Unplugged

by Steve Antony

From the creator of the bestselling Mr. Panda series comes an amusing picture book about the fun you can have when you unplug. Meet Blip. Blip loves being plugged into her computer. When a blackout occurs, Blip trips over her wire and tumbles outside. Suddenly, Blip's gray world is filled with color and excitement. She plays with her new friends and has adventures all day long. When Blip finally returns home, she realizes that the world can be even brighter once you unplug.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Technology, Storytime, Robots, Adventure, Nature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 7, 2017

About the author

Since his 2014 debut, Steve Antony has so far written and illustrated over 20 picture books, including the Mr Panda series, The Queen Collection, Unplugged, Green Lizards Vs Red Rectangles, Amazing and You Can. Steve has been nominated seven times and long listed once for the Kate Greenaway Medal. The Queen's Hat was adapted into a musical concert by the London Symphony Orchestra and won the Evening Standard's Oscar's Book Prize. His award winning Mr Panda series has so far sold over one million copies worldwide and has been optioned for TV. Steve also illustrated Tim Minchin's When I Grow Up, a cover of the Famous Five and the all-new Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (adapted by Peter Bently). He has contributed work to the LGBTQ+ Pride YA anthology and Drawing Europe Together.

Reviews

[Mischenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blip loves her computer and enjoys using it all day long. One day, there's a blackout and shes left with no electricity. She ends up outdoors discovering all the beauty and how much she was missing being plugged into her computer all day. She makes new friends and enjoys nature until the end of the day when she returns home.

This is such a cute book and we loved Blip and all the illustrations. We had discussions afterwards about how it's good to have a set amount of screen time throughout the day. Spending time outdoors can be even more fun and a good balance is key. Great book for all ages.

5*****

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

My nephew is obsessed with Robots. This is a great little story for him. It's about a robot who spends all day doing fun things on the computer. There is a black out and he is forced to go outside. He realizes how much better outside it and he has many fun adventures.

I think it's a great message and a cute little story. I don't know if the nephew understood it, but he enjoyed the story.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good message delivered with the subtlety of a sledgehammer and with charming illustrations.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blip discovers something AMAZING when she unplugs from her computer.

A good reminder for both kids AND adults to LOOK UP every now and again.

(In case you need another reminder - here is my favorite video of all time - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU...)

[Yousra · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتاب 📘
#unplugged
تأليف ورسوم✍🏻🎨
#steveantony
من إصدار
#hodderchildrensbooks

هل تتذكرون نكتة "إذا أردت أن ترى أبنائك وتجلس معهم إنزع قابس الواي فاي؟" يخرجون حينها كالنمل من جحورهم ... هل تتخيلون أن أي حياة حقيقية بعد الجائحة سنعاني فيها كأهل ومعلمين من إدمان أطفالنا للإنترنت والأجهزة الإليكترونية؟!

حسنا، لقد عدنا للتو من إجازة العيد التي قضيناها في مكان ساحلي ... كنت طوال الوقت أفكر في هذه القصة التي يحبها ابني كثيرا بالمناسبة ... كان جميلا أن أخرج ثلاثتهم من المنزل وأن أفرق بينهم وبين أجهزتهم اللوحية وموبايلاتهم

بطلتنا "بليب بليب" هي طفلة آلية "روبوت" موصولة دائما بجهاز الكمبيوتر ... تفعل من خلاله وبواسطته أشياء كثيرة وكثير منها مفيد أو مثير ولكن كثير منها لو قامت
به في الطبيعة وشاركت فيما تقوم به غيرها سيكون أفضل

فجأة انقطعت الكهرباء وبشكل ما مثير ولطيف ومضحك وجدت "بليب" نفسها في الغابة تشارك أرنبا وغزالة وبطة صغيرة اللعب والأنشطة التي كانت تمارسها على الكمبيوتر ... تتفاعل مع كائنات حقيقية تتمتع بدفء التعامل والتواصل الحقيقي

