The ubiquity of technology is the theme of this Portuguese wordless picturebook. A boy plays on a computer tablet in a world filled with robotics and gadgets — the world is no different to our own, but the illustrations emphasise the abundance, or dirge, of gadgets that constitute modern living. The illustrations, strikingly stylised in blue and marmalade orange, skilfully prompt the reader to question this abundance. Is it an overreliance? The boy takes a trip to the park with his grandfather, but even here, the passers-by are on their mobile phones. Sat on a bench beneath some trees, the grandfather passes the boy a present. What could it be? It’s a book. As he opens the pages, the boy enters a world of adventure unrelated to the abundance of technology. The endpapers of the picturebook make the ideological stance of the author even clearer: the book sits prominently on a table top, while on the floor all electrical devices have been unplugged. This picturebooks provides a catalyst for the discussion of the role of technology in the lives of young people.
