There will be times in the course of our everyday lives, or perhaps in the middle of an out-of-the-ordinary experience, when we make a discovery. We find ourselves in uncharted territory. We see, hear, smell, taste or touch something entirely new. It peaks our curiosity. It challenges us to seek answers.
We are never sure where this search will take us. We are never sure if the information we find will be favorable. Love, Z (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, December 18, 2018) written and illustrated by Jessie Sima is about such a discovery, quest and revelation that will leave a print on your heart.
On a bright, chilly day, Z went out looking for adventure and stumbled upon a piece of half-buried treasure.
On a piece of paper, the little robot found, the only legible words were at the bottom. They said:
Love, Beatrice.
Love was a new word. The little robot had no idea what it meant. And who was Beatrice? At home in the evening he got ready to power down. A series of rituals helped him to get ready. When he asked the question weighing heavily on his mind, none of his caretakers, the old, rusty robots, had an answer.
After spending a sleepless night, Z left to look for Beatrice. Surely, she would know about the word love. Z met the captain, a cat, of the S. S. Catnip. Together they sailed down the river in search of Beatrice and the definition of love. Along the way they met three other beings but none of them were Beatrice.
One did say what love meant. This caused the travelers to alter their direction. At a bakery another said love was being patient and teaching new things to someone. Another path was taken by Z and the cat captain. They were now at a school. A whole chorus of voices told them what love was. Unfortunately, none of these computed for Z.
In a moment of despair Z wanted to go home but a place to spend the night suddenly appeared. Here they found someone and something very important. Z made a new discovery. Sometimes that which you desire is closer than you think.
When a story begins with an encounter of something extraordinary, readers find themselves immediately engaged. Jessie Sima continues to build this relationship with a blend of narrative and conversations. She employs the use of "storytelling three" in Z's bedtime rituals, who he questions on the river and the places he visits to acquire replies. This gently leads us to not one but two surprises. Here is a passage.
"I don't know any Beatrice," said the crow. "But to me . . ." "Love is sharing your food, even when it's delicious." That did not compute. But Z thanked the crow anyway and changed course toward a place with delicious food.
A warm, reddish peach provides the canvas for the open dust jacket. If love were a color, would it be this? To the left, on the back, within a circle of blue and green, a green, corked bottle floats. We see a rolled-up piece of paper and the word Love. On the front, to the right, Z is thinking the title, but this also appears again at an important point in the story. The rusty, old robots and the cat captain, his companions, are smiling and wrapping around him in a circle. Careful readers will notice the letters on the robots. If you move them around, what do they spell? The title and Z are varnished.
The book case, front and back, appears to be knitted in shades of the warm, reddish peach. The stitches are very clear. In the middle of the front in hues of blue is the letter Z. This is a huge hint of what is to come.
On the opening and closing endpapers in blue and purple a series of robot heads, outlined, supply a pattern. Across the verso and title pages, Z is standing in and on an abandoned footed bath tub, wearing his paper sailor cap and holding a telescope. Each illustration rendered in Adobe Photoshop by Jessie Sima spans double pages, single pages, or are grouped in a cluster on a single page.
When the individuals are replying to Z about what love is to them, these are encased in a speech bubble. They reflect an experience from the past. To enhance an emotion Jessie Sima will shift her perspective. This is apparent when Z can't sleep, when he is setting out on his quest, when he is discouraged or when he experiences his first of two surprises. She also uses eyes to great effect when conveying mood. Readers will want to pause at each image to notice the details Jessie includes.
One of my many favorite illustrations covers two pages. It's snowing and the river has widened. It looks like a vast expanse of water. On the right is an island with a dock reaching into the water. A mailbox is placed on the shore. Nestled among evergreens covering the island is a small cottage with smoke billowing from the chimney. Lights glow in the two windows on the first floor. The S. S. Catnip is tied to the dock. Z and the cat captain have just left the boat.
If you want to set the tone for a day or night, read Love, Z written and illustrated by Jessie Sima. It is a labor of love about love. It will wrap around readers like a hug. It will certainly promote discussions about what love is. I highly recommend this title for your professional and personal collections.
To discover more about Jessie Sima and her other work, please follow the links attached to her name to access her website and blog. Jessie has accounts on Twitter and Instagram. At the publisher's website you can view interior images.
Now, after two weeks, when pressing my face into her fur it triggers new sensations. There are odors of sunshine, evergreens, lake breezes and wild. Her soul is new too, her spirit soaring as we traverse paths and roadways through northern Michigan woods. Startled deer leap in front of us. At any given moment my canine companion will freeze, listening and sniffing the air.
Today in the very early hours of the morning after finishing, for the second time, The Wild Robot Escapes (Little, Brown and Company, March 13 2018) written and illustrated by Peter Brown, later, during our first walk, my mind wandered in different directions. It was wonderful to compare the second title with the first, The Wild Robot(Little, Brown and Company, April 5, 2016). Using my senses to take in these pristine surroundings and all they offer, it was easy to think of ROZZUM unit 7134 affectionately known as Roz. It was easy to imagine her walking along beside us or appearing in the woods when she believed we meant her and her friends no harm.
Without divulging too much, at the end of the first title, Roz is forced to leave those and that which she loves most. I know what you are thinking. How can a robot love? Roz is an extraordinary being.
Chapter 1 THE CITY Our story begins in a city, with buildings and streets and bridges and parks. Humans were strolling, automobiles were driving, airships were flying, robots were hard at work. Weaving through the city streets was a delivery truck.
Picking up speed this truck zooms away from the city and past vast stretches of country landscape until it reaches one specific farm, Hilltop Farm. It stops and drops out a crate. Inside is a ROZZUM unit. It is number 7134. Roz.
What the farmer, Mr. Shareef, his dog Curly, and his children a daughter, Jaya, and a son, Jad, do not know and cannot know, is Roz will exceed the required work needed to be done on the dairy farm. (After the death of his wife and an injury, Mr. Shareef, is desperate to save this family land.) That first night, the cows in the barn, like the animals on the island, discover Roz's mind does not function as the technology in other robots does. She speaks their language.
