The Wild Robot

Peter Brown is on my funny bone radar!  A talented illustrator and author he got my attention with his picture book My teacher is a monster! (no, I am not).  I had to check out his first middle grade fiction book when I heard that kids were staying up late into the night to finish.  If you love the outdoors, animals and a good action story this is perfect.  It may encourage all sorts of conversations with young readers about the environment, technology and what it means to survive.

Roz the robot makes for an unusual mother taking care of her adopted little gosling Bright Bill.  Stranded on an island after being knocked off her ship in a hurricane she is thrust into survival mode by learning to adapt to her surroundings and make friends with those who seem unwelcoming.  No one knows for sure, but even if she is a robot, you might believe she does have feelings or emotions.  In the audio version (only 3 CDs!) Kate Atwater does an outstanding job maintaining Roz’s robotic voice and convincingly allowing the robot to evolve into a compassionate and friendly creature.  Be sure to get to know Chit Chat the squirrel and all the other outrageous animals on the island with Roz.