing technology, acknowledging both benefits and drawbacks of digital devices.