Day after day a routine forms as Roz repairs the other automated equipment and maintains every aspect of this farm. She is as content as one can be when living two lives and longing for home. As the seasons shift, flocks of geese stop at the pond on the property. Conversing with them, she gets a promise. She starts to plan . . . her escape.
It does not miss the attention of the children that their robot has special qualities. Storytelling sessions begin. There are stories of a wild robot on an island and her son, a goose named Brightbill. Jaya and Jad are completely captivated.
A pack of wolves, a wild tornado, a summer night around a campfire, the existence of an old barn, the arrival of a special flock of geese and a startling revelation alter relationships. More secrets are kept and an expanded plan is put into action. Spring brings renewed hope as well as increased fears.
Readers' hearts will race as surely as the heart of Brightbill and the survival mode wired into Roz as they attempt to reach a goal. Danger is a constant companion. At any moment they realize they might never see each other again. At any moment they realize one of them could die. Expect the unexpected as this breathtaking companion title thrills us until the final word is read. That word will sound in every soul.
When a book starts with
Our story begins
readers are immediately drawn into the plot. We step into this narrative as if it's our own. From time to time throughout the story, this unseen narrator will carry on casual conversations with us. This technique is brilliantly employed by Peter Brown and it is as successful here as it was in the first title.
Short chapters with short definitive titles propel us forward as quickly as we can turn the pages. The end of each one connects flawlessly with the following chapter. A blend of conversations and narrative text give us insight into the characters thoughts, moods and motives. Vivid descriptions of setting further envelope us as we move from one landscape to another. Here are some passages.
Nobody knew quite what to think of the strange creature in their midst. And soon all the cows were voicing their thoughts. "I think the monster is harmless." "I think the monster is unnatural." "I think the monster is moving!" The herd fell silent as the monster marched out from the shadows and into the middle of the barn. And then she did the impossible. She did the unthinkable. She spoke to the cows in the language of the animals. "I am not a monster, I am a robot. My name is Roz." The cows and the humans spent hot days indoors. Only when the sun finally set and the air began to cool would they venture outside. The herd strolled out to graze under the stars, the children ran out to chase fireflies, sometimes even Mr. Shareef stepped out to stretch his stiff legs. Leaves rustled in the evening breeze. Heat lightning flickered on the horizon. Cicadas sang from tree branches. "Running away might be easy for you, but not for me," said Roz. "Your father can track my movements. If he sees me trying to escape he will think I am defective, and he will send me away to be destroyed." An uncomfortable question popped into Jaya's mind. "Roz, don't take this the wrong way," she began, "but is it possible that you are defective?" "Don't say that, Jaya!" cried her brother. "No, it is okay," said the robot. "I have asked myself that same question. I do not feel defective. I feel . . . different. Is being different the same as being defective?" "I hope not," said Jaya. "Otherwise we're all a little defective." Even way out there in the wilderness, she wanted to go unseen. What Roz didn't realize was that she was already being watched.
Having read an ARC generously supplied by the publisher, I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of a completed book to see the illustrations Peter Brown provides. The cover (The cover reveal is at School Library Journal, A Fuse #8 Production, by Elizabeth Bird.) gives readers a huge hint. Where is Roz and why is she there? Let me simply say prepare to be on a roller coaster ride of emotions.
This title, The Wild Robot Escapes, written and illustrated by Peter Brown is, like the first title, a classic. It addresses the issues of our interconnectedness with all animals, domestic and wild. It asks us to seek peaceful solutions to every question. It promotes discussions on the part technology plays in our lives. Think about the fact that with all the advancements available to those children, the storytelling with Roz was their favorite thing. I can't imagine a professional or personal collection without several copies of this title. It's spectacular!
To learn more about Peter Brown and his other work, please follow the link attached to his name to access his website. I know you will enjoy this post by Peter dedicated to the work in creating this book. At Little, Brown and Company, you can listen to a podcast where Peter talks about The Wild Robot Escapes. Here is a link to a Book Club Guide for the first title. Author, reviewer, and blogger at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast Julie Danielson writes about this book at Chapter 16. Peter Brown is interviewed by songwriter and singer Emily Arrow at Musing, a laid-back lit journal. Enjoy the audio book excerpt.
There's something a little bit exciting about seeing the UPS, FedEx, or postal trucks pull up in front of your house even if you have an idea what they are delivering. Unless it's something you've seen before, there's a slight air of anticipation and mystery. You're never quite sure if it will be better or worse than expected.
Even more intriguing is when you look out the front door of your house and see a box sitting on the porch without the benefit of knowing how it arrived. EngiNerds (Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, September 12, 2017) written by Jarrett Lerner (with jacket and interior spot illustrations by Serge Seidlitz) is about the appearance of such a box, a big, heavy box. Getting the box into the house is only the beginning of numerous difficulties about to befall the recipient and narrator.
Preface BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I JUST WANT TO make one thing clear about the guys I hang out with. I did not, do not, and will not ever endorse our "name" or "motto." EngiNerds. That's what we (excluding me) call ourselves. And our motto? "Because it's the nerds who are the engine of the world."
After we are introduced to this bunch of brainy boys, particularly four, Dan, Jerry Lin, John Henry Knox and Kennedy, the narrator, we come to the box on the porch of Ken's house. Finally able to persuade his best buddy, Dan, to help him, the duo gets the box into the living room. Even after opening it, the only thing to do is put the parts together to see if it's a rocket or not. (Dan is really hoping for a rocket.)
After an hour of taxing their ingenuity and physical strength, the guys discover Kitty, Ken's less brilliant dog, has escaped the confines of the house. After tracking Kitty down and applying the garden hose to her pizza covered fur, the three enter the house and stop cold. The thing in the box has assembled itself. It's a large robot named Greeeg and it's hungry, really really hungry.
