Mariesa Dulak and Rebecca Cobb deliver a classic picture book setup with a thoroughly modern target: a parent glued to a phone while extraordinary things happen two feet away. A boy and his dad board a train for a trip to the seaside, but as tigers, pigs, and other zoo creatures pile into the carriage, dad stays locked into his screen.
The genius here is that the narrative never feels preachy. It reads as pure playful anarchy for the child reader, who gets to be in on the secret while the grown-up remains completely oblivious. For parents, it's a self-deprecating mirror that lands with a laugh rather than a scold.
Beyond the humor, the rhyming structure is airtight. If you are looking for rich oral language and playful storytelling that builds comprehension skills without feeling like homework, this is a top-tier bookshelf addition.
