Kids are fascinating, but what is more fascinating is their attention span and what interests them. Can We Watch? by S.A. Dymond and Shiloh Dymond is a beautifully illustrated children’s book about children and television. Can We Watch? is a great way to not only teach your children to read, but it displays the essence of how beautiful the mind can be when it gets creative. Every morning, Isabella and her little brother Joe's first order of the day was to ask permission to watch TV. Their quest was to watch television before they ate, washed up or began their day. One day the power went out and the children were unable to watch television. Now faced with a challenge, what will they do?

S.A. Dymond and Shiloh Dymond, a father and daughter duo, created the beautiful content and illustrations in Can We Watch? In today's culture, children and parents are so isolated in their own worlds that creativity and communication have gone out of the window. Reading Can We Watch? brings back life to interpersonal relationships. Can We Watch? is an ideal book for children and parents to read and enjoy together. Both children and parents alike will laugh and be able to relate to Isabella, Joe and their parents as they read.

Can We Watch? by S.A. Dymond and Shiloh Dymond, and illustrated by S.A. Dymond, tells the story of Isabelle and her brother, Joe, and their usual family routine. Every morning the children get up and ask the same question: when can they watch TV? It is the number one priority for them, above eating breakfast, doing their teeth, tidying their bedrooms. Their total focus is on when they can turn on the television. When the power suddenly goes out, the family have to find alternative ways to amuse themselves. The children discover the fun of riding their bikes, playing board games, and other fun activities where all the family can participate.

This is a lovely book that not only tells a simple story, but emphasises the importance of spending time together as a family, having conversations, getting fresh air whilst playing outside, and discovering a whole new way to enjoy themselves. The children enjoy themselves so much that they seem quite disappointed when the power comes back on. The ending is perfect, rounding up a nice little story with a clear message. The illustrations are simple yet appropriate, and the characterisations of the family members work really well. This would be a great story to read with a child at bedtime, where discussions could follow on things that children enjoy doing and what might be a suitable activity the following day for the whole family to enjoy. The repetition of the morning routine particularly works well so that a young reader can identify with the characters. A great idea nicely portrayed.

Can We Watch? by S.A. Dymond and Shiloh Dymond is an interesting story of young children who are hooked on television. As soon as they wake up in the morning, they want to watch television before eating breakfast or brushing their teeth. When the hydro goes out, the children are forced to find other things to do that do not need power. They play games, cards, ride bikes, do puzzles, and charades while waiting for the hydro to go back on. The hydro going out provides a wonderful solution to their chronic desire to watch television. The plot twist at the end of the story provides a deterrent for the television-addicted children. The children—and their parents—discover other activities they can do as a family that are fun and entertaining.

All parents can relate to this easy-to-read story of young children addicted to watching television. Can We Watch? has a simple storyline and simple illustrations that can be read by parents to children, or by early readers. The bold, colourful, simple illustrations by S.A. Dymond provide a visual setting and demonstrate the activities going on in the story. Authors S.A. Dymond and Shiloh Dymond have created a wonderful book that presents a problem most families can relate to and provides a solution. Thank you for reminding all parents of the need to play with children or encourage them to play games or do a craft. Can We Watch? should be read by all parents as a friendly reminder that children should be encouraged to look for other things to do rather than watch television.

Can We Watch? is an educational children's picture book written by S.A. Dymond and Shiloh Dymond and illustrated by S.A. Dymond. Isabelle and her little brother, Joe, loved to watch television. The first thing they thought of when they woke up was watching a show. Isabelle would rush downstairs first thing in the morning and ask if they could watch -- even before she ate her breakfast. Her brother was the same way. Their mom and dad were fine with the television request, provided it was after breakfast and only one show, but one day something different happened. While the family was eating breakfast, the power went out in their house. Isabelle and Joe were stunned to realize that they could not watch their show, and, at first, they couldn't figure out what they would do instead. The family got together and started thinking about different things to do. They played card games, went outside to play, acted out charades and solved puzzles, and, before you know it, the day was over just as the power was restored. Isabelle and Joe had had so much fun, and they realized that there were so many other things they could do besides sitting and watching television.

S.A. Dymond and Shiloh Dymond's children's picture book on social issues, Can We Watch?, is an entertaining and, most likely, all-too-familiar look at many family situations where kids just want to watch television. Even with parental controls and limits, it's hard to get past that push for getting settled in front of the television and watching a show. The story illustrates just how many different things kids and their parents can do instead of watching television. I loved seeing how the family's life was actually enhanced by having lost their electrical power rather than limited by the inconvenience. Not only is Can We Watch? a fun storybook with excellent, brightly colored illustrations, it's an excellent topic starter for parents and educators to get kids brainstorming about hobbies, games and other recreational activities that can take the place of time spent watching TV. Can We Watch? is most highly recommended.