Everything Dan and Ken give it, it eats, containers and all. Soon nothing is left in the refrigerator or cupboards, except for a few radishes. It won't eat those. Dan leaves and Ken's parents come home from work. Can you imagine what his mother says standing in front of the open and bare refrigerator and cupboards? It gets worse, much worse, in the wee hours of the next day.
Finding that Greeeg has left his spot under Ken's bed, he discovers him in the kitchen looking for more food. Believing in the theory of what goes in, must come out, Ken tells it to dispose. Shockingly enough, a brown-black cube whizzes out of the machine's posterior section. The next series of events can only be categorized as first, mind-boggling, and second, miraculous.
At school the next day, after the final bell rings and on Saturday, a blend of excitement and strangeness starts to fill Ken's world. Others, other EngiNerds, have received boxes. The robots are evolving at a rapid rate. By any means necessary they will complete their programmed goals. Who sent the boxes and more importantly, why? Can cleverness save the community from further chaos? In a tension-filled conclusion continuing the undercurrent of comedy, a cliff-hanger sentence leaves you hardly able to keep from laughing and exclaiming, "OH, NO!"
Even before finishing the four-page preface, sticky notes were marking places in my copy of this book. Jarrett Lerner has a knack for writing short, action-packed chapters, leading you from one to the other as quickly as you can turn the pages. Between Ken's narration of the circumstances, his thoughts and the conversations between the characters you're never sure but can hardly wait to see what will happen next.
What are especially appealing are the thought processes of the boys. It's not that they don't want to rush to solve a problem but their creativeness is impressive. Readers will also enjoy the give and take in the relationships between the four main characters. Here are some passages. WELL, I TRY TO LUG THE BOX INSIDE. But the thing is heavy. I'm talking crammed-full-of-lead-pipes heavy. Heavy like the box has been packed up with the pieces of a taken apart truck. I try and try to pick it up. I try until my back starts screaming and my forehead fills with sweat. THE ROBOT'S VOICE IS A LOT LIKE YOU'D expect it to be. Every syllable is sounded out separately. The emphasis is all off. It's empty of any kind of emotion. And before and after and between words, there's nothing. Not the sound of breath moving in and out of nostrils or past lips---just cold, creepy silence. Yet Dan's absolutely right when he says: "Cool." Because this is most definitely cool. This is beyond cool. It's probably the coolest thing that has ever happened to me in my entire, twelve-year, not-exactly-amazing-but-also-not-so-bad life. And all of a sudden another thought worms its way into my brain. I'm wondering again if Greeeg really is the world's greatest gift, the coolest toy imaginable, something worth bragging about to the rest of the EngiNerds. Because right then he feels a lot more like a responsibility. Like a maniac little cousin that I somehow got stuck babysitting, not a new friend. Because a friend is someone who gets you out of trouble, not someone who gets you into trouble. Right?
Completely captivating and highly entertaining, EngiNerds written by Jarrett Lerner is a surefire winner for the middle grade reader. The chapter lengths, short snappy sentences and often hilarious conversations make this an excellent selection for a read aloud or book group. I can't imagine a collection without a copy of this title.
To learn more about Jarrett Lerner and his other work, please visit his website by following the link attached to his name. Jarrett also maintains a blog you can visit from his main site. For this title, Jarrett has a Classroom Guide. At the publisher's website you can read an excerpt. Jarrett is a guest at author Melissa Roske's website and at All The Wonders, Books Between, Episode 41.
It hardly seems possible in less than two months autumn 2016 will arrive. One of the finest ways to enjoy the last weeks of summer is to participate in the annual Picture Book Ten for Ten. Co-founders of the event Mandy Robek and Cathy Mere have created a community of those who wish to list their current top ten favorites in general or by a theme. Cathy explains it here.
This will be my fifth year generating a list of favorite books around a common theme. In my first year I selected ten plus two of my favorite alphabet books from my collection. Year two had me unable to select only ten of my top picture books from my canine collection, so Xena my wonderful Labrador retriever picked the titles. That year I used an application called Learni.st to host the choices. This can now only be accessed by using the app rather than the website. If you use the app Learni.st and search under Xena the book list, August Ten for Ten Xena's Favorite Dog Books, will appear. As a companion to the first list I chose counting and number books in 2014. Last year my books revolved around bedtime, sleep and sweet dreams.
Our fascination with robots began centuries ago. Did you know Leonard da Vinci actually designed a humanoid robot? Robots can perform a variety of activities, become supreme victors, terrorize the world, be best friends, lull others to sleep and transform from one thing to another. In order of their publication I present ten of my favorite books with robots as key characters.
1. Hello, Robots (Viking, September 23, 2004)written and illustrated by Bob Staake
Four colorful robots, Blink wearing red is a supreme chef, Zinc wearing purple thrives on repairing things made of steel, Blip wearing green is a gardener extraordinaire and Zip wearing yellow is a cleaning machine. Each performs their tasks working side by side, their story told in a jaunty rhyming text. Every few pages a repeating phrase invites reader participation.
Hello, robots! Metal robots! Smiling bolt to bolt.
All is well for the friendly foursome until they get caught in an unexpected rain shower. Their circuits are mightily confused. Their jobs are a bit of mix and match. When they finally use their heads normalcy is restored. This is a read aloud jewel. By following this link you are taken to activities at Bob Staake website.
2. Robot Zot! (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, September 22, 2009) written by Jon Scieszka with illustrations by David Shannon
Having traveled through the galaxy Robot Zot wishes to conquer the land where his ship has landed. He is in the home of a human and his size is greatly diminished. Half the size of a common household blender, he is not swayed in his determination zapping all enemies.
His warrior-like endeavors suddenly stop when he beholds the Queen of all Earth, a decorative toy phone. Her protection is his new prime focus until the fearsome Commander General approaches. Woof! Woof! You can expect a loud and happy response to this hilarious title. Here is a link to some accompanying activities supplied by the publisher. Follow this link to enjoy a video interview of Jon Scieszka at the publisher's website.
