FICTION

Raybot

by Adam F. WATKINS
illus. by Adam F. Watkins. 32p. Price Stern Sloan. 2016. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780843183009.
COPY ISBN
PopPreS-Gr 1—Raybot is lonely in his junkyard home until he sees something that provides him with a plan to find a best friend. He heads out on a global adventure, looking for a puppy that can bark. Traveling from farm to forest to jungle and even beneath the sea, he meets all sorts of friendly animals with their own unique sounds. Some moo, and others growl or hiss, but Raybot won't give up until he finds one that can bark. This charming story about a hopeful robot is done in pen and ink and oil paint on board. It begins with lively orange striped endpapers that parallel Raybot's body. From there, readers step into bright, spacious landscapes that star an expressive character with a hinged jaw and wide-set eyes. It's an engaging and participatory story, with text suitable for beginning readers.
VERDICT A silly and delightful read-aloud with the positive message that puppies and friends come in all shapes and sizes.
Reviewed by Gaye Hinchliff, King County Library System, WA
A dejected-looking robot searches the world for a puppy who can be his friend. He finally settles on a parrot who thinks it's a puppy (and barks)...and the parrot comes with its own friend, a (you guessed it!) puppy. While the illustrations use color and space to cinematic effect and animal-noise humor is evergreen, the culminating joke isn't worth the buildup.
 , Apr 01, 2016

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