Me, Myselfie & I, A Cautionary Tale rings true for too many folks

We would all be better off without social media, wouldn’t we? A blogging friend of mine had to re-access his social media usage when his 4 YO daughter drew a picture of them-and they were on the phone. After that illustration they went on a social detox to evaluate what’s really important. Me, Myselfie & I, A Cautionary Tale is a book that some parents need to read and all parents won’t mind reading.  Thankfully, it’s presented in a manner that kids in pre-K through second grade will actually want to read it also.

Moreover, the book is one that parents can read without feeling guilty. It celebrates the smartphone, as well as social media and presents the life bonding moments that they can bring. The book also teaches the lesson of moderation, which is one that we all could use a reminder of from time to time.

Me, Myselfie & I is presented from the perspective of mom’s daughter. Mom is rather old fashioned, takes notes on paper and makes hand crafts, but she’s just been given a smartphone. Suddenly mom realizes what all the buzz is about. She’s taking photos of everything, the sleeping dog, flossing her teeth, party pictures and selfies doing things that really don’t merit documentation.

About one-third of the way through the book you know where she’s going and where her family is currently. They’re embarrassed by her behavior, but she’s too focused on herself being the center of attention that she doesn’t realize it.

There are scenes that any family who has an adult or child like this will relate to. It’s a birthday party….for someone else and all they can do is take a selfie of themselves. There are laughs and illustrations of the adults acting like a fool or being sill. All of her friends don’t look authentic and the youth who is narrating the book points that fact out to adults reading the book who might not realize it.

The selfie madness finally comes to an end when one of the children yells at mom to stop. They have a genuine reflective moment and, for now, the selfie disease has been cured.

Children will understand this book. They will also hope that parents heed the warning that’s in the cautionary tale. The art in Me, Myselfie & I is from Laura Cornell. It’s soft and dreamy, but real enough to not be abstract and allows the lesson that the book is trying to impart to come through clearly. The text in the book is from Jamie Lee Curtis. This book will entertain and inform ages three and up. It will also softly inform them in a way that kids won’t even realize they’re learning about a behavior or habit that they should avoid.