It's that time of year when those involved in the world of children and young adult literature start to reflect on the possibilities for the Caldecott and Newbery awards, not that we've not been doing it all year long. Trying to limit the list for our Mock Caldecott Election with the third and fourth grade students to twelve is going to be tough in 2011. One thing for sure is that Mac Barnett's book, Oh No! (Or How My Science Project Destroyed The World), illustrated by Dan Santat will be included.
Just seeing the huge words Oh No! on the cover conjures up all kinds of possibilities. Couple that with the reflection of a giant toad and robot in each lens of the girl's glasses and off we go! Revealed with the opening of the cover are detailed schematics for a robot and a growth ray device on the front and back endpapers respectively.
What's a robot to do when his glory days seem to be past? Rusty, old and with parts dropping off here and there, no one seems to want a robot who makes toast and plays music. The other robots try to keep his spirits high but as each one leaves, Clink gets sadder and sadder until he shuts himself down.
One day the notes of a harmonica spark an idea in Clink's metal mind. This robot puts on a show as if he is performing on Broadway. The results are not quite as he hoped but sometimes a disaster surprises everyone. Toast anyone?
5. Boy + Bot(Alfred A. Knopf, April 10, 2012) written by Ame Dyckman with illustrations by Dan Yaccarino
Back in 2001 I discovered a poster by Rick Ruggles titled Love is where you find it... From that time forward I have tried to slow down to notice heart shapes appearing everywhere, especially when Xena and I take our walks; discovering those special stones on the beach is like finding a priceless possession. But sometimes you don't find the heart, the love, unexpectedly, finds you.
First time author, Ame Dyckman, teams with illustrator, Dan Yaccarino, to bring readers, Boy + Bot (Alfred A. Knopf), an endearing story of a normal day turned extraordinary. Remarkable use of text and visuals, make this book a stunning example of the beauty to be found in simplicity. You never know what a day spent gathering will reveal.
Boy + Bot written by Ame Dyckman with illustrations by Dan Yaccarino is a clever story where caring + sharing = friendship. When readers' hearts are warmed and laughter tugs at the corners of their mouths, a book will be read again and again; shared with as many as possible. This is one of those books, a timeless classic.
6. Doug Unplugged(Alfred A. Knopf, February 12, 2013) written and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
Earlier this week one of my virtual colleagues, Cynthia Alaniz, wrote on her blog, Teaching in Cute Shoes, about a main character in a book who decides to give up all forms of technology, living like her grandmother did in 1962. At the end of her post she spoke about the value of virtual connections for her and asked us readers which technology we could live without. As for myself, I agree wholeheartedly with the value of the connections technology provides but it is definitely challenging to find a balance. After all when you've grown up with the first televisions being black and white only, phones having party lines and the first transistor radios being cause for celebration, it's fascinating to see the swiftness in which technological advances are rapidly changing nearly every facet of our lives.
I find myself pausing more and more, thinking about time saved due to technology versus time lost in those very connections, personal and professional, which consume minutes and hours previously spent on other endeavors. In the midst of these musing a book arrived by mail, the newest title written and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, Doug Unplugged (Alfred A. Knopf).This robot wonders and then walks...well actually, he flies.
Doug Unplugged written and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino proposes and shows the value in using all your senses to truly discover and experience the smallest details and the largest vistas as much as you can whenever you can. I, for one, am glad Doug tugged the plug. I highly recommend this as a read aloud; bedtime or storytime.
Our house was a house of making things. If something needed fixing Dad would devise the perfect albeit unique solution. No holiday or vacation was complete without lots of arts and crafts; Mom was never at a loss for ideas.
When combining Dad's inventiveness with Mom's creativity, our Halloween costumes were a sight to behold. One particular October I was the neighborhood robot; donning painted boxes decorated with knobs and gizmos galore. For that reason, the fact children adore anything about robots and my growing collection of alphabet books, I couldn't have been happier when I was handed R Is For Robot: A Noisy Alphabet (Price Stern Sloan, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC) written and illustrated by Adam F. Watkins the last time I visited my favorite independent bookstore.
If you are looking for quiet book R Is For Robot: A Noisy Alphabet written and illustrated by Adam F. Watkins is not for you. It's a fun-filled title loaded with action and humor. One read aloud will not suffice. Expect requests to read this again and again. I think it would be a great idea to assign a sound to each student in the classroom having them repeat it after it's read adding to the sounds until the end when it will be a symphony.
8. Power Down, Little Robot(Henry Holt and Company, March 3, 2015) written by Anna Staniszewski with illustrations by Tim Zeltner
As soon as the words are uttered by an adult, the children show an unprecedented genius. Plans worthy of a seasoned general are put into place. It's a battle of strategy and wits. Even if the guys and gals previously seemed to be slowing down, the sound of "It's time for bed" will energize them into action.
They will develop a thirst similar to an individual wandering the Sahara for days without a drop to drink. A need for clean pajamas, the brushing of teeth, another trip to the bathroom, forgotten homework needing to be completed by morning, and please, pretty please, just one more story will be only a few of their moves for avoiding the dreaded bedtime. Power Down, Little Robot (Henry Holt and Company, March 3, 2015) written by debut picture book author Anna Staniszewski with illustrations by Tim Zeltner gives a unique spin to the nuts and bolts of a daily ritual.
A pajama-clad boy moves down the hallway with his three robot pals to get ready for bed. After scrubbing up in the bathroom it's time for all four to snuggle and sleep in their individual places. The problem is the robots. They simply can't get settled. One mechanical complication after another seems to plague them. Their boy is getting more frustrated by the minute. A trick as old as time works wonders. Mission accomplished! No more beeping only sleeping.