يتأخر الوقت وتعود "بليب" لمنزلها ومعها تذكار من الأصدقاء ومعها تذكرة بأنها قد تكون سعيدة بكونها موصولة بحاسبها وهي تحب ذلك ولكنها أيضا أحبت إحساسها بكونها ---> غير موصولة <---

قصة جميلة ودافئة، مضحكة ومبهجة، محفزة على الاستمتاع بأشياء حقيقية ملموسة نتشاركها مع الغير ... القصة تعتمد أساسا على الرسوم وعلى المفارقة بين الحقيقي والخيالي والعالم الصناعي وألوان الطبيعة المدهشة ... اللهم أزح الغمة عنا وساعدنا مع ابنائنا

مناسبة لسن +٤

#اقرأ_مع_يسرا #اقرأ_لطفلك #اقرأ_مع_طفلك #قصص_أطفال #كتب_أطفال #أدب_الطفل #دور_نشر_أجنبية #قصص_بالإنجليزية

[Olivia Tosti · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book with the perfect message especially in today's society that being unplugged can lead to great adventures!

[zapkode · Rating 5 out of 5]

{My thoughts} – Blip deals with a power outage that causes them to be unplugged from their computer. They aren’t use to being unplugged but ends up spending time outside, doing new things, and making new friends. Eventually Blip ends up going back home and plugging back into his computer. Once he does that he begins to miss all the fun he’d had while he was unplugged.

I really like this book. It helps to show children that electronics aren’t everything and that they can potentially have more fun, without electronics. In today’s world it seems to be extremely difficult for children to walk away from electronics and do things outside of the electronic world. It’s not very often that children aren’t on a computer, game console or phone.

I think that many children could easily benefit from this book. I also think that parents can benefit from being able to show or teach their children that it is possible to have fun without the use of electronic devices.

I highly recommend this book for all home libraries.

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adorable book about Blip who is plugged into the internet all day long. One day, Blip becomes unplugged after a blackout and discovers the outside world. Blip makes friends with some animals and sees that there's more to the world than what's online. It's straightforward and obviously a lesson that you should take time to unplug from technology every once in a while. The illustrations were also pretty cute.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This not so subtle story shows that it is just as much fun to play outside as on video games. As an avid gamer, I'm not sure I buy it, but I almost did because this book is just so cute! The simple text makes it perfect for a preschool-2nd grade storytime.

[Tinnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really adorable.

A story to encourage kids who spend too much time indoors and glued to their computer screens to go outside and explore.

[Karyn Nadler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book is incredible. How children and adults need to notice things around them and get Unplugged. Already have two copies in my school library. Beautiful illustrations too.
Every school library should have a copy.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world outside is amazing (and in color) and all you have to do is unplug! Great book for small children who never want to go outside to play because the computer has cast a spell over them - maybe for some adults also!

[Jessica Furtado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, & a timely reminder for parents and kiddos about the importance of backing away from the iPad and other screens to enjoy some of life's simpler adventures.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little robot named Blip enjoys being connected to her computer in this newest picture-book from British author/artist Steve Antony, creator of the Mr. Panda stories. But when a blackout occurs and she finds herself inadvertently in the great outdoors, Blip discovers that she can learn new things and play games in the natural world as well. She can also make real friends...

I appreciated the premise of Unplugged - that it is a good thing to disconnect ourselves from our digital lives from time to time, and see the wider world around us - and found the story engaging. The artwork is cute - I liked Blip's wide-eyed animal friends - although there were times it felt a little flat to me. All in all, I can't say this one made an especially strong impression on me, or that I enjoyed it as much, visually speaking, as some of Atony's earlier books. That said, it was sweet, and I would definitely recommend it to those searching for children's stories about unplugging from machines, devices and gadgets, and living more in the natural environment outside our doors.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Blip the robot discovers the joy of unplugging once and awhile, even though being plugged into her computer is tons of fun. Adorable illustrations accompany the sparse text of this delightful and direct book. Readers may also enjoy "It's a Book" by Lane Smith or "Norton and Alpha" by Kristyna Litten - Alexis S.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The inside scenes are in black and white; the outside scenes are in full color. The book is designed to get readers to unplug from their electronic games and go outside to play.

