With the popularity of robotics programs in schools and community groups, interest in robots and robotics is high! If you’d like to add a technological flair to your displays or booklists, consider these fun titles with high appeal for a wide range of readers:
(image taken from Penguin Random House)
Boy + Bot is a sweet and funny story that highlights friendship, kindness, and misunderstandings. When Bot’s power is accidentally switched off, he attempts to re-spark Bot with applesauce and books. When Boy falls asleep, Bot tries to rouse him with oil and by reading aloud from his instruction manual. Luckily, an inventor steps in to smooth things over.
(image taken from Penguin Random House)
Hilo Book 1: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth was one of my top favorite graphic novel reads in 2015; I am anxiously waiting for the sequel to arrive soon! Two friends befriend a friendly, entertaining, but somewhat odd boy who has literally crashed onto Earth. The characterizations of the three friends are realistic, charming, and heartwarming.
(image taken from Macmillan)
Little Robot is another fantastic robot-themed graphic novel from 2015; this nearly wordless story features an African-American girl (who lives in a trailer park) and her newly formed friendship with a robot that has crashed into her industrial town. The two pals explore and go on many adventures until the robot factory searches for its missing robot. The little girl (who is not named) is strong, courageous, and inventive, adding much needed diversity and characterization in robot-themed books!
(image taken from National Geographic)
Finally, if you want a nonfiction read for young independent readers, Robots (National Geographic Kids) should definitely be in your collection. National Geographic Kids’s nonfiction readers are highly recommended (and highly popular) for their graphic design, clear writing, and high-appeal to both reluctant and ravenous readers alike.
Do you have any favorite robot-themed books? Discuss them in the comments!
Brenda Kahn
Nice choices, especially the Swanson book. It is just gorgeous! But robot books are all the rage lately. I’d add The Wild Robot by Peter Brown; Nanobots by Chris Gall; Robo-Sauce by Adam Rubin; the House of Robots series by Chris Grabenstein; the Robots Rule series by C.J. Richards and Dav Pilkey’s Ricky Ricotta series recently underwent a makeover with poppin’ illustrations by Dan Santat.
Brenda Kahn
Oops! Just realized that the non-fiction title is NOT Jen Swanson’s! Please allow me to add hers: Everything Robotics.
Jennifer Schultz
Brenda, I have The Wild Robot on my TBR list. It doesn’t stay long in our “New Books” section, so I haven’t had a chance to grab it (which is great, in its own way!).
Lisa
The Wild Robot is great in audiobook format. 🙂 Maybe you have that checked in. I reviewed it for AudioFile Magazine last month. [http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/110681/the-wild-robot-by-peter-brown/]
Renee Perron
How Lunchbox Jones saved me from robots, traitors, and Missy the Cruel by Jennifer Brown is a great middle school read that involves a colorful group of kids on a school’s robotics team.
And I love HILO! I heard there will be 6 books in that series.
Paige
Agree! great list! We love reading Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep! by Todd Tarpley and love the Robot Rules series too. So many fun robot children’s books.
Jennifer Schultz Post author
Renee Perron: Wow, 6 more Hilo books! That just made my morning.
Paige: Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep! is fun. Very popular at our library!
Lisa
Big Bot, Small Bot : A Book of Robot Opposites by Marc Rosenthal is a winner.
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