Told in rhyme Todd Tarpley lulls us with his words into the bedtime ritual. His use of robotic terms fits as smoothly as a well-oiled machine into the story. By having the automated companions interrupt the boy's rest once, twice and three times before his irritation causes a verbal explosion, the fourth and final request is more surprising and satisfying.
10. Robo-Sauce (Dial Books For Young Readers, October 20, 2015) written by Adam Rubin with illustrations by Daniel Salmieri
When a version of the phrase,
you are what you eat, originated nearly two hundred years ago, it was meant to imply food will determine the state of your health. Today with the plethora of specialty cookbooks, diet plans, nutritionists and chefs with star status the definition remains intact. In fact scientific research supports the belief certain ingredients consumed will heighten and lengthen or conversely prove detrimental to our lives.
Author Adam Rubin and illustrator Daniel Salmieri, the collaborative team who brought us Those Darn Squirrels, Those Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door, Dragons Love Tacos, Those Darn Squirrels Fly South, Secret Pizza Party, and Big Bad Bubble, have combined their considerable talents and love of wacky wildness to explore the notion of whipping up a special potion. In Robo-Sauce (Dial Books For Young Readers, October 20, 2015) we discover with the right stuff dreams can and do come true. Get ready readers!
Happy reading to all of you! Remember to greet each day with a hearty Affirmative!
When a plan is in place, preparations are made to support it. Every action taken focuses on the goal. We all know though, plans, preparations and actions combined do not always equal the desired result. Mother Nature has a way of throwing the proverbial monkey wrench into the mix.
Rain cancels picnic feasts, blizzards cancel a day on the slopes and too much sun cancels a hockey match on the neighborhood pond. In his debut middle-grade book Peter Brown (Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, My Teacher Is A Monster!: (No, I Am Not.)) begins with weather on the rampage. The Wild Robot (Little, Brown and Company, April 5, 2016) is first a story of survival but each chapter broadens and deepens the very definition of the word.
Our story begins on the ocean, with wind and rain and thunder and lightning and waves. A hurricane roared and raged through the night. And in the middle of the chaos, a cargo ship was sinking.
Aboard this ship was a load of crates; each filled with a single robot. In the morning the only sign of the ship was five floating crates which traveled until a small rocky island was in sight. Only one was lifted by waves undamaged to a safe position on the shore.
Poking about the robot wreckage in the early light of the day was a group of sea otters. They were unable to resist the shininess of the body parts and the damaged but intact crate. In their eagerness to grasp the spongy protective layer inside the crate, one of them brought the enclosed machine to life. And this began a tale like none other.
ROZZUM unit 7134, Roz, adapted as she was programmed to do. Her desire to survive first finally had her blending in as part of the flora, allowing her to learn from the animal inhabitants on the island. At one of their Dawn Truce meetings she presented herself but the animals wanted nothing to do with her. Not a one of them wanted to help or teach her.
A fox in need, an opossum with first-class acting skills and an orphaned gosling started to shift the animals' assessment of this uninvited resident. In her endeavors to care for Brightbill, a name given to the gosling by the elderly goose, Loudwing, Roz made connections with the beaver and deer families. Skills were traded with everyone a winner. As the spring passed into summer Roz was assimilating more into the animal culture on the island as Brightbill adeptly, with his Mama's help, increased his goose swimming and flying abilities.
As autumn approached an unprovoked attack left Roz a little less herself. Winter brought frightening challenges but the arrival of spring was celebrated until terror visited the island. Edge-of-your-seat tension continued chapter after chapter as heroes were born. As long as there was hope change for the greater good would be accepted.
As soon as chapter one is read, readers know this is going to be an extraordinary book. The narrator, when speaking, directly addresses the readers personally involving us in this story. We are privy through Roz's thoughts and the animals' observations and all the conversations, how this robot becomes not only a part of the community but vital to the survival of many members on the island. Peter Brownthrough the character of Roz also directs our attention to respect for the natural world, how each species are integral, environmental concerns and the place and purpose of technology.
The technique of short chapters replicates real life; our day is composed of many linked moments. Each one ends with a carefully crafted sentence, sometimes a statement of fact, but they encourage us to continue. Vivid descriptions of the island help us to create pictures of the landscape in our minds. We come to understand how the animal inhabitants live, die and survive. The relationship between Roz and Brightbill evolves into a heartwarming bond; a beautiful blend of logic and love. Here are some sample passages.
Animal sounds filled the forest. Chirps and wingbeats and rustlings in the underbrush. And then, from the sea cliffs, there came new sounds. Heavy, crunching footsteps. The forest animals fell silent, and from their hiding places they watched as a sparkling monster stomped past. When Roz first stomped across the island, the animal squawks and growls and chirps had sounded like nothing more than meaningless noises. But she no longer heard animal noises. Now she heard animal words. "Have you done any acting?" asked the opossum. "I have not," said the robot. "Well, you should! You might enjoy it. You can start by imagining the character you'd like to be. How do they move and speak? What are their hopes and fears? How do others react to them? Only when you truly understand a character can you become that character..." "Should I stop calling you Mama?" said the gosling. "I will still act like your mother, no matter what you call me," said the robot. "I think I'll keep calling you Mama." "I think I will keep calling you son." "We're a strange family," said Brightbill, with a little smile. "But I kind of like it that way." "Me too," said Roz.
Throughout the book Peter Brownhas drawn images in black and white. Their size varies according to the passage, point in the story, they enhance. Each one evokes an emotional response in the reader.
One of my many favorite illustrations is inside the Nest. There is no fire going at this moment. Roz and Brightbill are facing each other. Brightbill has just pressed the button. The expressions on their faces speak volumes.
The Wild Robot written and illustrated by Peter Brown is a memorable, moving tale of survival, community and family. Whether read silently and individually or as a read aloud, this book will be counted as a favorite of readers for this year and as a cherished title for many, many years to come. No collection, professional or personal, should be without a copy. Thank you, Peter Brown.
