The Wild Robot
By Peter Brown
From Goodreads:
When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island. Why is she there? Where did she come from? And, most important, how will she survive in her harsh surroundings? Roz’s only hope is to learn from the island’s hostile animal inhabitants. When she tries to care for an orphaned gosling, the other animals finally decide to help, and the island starts to feel like home. Until one day, the robot’s mysterious past comes back to haunt her….
My thoughts on this book:
My family loves Peter Brown and we have a few of his other children’s books in our home library which are favorites. We were so excited to find out he had written a middle-grade book and went ahead and purchased The Wild Robot. After my daughter read it, she kept begging me to get to it and I’m sorry I waited so long. This turned out to be a great read!
The story begins with a robot named Roz who has arrived on an island. She was in a crate among other robots on a ship and now has been washed up on the shore. Roz seems to be the only robot left as the others have been crashed and broken into pieces. As she begins to explore the island, she meets many animals along the way and discovers what living in the wild is all about.
“Hello, I am ROZZUM unit 7134, but you may call me Roz. While my robotic systems are activating, I will tell you about myself.”
At first, Roz is disliked by the wildlife population because they can’t figure out what she is–they’re more concerned about being eaten. On top of that, they also don’t understand her language. They call her a monster, but as time moves on they discover that Roz doesn’t eat and they warm up to her. We really enjoyed the parts where Roz observes and learns about kindness, including how to become friends with the animals on the island. She has a strong instinct to survive, but knows she’ll need help from those who are experienced. Roz is unique and seems to actually feel some human emotions which makes her incredibly interesting.
What I personally loved most about this story is the theme of family. Roz learns early on how to care for a newly hatched gosling and raises it as her own son. I’ve always felt strongly that family doesn’t have to be blood. Family to me is anyone you love and it’s all about loyalty. The most important thing is loving one another and having each other’s back. I felt this message throughout the entire book. I also feel that this story teaches responsibility while sharing the beauty of nature and its natural order. With that said, some younger children might be sensitive to the animal deaths that do occur, and I also found the ending quite emotional. My daughter and I have different feelings about the ending, but she’s gone on to read the second book and that might be why.
We were all captivated with the illustrations in between the text. The powerful illustrations and short chapters aid in keeping younger readers (like my five-year-old) engaged. Overall, this is a well-crafted, middle-grade story for kids with an omniscient narrator, interesting descriptions, and in a format that the whole family found visually stimulating. There wasn’t an abundance of excitement, but even so, it’s a great book. My 8-year-old has read it twice by herself and it’s one of her favorites. We spent hours drawing and creating different scenes with Roz which turned into a little art session. This was a fun experience and now I’ll move on to The Wild Robot Escapes.
4****
Find this book on Amazon and Goodreads:
- Age Range: 8 – 11 years
- Grade Level: 3 – 7
- Series: The Wild Robot (Book 1)
- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; First Edition (stated) edition (April 5, 2016)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0316381993
- ISBN-13: 978-0316381994
About the author:
Peter Brown is an American writer and illustrator who is best known for children’s picture books.
“Peter has always loved telling stories. Growing up in New Jersey, he told stories by drawing whimsical characters and scenes from his imagination. Then, as a teenager, he fell in love with writing, and told his tales with words. While studying illustration at Art Center College of Design, Peter’s love of both words and pictures led him to take several courses on children’s books, and before long he knew he’d found his calling.
After graduating from Art Center Peter moved to New York City to be closer to the publishing industry. He was working on animated TV shows when he signed a book deal to write and illustrate his first picture book, Flight of the Dodo. Peter quickly signed up his second and third books, and his career as an author and illustrator of children’s books was under way.
Peter’s books have earned him numerous honors, including a Caldecott Honor (2013) for Creepy Carrots!, two E.B. White Awards and an E.B. White Honor, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book award, a Children’s Choice Award for Illustrator of the Year, two Irma Black Honors, and five New York Times bestsellers.
