Early Book Review: Snow White and the Seven Robots (Twisted Fairy Tales) by Stewart Ross

Snow White and the Seven Robots is part of the Twisted Fairy Tales series by Stewart Ross. it is currently scheduled for release on February 15 2020. When the wicked Star Queen shipwrecks her daughter, Snow White, on a remote forest planet, the plucky princess uses her engineering know-how to rebuild her ruined spacecraft into robot helpers! Can she and her mechanical friends find a way to defeat the Star Queen once and for all?

Snow White and the Seven Robots is of course a retelling of Snow White. I liked the illustrations and that Snow White was clever and kind, and that romance was not involved at all, although her good friend the prince was involved toward the end. Snow's ingenuity and determination was nice, but the whole think felt a little flat and forced for me. I can see some young readers enjoying it, as it is well illustrated, but it is not one that I will be recommending regularly. 

I requested this book and a second from the series in the same day- because I love fairytale retellings. I have seen some great ones for kids, my favorite still being Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood. I know they will not all be on that level, but generally I still find most of them to be fun reads. I do not expect to read more from this series after these two reviews are done. 

Book Review: Rusty the Squeaky Robot by Neil Clark

Rusty the Squeaky Robot is a picturebook written and illustrated by Neil Clark. Rusty is a friendly robot, but he’s feeling down about the way that he sounds. The other robots on Planet Robotone – show Rusty that being a little bit different is the best way to be, and together make a  song and dance together that celebrates their differences.

Rusty the Squeaky Robot has bright and bold illustrations. The story is all about being yourself and friendship. Rusty does not like that he is different, however he quickly discovers that everyone is different and when we accept each other, and work together, those differences make things beautiful and a lot more fun. I think children are much better at this that adults, and will quickly understand the lesson and enjoy finding ways to pool talents and differences in their own classrooms, families, or other groups. I like that the story is fun, and while the lesson is clear it does not feel like it is being spoon fed or forced on the reader, which always bothers me. I enjoy the fact that stories like this can help encourage empathy, acceptance, and further discussion. 

Early Book Review: Can You Find My Robot's Arm? by Chihiro Takeuchi

Can You Find My Robot's Arm? is a picturebook by Chihiro Takeuchi. It is currently scheduled for release on July 4 2017. This book is about a robot in search of his missing arm, in a paper-cut journey through home, garden, library, aquarium and the big city. He tries many objects that he finds in the world around him and discards them fairly quickly. Eventually he does settle on a replacement and discovers that it is not such a bad choice.

Can You Find My Robot's Arm? is a nice picturebook with well done paper-cut art work. The text is very simple, and the story allows for the reader to search each pages artwork for the robot's arm, and substitutions. I like the exploration of different possible arms, but was not blown away by the book. It was a good book, but not a great or stand out title. It is worth exploring for big robot fans, but I cannot picture it being requested for repeated reads. 

Book Review: Little Professor and his Robot Factory by Marianne Parry

Little Professor and his Robot Factory by Marianne Parry is a children's book including three stories following the adventures of three of Little Professor’s robots and their little helper friend Scooper Man. The stories are; Magnet Man: Soon after being created, Magnet Man decided to explore the world outside the factory, but his magnetic properties soon find him attracting a metal sign, a gate, a drainpipe and a car. These give him the appearance of a fearsome monster, which sends the local people scuttling inside their homes. Then there is Electric Man: Magnet Man’s friend, Electric Man can do sums very quickly and is soon put to use in the local school, helping a class teacher. He uses funny voices to make the lessons fun, but when the teacher is away, the children misbehave and he has to teach them a different sort of lesson. And finally Light Man: The third of the best friends, Light Man envies their adventures out of the factory but is soon to have one of his own. When that comes to an end, he involves all three plus Scooper Man in a street party with the now delighted local people.

Little Professor and his Robot Factory was a struggle for me. While I love all things science, silly, and robotic I just could not get into this book. While there were some fun aspects and some educational aspects neither really grabbed me. I wanted to love it- I expected to love it. However, I picked it up four or five times and never really felt engaged with the story. I think the ratio of text to pictures was off for the beginning reader target audience, either that or the scientific information and themes were geared too young for the readers that would be more comfortable with the amount of text. I want more science, more pictures, and much more fun to make this a better read. 