To learn more about Peter Brown and his other work, please visit his website by following the link embedded in his name. The second of the two links takes you to the page describing the journey this book made until its publication. To read an excerpt please stop by the publisher's website.Peter Brown is interviewed at Publishers Weekly and at the Barnes & Noble BNKIDS blog. Peter Brown is also a guest at All The Wonders, Let's Get Busy, Episode 247with teacher librarian Matthew Winner. You might want to listen to one of the chapters read aloud by following a link in one of the tweets.
@MrSchuReads@lbkids I need 2 finally meet Kate so I can thank her 4 her tremendous contribution 2 kid lit...and 4 her endorsement of 🌲🤖!
you are what you eat,
originated nearly two hundred years ago, it was meant to imply food will determine the state of your health. Today with the plethora of specialty cookbooks, diet plans, nutritionists and chefs with star status the definition remains intact. In fact scientific research supports the belief certain ingredients consumed will heighten and lengthen or conversely prove detrimental to our lives.
Author Adam Rubin and illustrator Daniel Salmieri, the collaborative team who brought us Those Darn Squirrels, Those Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door, Dragons Love Tacos, Those Darn Squirrels Fly South, Secret Pizza Party, and Big Bad Bubble, have combined their considerable talents and love of wacky wildness to explore the notion of whipping up a special potion. In Robo-Sauce (Dial Books For Young Readers, October 20, 2015) we discover with the right stuff dreams can and do come true. Get ready readers!
Hey, kid! Sweet Robo-Costume. Perfect for whomping on squishy humans.
A boy and his dog creatively attired in robot wear annoy their family with typical mechanical mannerisms until everyone leaves the room. An unseen narrator speaks to the possibility of a potent formula designed to turn the consumer into
a giant awesome robot.
As fate would have it, this party happens to have a recipe named BOOM.
The common household ingredients so named are like a list of make-believe mojo. Once mixed the neon-orange goop needs to be taken a spoonful at a time. When that does not work, the voice recommends the boy dump the whole concoction over his body. As an apology is being issued due to the lack of any kind of transformation, the page explodes into sound. SHAZAM! The boy is now
a giant awesome robot.
After going on a rampage around the neighborhood, this newly created mass of metal realizes no one wants to be around this type of destructive force. The narrator wrongly assumes the boy will want an antidote. Instead a portion of his anatomy produces MORE Robo-Sauce which he promptly uses to zap his family and canine companion.
When the narrator, who has totally lost control of the story, makes an observation, the boy robot speaks a command. Under the spell of his magical mayhem we have no choice but to obey. We manipulate, we turn, we open and read. SHAZAM! We are surprised.
By the time I finished reading this book written by Adam Rubinmultiple times, I realized a smile was on my face as I read from cover to cover and then some. The voice of the narrator, clearly bold, is also speaking in confidential tones to the intended audience in their language. We become, without any direct awareness until near the end, avid participants in the story. It's the word choices and pacing which envelope us. Here is another sample passage.
Jumping Jingleheimer Schmidt--it worked! I mean, of course it worked...Hey, ROBO-KID! Check out your sweet blinking lights and sparkling antennas. Listen to those beautiful "Beeps" and "Boops."
Now you can do all the cool stuff you never got to do when you were busy not being a robot.
As someone who immediately removes the dust jacket on a new picture book, it was interesting to note this title has none. Running your hands over the book case you discover the warning label is real and raised. The Robo-Sauce color dripping from the title text, the boy, his dog and the robot all address events to come. Careful readers will wonder about the tiny blinking red dot at the bottom. On the back of the book case the dog is placed in his robot costume beneath an introduction which would normally appear on the inside of the jacket flaps. Underneath we have text traditionally located on the back jacket flap. No space is wasted. Opening the cover the title page and verso greet readers.
In a series of images, some double-page spreads, others single pages or a group of smaller pictures on one page, Daniel Salmieri, using a limited color palette, elevates the fun of this story to new heights. Using pencil, ink and a computer his illustrations create a cast of quirky characters in unbelievable settings. As the story shifts to the conclusion, we can feel the emotional mood change in the expressions and body postures.
The paper engineering, invitation and instructions to the reader are nothing short of marvelous. The different background and texture are sure to elicit true glee. Even after reading it repeatedly the result is as good as the very first time.
One of Xena's favorite illustrations (and mine) is a two-page spread, a close-up, of the dog after it's been covered in Robo-Sauce. A two-word comment
Oh, great.
is placed on the white background. Metal has replaced fur. The eyes are glowing orange. A small blinking antenna sticks up out of the head.
WOOF WOOF ARF ARF ARF
appear on the language screen. The two back legs are different from the two front legs, designed for special purposes. I burst out laughing when I saw this.
Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri hold in their hearts and minds the ability to maintain all the joys of being a child. Robo-Sauce is a celebration of inventiveness and a reminder to step back, being free to play. Please read this title over and over and share it as often as you can.
To learn more about Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri and their other books, please follow the links attached to their names to access their websites. A special website has been created specifically for this book. It's packed with beep-boop-bop goodness. Author, reviewer and blogger Julie Danielson talks with Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri about Robo-Sauce at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. There's lots of artwork and laughter there.
It hangs on the wall above my work space. It holds a hammer he made. All the tools are engraved with his initials, CSM. It's not just a toolbelt holding those few implements of his I still have, it's a cache for memories. It holds his voice telling me how to hold a nail and swing that hammer. It reminds me how to use the proper motion when using a saw. It asks me to look at a problem, figuring out the best way to make something, anything, work.
Yesterday as I was busy decorating my home with strings of orange lights for Halloween, I paused to put my pumpkin stakes along the walkway. The previous owners used river rock extensively in the landscaping. Using a hole punch Dad gave me, I was able to pierce through the stone and webbing to make a spot for those stakes. As I finished, holding the punch, I knew Dad was there next to me and grinning.