Peter lives in Brooklyn, New York. —Source: Goodreads
This sounds so bloody adorable!!! 😍😍 I love that cover and the illustrations. It also sounds like it has a great moral to it! I’m glad your family loved it so much, and your drawing is so good! 💖👍
LikeLiked by 3 people
That’s exactly how I felt when I saw the gorgeous cover! The illustrations are so awesome and I fell in love with Roz. It does have multiple good morals in it as well. It’s a really good story and I hope you get to read it. Thank you! ♥️
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yup, kids of all ages love a friendly robot. It’s pretty cool she is a girl robot.
Happy Trails!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought so too! With the name, you almost think Roz has to be a boy. Thanks! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
My 10 year old loved this book. She went on to read the second, too. Great review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s wonderful! I’m glad she finished the second two. I’m starting it now. Thanks for your comment! ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t heard of this book… Maybe I need to read it first before giving it to my niece… When she grows up..
Seems like a cute one…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s great, Shalini. It’s good for most ages. Hope you enjoy! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that children’s books have illustrations in them. Sometimes I wish Adult books did too.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Exactly! I feel the same. 😉 Thank you for your comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my goodness. This has to be the sweetest thing I’ve read today!! How lovely. Thanks for sharing this. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Nina! You’re so kind. 😊 I bet your kids would likely love this book! ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Probably. lol. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely review, favorite M, and I loved that you had an art session with this one. Also that your 8 year old loves it too! ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jen! We had so much fun drawing Roz. Have a great weekend! ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this post! And I really need to read this Peter Brown’s Creepy Carrots is one of my favorite picture books and I’m so curious how he handles middle grade. Also, that drawing of Roz is adorable!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! Creepy Carrots is one of our favorites too. That and Creepy Pair of Underwear haha. His illustrations are perfect. I think you’d enjoy this one! Thanks so much! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
An excellent book, truly one of the best. I have read this aloud to captive audiences. I am now reading aloud the sequel, The Wild Robot Escapes. Thank you for a terrific review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jennie! I think it’s a wonderful book too. I’m starting the second one now and have high hopes. Unfortunately, my 8-year-old didn’t like the second as much, but I’m still hopeful. Have a great weekend! ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
My 8-year-old boys in my library group loved the wolf, and how he kept returning. They really ‘get’ Roz and her quest. Did your son stick with the book till the end? If I had to choose, I would also pick the first book. Happy weekend to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My 8-year-old daughter read both books, but didn’t love the second. She read the first book multiple times, but she was never really happy with the end. I think she had issues with what actually happens with Roz in the second book as well, but I didn’t get into details with her because I want to read it myself. I think what’ll happen is she’ll read along with me again when I start so, we’ll see how we both feel about it then.
I’m glad your group loves the books! The illustrations are so simple yet captivating. I’m really happy we have them in our home library. 😁
LikeLike
So much family fun. I love the picture of Roz. I will have to look at this one. My grandson is a bit young yet, but he loves robots and circuits and all that stuff and of course family is such a great theme. Was this one of you Christmas purchases? It looks like one I will read and possibly recommend to my teacher librarian friends. Wonderful review Jen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Carla! I think your grandkids will love this one. We actually bought this a very long time ago lol. My daughter begged me all last year to read it after she read it twice. I finally got to it! She enjoyed it for a third time, so I highly recommend. ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a pretty good endorsement to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a fun book! The illustrations look terrific!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really is, Mackey. Kids love it! 😉
LikeLike
Great review! I like that the book had the family theme in it. Always super important!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much! I agree and loved the family theme in this. 😉 Hope all is well with you! Love your new pic! 💗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Things are going well with me. I hope the same for you! Thanks! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fabulous review! I keep looking at this one and wishing one of my kids would be interested in it. The illustrations alone have me sold. Alas, my littles are not sold on it. Yet. I might check it out of the library and read it for myself. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you enjoy it! Thank you! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed this one. The Robot Returns has been on my list to read…The drawing is amazing too! ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome! We are just starting the second. Is there a third book? Thanks! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome sharing!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
Wow! Nice! I love the illustration and the pic at the end. So artistic! I’ll have to read this one for sure. Great review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you’ll like this one! Thank you 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing. I’ll add it to my picture book reading list because I love Peter Brown’s picture books like “Mr Tiger Goes Wild.” And “The Curious Garden.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope you enjoy! Thank you 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person