Early Book Review: The Adventures of Kung Fu Robot: How to Make a Peanut Butter, Jelly, and Kung Fu Sandwich by Jason Bays

The Adventures of Kung Fu Robot: How to Make a Peanut Butter, Jelly, and Kung Fu Sandwich by Jason Bays is a middle grade novel with plenty of illustrations and silly humor. It is currently scheduled for release on March 28 2017. Kung Fu Robot is an international machine of mystery and the savior of all things awesome and cool. He's the world record holder for ice cream sandwiches eaten in one sitting, the reigning champion of continuous nunchucking, and once won a bronze medal for the simultaneous stomach rubbing and head patting. Together with his 9-year old sidekick, Marvin, he faces his arch-nemesis, Kung Pow Chicken: a robotically-enhanced, foul fowl bent on destroying the city's peanut butter and jelly supply. Kung Fu Robot and Marvin must save the day, and their lunches!

The Adventures of Kung Fu Robot was a fast paced and silly read. The robot is absurdly excited, messy, and destructive while Marvin is the voice of reason and caution. I did like that contrast, and think the words of caution from Marvin might do some readers good to read and hopefully heed. The story did get a little repetitive for my taste, but the story was wacky enough that some readers will enjoy it.

I think The Adventures of Kung Fu Robot will appeal to reluctant or struggling readers because of its repetitive nature, and the crazy nature of the story. As an added incentive to those that enjoy the reader, there is a free interactive companion app for an innovative, augmented reading experience.

Book Review: Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell

Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell is a twist on Cinderella for mature middle grade readers, young adults, and adults. Nicolette learned to be an inventor at her mother’s knee. Her mom is gone now, and the Steps have turned her into a servant in her own home. On her sixteenth birthday, Nicolette discovers a secret workshop in the cellar and begins to dare to imagine a new life for herself. Could the mysterious books and tools hidden there be the key to escaping her dreary existence? With a technological exposition and royal ball on the horizon, the timing might just be perfect for Nicolette to earn her freedom at last.

Mechanica is a retelling of Cinderella with a touch or steampunk and extra fairy magic. Nicolette has lost her mother, who made magical, mechanical creations for both work and beauty. After her death Nick's father remarried and it was not long before she lost him as well. Then she was left to care for the house and the Steps herself, thankfully she had access to the machines and magic left behind to make things manageable. When she gains access to her mother's workshop on her sixteenth birthday everything gets better. She just might have found a way to escape and buy her family's home from the Steps- she can create and sell her own works. In the process she learns more about herself, her mother, and the larger world. Making friends and facing danger Nick just might have found a fairy tale ending, but is it what she really wants? I really enjoyed the dynamic of Nick and the friends she makes- although I did shh the big twist about them coming a mile away. What I found more interesting was that even though her new family is not exactly nice to Nick, there are moments when we can see each of the members as more than their cruel side. We are given glimpses that make them human and multifaceted despite their inhumane treatment of others. I also liked Nick's slow growth in understanding and worry about the work and magic she has involved herself in, and that through out everything being honest and true to herself prevails over some choices that would have made her life much nicer, at least on the surface.

Mechanica is more than a simple retelling of Cinderella. It is a coming of age story, a story about prejudice, a story about hard work, a story about determination, and a story about hope. While I could have done without a small bit of the story (love *cough* triangle) it is such a small portion of the larger story that it was easy enough to ignore. On top of it- the cover is awesome!

Some people are complaining that it sounds like a knock off of Cinder, but since I have not read Cinder (and the author sold this manuscript before Cinder was published) I cannot speak to that.

 

Early Book Review: Little Robot by Ben Hatke

Little Robot is a children's graphic novel by Ben Hatke. It is currently scheduled for release on September 1 2015. When a little girl finds an adorable robot in the woods, she presses a button and accidentally activates him for the first time. Now, she finally has a friend. But the big, bad robots are coming to collect the little guy for nefarious purposes, and it's all up to a five-year-old armed only with a wrench and a fierce loyalty to her mechanical friend to save the day.

Little Robot is another fantastic graphic novel from Hatke, who has yet to disappoint me. A young girl is off exploring and finds a box, that just happens to have a robot inside. when she activates him she gains a friend. They explore and start to understand each other. However, a larger robot is on the hunt for the little one and danger is on the way. I really liked that the friendship was not perfect, our young heroine makes some mistakes, but her determination to protect prevail. The artwork tells most of the story, since the mechanical players are not very verbal. The story is simply charming and sweet, with the strong girl lead that I have come to expect from Hatke. I think this is a graphic novel that children of all ages, from the youngest readers to the middle grade set, can find something to connect with.

Little Robot is another must read for fans for Hatke. The charming artwork combined with a story that has determination, kindness, and friendship overcoming forces bent on destruction is a definite winner.