In his dedication for his newest title, Little Robot (First Second, September 1, 2015), Ben Hatke writes
For my DAD, who showed me how COOL it is to MAKE THINGS Being able to envision an end product or goal, to figure out a way to make it work with the materials at hand and feel satisfaction and success is a gift. It's rarely easy but as Ben's new protagonist shows us, the rewards are invaluable.
A crescent moon hangs in the sky above a highway bridge as vehicles cross. One, a truck, hits some rocks on the road dislodging a box from the back. It plunges into the river, drifting into the countryside.
In the morning a young girl sneaks out the window of her trailer home scampering away as others ride the bus to school. She wanders and explores in a neighbor's yard and near a junkyard by the water. The floating box grabs her attention. She gets it on the sand, opens the box and surprises herself with the contents.
With some shimmying and shaking a little robot forms. It's wobbly just like a newborn child. With a bit of help from the human, it quickly learns to walk without falling. Meanwhile...
At the robot factory, the missing box is duly noted. An eight-legged, one-eyed, menacing spider- type machine is sent out to locate the absent robot. As it searches, Little Robot with the guidance of his new friend discovers the finer points of cats, flowers, pond life and the fine art of skipping stones. With the setting of the sun on the second day of their new companionship, it's easy to see these two are inseparable.
With all new relationships there are challenges. These two must spend their nights without each other. Sometimes best efforts fall short. Sometimes best efforts succeed grandly. One is human, the other is a robot. Something evil wants one of them. Ingenuity, determination, and a need to find puffballs are qualities in a friend I would enjoy for life.
Robot-speak and short conversational sentences, more like thinking aloud, are the sole narration. Ben Hatke's images, based on each reader's perceptions and past experiences, convey volumes. It's as if he is telling us a story filled with text, once upon a time and the end.
On the matching dust jacket and book case Ben Hatke introduces us to the human child, Little Robot, a junkyard cat and the nefarious machine. The girl wears her white nightshirt and carries her toolbelt like the hero she is. Little Robot brings out the best in her. We can readily see the color palette, the fine line work, and shading used throughout the book. To the left, on the back, on the extended hillside stand four other little robots ready for action. The gear pattern in the title text is used on the spine also.
On the opening and closing endpapers two-tone light blue gears provide a background for a pale yellow dancing Little Robot and his human girl child. On the formal title page a darker shade of the same blue showcases Little Robot and the girl kneeling and looking at a flower with the text in yellow. This leads beautifully into the first two-page image.
Hatke takes us from illustration to illustration flawlessly. He might put a smaller picture within a larger one. Panels may be grouped in four with a larger one underneath horizontally or two might be side by side vertically. Most of the panels are framed in a loose white border. Gorgeous visuals close out each chapter.
Changing perspective, bringing us close to the characters' faces, involves us intimately in the emotional moments of the story. Hatke may use a series of panels grouped by six to depict a few seconds in time. He desires us to be with the characters. And we are.
I have many favorite illustrations but the two pages where the girl is showing Little Robot how to skip stones on the river is delightful. She eagerly demonstrates with one skip and a plunk. With a couple of clicks and a blip Little Robot performs like an Olympic champion. The look on the girl's face as she watches and then glances at Little Robot is sure to bring on a smile. Then in a heartbeat she's ready to play a new game.
Little Robot conceived, written and illustrated by Ben Hatke is a tribute to the strength of true friendship. He salutes creativity. He salutes girl power. These are the kind of characters for whom you want to cheer. I highly recommend this book for your personal and classroom shelves. Thank you Ben for this book.
To learn more about Ben Hatke and his other work please follow the links attached to his names to access his website and Tumblr. You can view eight interior images at the publisher's website. Ben was interviewed about this title (plus there are more illustrations) at Entertainment Weekly, Tor.com, Comic Book Resources, The Beat Comics Cultureand BookPage.
On October 29, 2015 Little Robot is one of the titles selected by John Schumacher, Scholastic Ambassador for School Libraries and Colby Sharp, 3rd grade teacher and co-founder of Nerdy Book Club for the #SharpSchu Book Club on Twitter.
As soon as the words are uttered by an adult, the children show an unprecedented genius. Plans worthy of a seasoned general are put into place. It's a battle of strategy and wits. Even if the guys and gals previously seemed to be slowing down, the sound of "It's time for bed" will energize them into action.
They will develop a thirst similar to an individual wandering the Sahara for days without a drop to drink. A need for clean pajamas, the brushing of teeth, another trip to the bathroom, forgotten homework needing to be completed by morning, and please, pretty please, just one more story will be only a few of their moves for avoiding the dreaded bedtime. Power Down, Little Robot (Henry Holt and Company, March 3, 2015) written by debut picture book author Anna Staniszewski with illustrations by Tim Zeltner gives a unique spin to the nuts and bolts of a daily ritual.
"Bedtime, my little robot!" Mom Unit calls. I quickly open my stalling program.
A plea for an extra drink, a can of oil, goes unfulfilled. The age-old statement, everybody else doesn't have to go to bed this early, falls on deaf ears. Even slowing the nightly cog cleaning does not work.
Unfortunately, Little Robot finds himself with no place to go but his sleep module. Wise to his ways, Mom Unit speedily reads his requested selections. The classic lost toy ploy is unsuccessful.
Stepping up his game, in acts of desperation, Little Robot claims to not need sleep, begs for a chance to whisper something in Mom Unit's ear, worries about things that go bump in the night, and even begins to feel a little bit like his systems are not in sync. Regardless, the door is gently closed. Only the glow from the night light shines in the room.
After a precise amount of time, Little Robot silently leaves his sleep module. With stealth he moves from his bedroom. Does Mom Unit have eyes everywhere?
She wisely reminds him why he needs to power down. He continues to resist. Although this time there is a difference in his module. Perhaps the blanket is cuddlier. Perhaps the pillow is fluffier. Perhaps his toy is snugglier. Perhaps the stalling program is nearing completion. Power Down, Little Robot.