[Shelle Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unplugged is the story of Blip. Blip spends her days plugged into her computer for all the right reasons. She plays games for sure, but she also learns new skills, takes advantage of educational help, learns about new places and makes friends. However, as parents have been asking since computers first became a part of our homes, “What happens when the power goes out?” Blip finds out. Tripping over her plug in the dark she tumbles out the door and down the hill and into a river that takes her into a new kind of adventure. She plays games and learns new things and makes new friends and guess what, the world doesn’t end.

The message is a bit on the obvious side. Outside-GOOD Electronics-Bad, as the extreme contrast in artwork, would imply. Monochrome pixels versus a bright open woodland setting, quite beautifully done, I might add and quite obviously where Mr. Antony excels. While I do think that any one-sided message is not really how we should be teaching our kids, the message to unplug and play in the 3D world once in while is a good one and I do believe that most kids will find Blip to be so adorable they won’t really be noticing that they are being taught, and that is how it should be.

[Educateempower · Rating 5 out of 5]

But one day there was a power cut...

Can you imagine? A life without your computer? phone or tablet?

What would you do if you had to go outside, talk to people around you or explore the unknown outside the safety of your device?



Steve Antony has answered these questions in his creative picture book - Unplugged.

Blip, a little robot loves her computer and all of the different things she can do on it. She can play games, learn new things, sing, draw and go on adventures - what more could she want?

She thinks she has it all until the power is cut and it is only then that she realises how much more is outside and how much more colour it brings to our lives.

Blip loves being outside and with real friends  and even though she loves her computer she realises just how great outdoor play is and the need to do it more often.

Simply told through words and pictures, children can see the similarities and differences between computer games and the outside world. But they can also see how much better playing outside is. Most children I have read this to have agreed that outside is so much better but they still like their computers - which is fine but as adults we really need to get motivated and take our children outside, explore with them, play with them and teach them just how much more is out there.

Computers are great but they can breed jealousy (when viewing those perfect pictures) time wasting, inappropriate content, narrow view of the world, time wasting and loss of imagination and creativity.

Perhaps it is time to see what you and your children are doing when you are plugged and unplugged. Perhaps it is time to become just like Blip and see how great it is to be unplugged!

[Mrs. Mounce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unplugged is a cute little story that sends a positive message about unplugging! We know electronics can be a great tool for learning and for having fun! But we all need to unplug sometimes and spend time with friends and enjoy our beautiful outdoors! I really like the illustrations in this book also! The pages that talk about being plugged-in are gray and dull. The pages that talk about being unplugged are bright and colorful! I’m really glad I purchased this for my library!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The message is obvious and didactic, but might not be perceived as preachy by young children. Illustrations are clear and detailed, with the color spreads underscoring the theme that unplugged is better than the black/white plugged in pages.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could see this being a parent favorite!

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about getting off the electronics and experiencing the world.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a needed message. Maybe needed a bit more at the end, but definite potential with this one.

And I lovvvvve Steve Antony!

[Clementine · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty clever while also being gentle about encouraging kids to play outside.

[Rana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple but effective story about unplugging and spending time outside.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute, I approve.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, beautiful picture book for children of the digital age. Five stars for beautiful art, an original story that will resonate with readers, and a perfect length.

[Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but without an ounce of irony this title, which is about the importance of unplugging from your device every now and again, is available in ebook format.

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable story about the adventures one can have if one unplugs.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little story is told in both words and with color. Blip is constantly connected to her computer until one day when she experiences a blackout. That's when she must encounter the outside world. The colors change from black and white and she experiences friendships, adventure, and obvious joy. That's when, heartbreakingly, she must return home. Some say it's a little heavy-handed on the message, which I can understand. Still, the message is obvious and sometimes necessary -- get off your device and explore the outside world (of course, the same thing has been said of bookworms). This could at least be a good discussion-starter on healthy balance.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!