With robotic lingo replacing well-known nightly banter, Anna Staniszewskitakes us into an alternate world with mechanical characters. She gives the mother and child personality traits in which all readers will feel a connection based on their conversational exchanges. The created dialogue feels so natural I can understand how some of the phrases might make it into bedtime rituals as soon as the story is shared and for many nights thereafter. Here is a sample passage.
"But I need to tell you a secret!" I lower my voice to a whisper volume. "Did you know that a hummingbot flaps its wings a million time a second?" Mom Unit only laughs and clicks on the night light.
In looking at the front dust jacket (I'm working from an F & G) you feel a sense of calm descending as Little Robot's eyes close with his Mom Unit holding his hand. On the left, back, another interior image depicts Little Robot stalling for time after sneaking downstairs. Mom Unit is pointing upstairs as she speaks with him. The color palette seen here is used throughout the book, the various hues of green, purple, red, blue, a golden shade and white. On the title page Little Robot is tip-toeing down the stairs, hoping to go undetected. Tim Zeltnerplaces other elements on the verso and dedication pages. Before the narrative begins we have met the characters and understand their relationship through his illustrations.
A signature style is used to create the artwork.
The artist used acrylic on plywood and a unique combination of stains and glazes to create the illustrations for this book.
Most of the visuals extend edge to edge across two pages. As the pace of the story shifts Zeltner altered the size to a single page, a large image crossing the gutter, or smaller illustrations on several pages. Zeltner's attention to detail is impeccable; the line work on the robot faces and bodies, the face on the toy looking like a teddy bear, the names on the drink cans, the record button on the playback device, and the drawing on Little Robot's wall.
One of my favorite illustrations is a single page dedicated to Little Robot brushing his cogs. Behind him is the pale blue and white checked floor with bubbles rising from the sink. He holds the protective panel in one hand as the other holds a yellow sudsy brush. A single drop of water falls from the faucet.
Our house was a house of making things. If something needed fixing Dad would devise the perfect albeit unique solution. No holiday or vacation was complete without lots of arts and crafts; Mom was never at a loss for ideas.
When combining Dad's inventiveness with Mom's creativity, our Halloween costumes were a sight to behold. One particular October I was the neighborhood robot; donning painted boxes decorated with knobs and gizmos galore. For that reason, the fact children adore anything about robots and my growing collection of alphabet books, I couldn't have been happier when I was handed R Is For Robot: A Noisy Alphabet (Price Stern Sloan, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC) written and illustrated by Adam F. Watkins the last time I visited my favorite independent bookstore.
As you look at the dust jacket, book case, endpapers, title page and verso it's clear this crew of robots is gearing up for a construction project of huge proportions. Tools are being gathered. Blueprints are being studied. With a page turn it sounds like they've already started.
Ahoogah Beep Boop
This can't be good; the guys moving letter A and letter B have run into one another. A chorus of noise is heard from a cascade of letter Cs. The robots for letters D, E and F are leaking, shrieking and leaping. A dog, water, a spilled dessert and an emergency device definitely figure in the placement of letters G, H, I and J. I may have just seen a ninja and a singing giant.
Wait a minute! Did that robot just do what I think he did? Horsepower, tractor power and a bit more oil than necessary place three more pieces, letters N, O and P, in the structure. There goes that duck again and now one of the workers wants to make music. Time's a wasting and some parts hardly seem to be moving.
Wait! Here we go. Carrying, speeding, flying, rigging, pulling and pulling some more contribute to the final artful arrangement. It's a rainbow array of letters from A to Z, a monument to words and language. The assembled automated artisans couldn't be more pleased.
I have yet to walk by a building site without hearing the rise and fall of a mechanical melody. With this in mind Adam F. Watkinsselects twenty-six words, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet describing or imitating a sound. These words are selected with the process of creating in mind as the robots go about their work. Interest is heightened as other robots and robotic creatures interact with the business at hand. An example of this is for the letter G; the word
GRRRR
describes the robot dog, tied to a nearby hydrant, growling at the robot carrying the letter.
Rendered in pen and ink and oil paint on board these colorful, creative illustrations grab your attention as soon as you open up the dust jacket and book case. These marvelous machines, bits and pieces of moving metal, are distinctive in physical characteristics and expression. The opening and closing endpapers zoom in on the blueprints first for letters A and B and then for Y and Z. You have to wonder, looking a the verso page, if the project will proceed according to the plans when a solitary robot is scratching his head as he looks at the entire set.
All the pictures extend from edge to edge with a white background meeting the grassy meadow on which the finished framework will stand but a single letter is on the left and right side. The robotic activities are tied together always by color but sometimes with one robot interacting with another. Watkins has included additional elements which begin with each letter; some obvious, others needing a careful eye to locate.
One of my favorite illustrations, already mentioned above, is that for the letters G and H. On the opposite side of the hydrant is a hose connected to a robot made of a clear watering canister. With his one arm he is holding a hose hissing steam at the letter H. A tiny heart is on his body. The robot trying to avoid the grumpy dog is wearing glasses. Watkins adds the tiniest details like the water dripping from the attachment of the hose to the hydrant.
If you are looking for quiet book R Is For Robot: A Noisy Alphabet written and illustrated by Adam F. Watkins is not for you. It's a fun-filled title loaded with action and humor. One read aloud will not suffice. Expect requests to read this again and again. I think it would be a great idea to assign a sound to each student in the classroom having them repeat it after it's read adding to the sounds until the end when it will be a symphony.
I have embedded a link to Adam F. Watkins website in his name. Enjoy the book trailer.
I obtained my copy of this book from my favorite indie book store, McLean & Eakin Booksellers in Petoskey, Michigan. Please make a purchase with your favorite independent bookstore or visit your local public library.
We are never sure where this search will take us. We are never sure if the information we find will be favorable. Love, Z (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, December 18, 2018) written and illustrated by Jessie Sima is about such a discovery, quest and revelation that will leave a print on your heart.
