And the Robot Went . . .

by Michelle Robinson, Sergio Ruzzier (Illustrator)

Overview

Starting with a box of parts, the Nosy Fox, the Bear in a Blazer, the Blue Gnu, and other remarkable builders assemble the Robot, step by step. Each stage of the process has its own sound effect, and the growing list of sounds is repeated in every spread. Young children will happily Click, Clang, and Tappa Tappa along and relish the surprise ending of this winsome cumulative tale.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544586529
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/02/2017
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD550L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Michelle Robinson has written numerous picture book texts published in the UK and/or the US. She hoards cardboard, foil, and plastic bottle caps so her children can build their own robots and other creations. Her book There's a Lion in My Cornflakes won the Sainsbury's Children's Book Award for Best Picture Book in 2014. She lives in England with her family.

Sergio Ruzzier has illustrated a number of picture books, some of which he also wrote. Italian by birth, he lives in Brooklyn.

Editorial Reviews

03/06/2017
In this cumulative, rhythmic tale, a growing group of endearingly oddball characters tries to put together a robot; for every action, there is an equally evocative noise. “The Eager Beaver pulled the lever,” writes Robinson (Odd Socks), “the Wicked Witch flicked the switch, the Bear in a blazer fired the laser, and the Robot went... ‘Zap! Click! Bang! Boooo.” Their efforts don’t come together until the narrator, a girl in blonde pigtails, shows up with a big windup key and a take-charge attitude. Under her confident management, the robot fully animates, thanks everyone, and walks into the sunset, giving a final twist to the title and refrain. Ruzzier’s (This Is Not a Picture Book!) watercolor-and-ink scenes have a winsome silliness, although the actual assemblage of the robot isn’t as easy to track as the text. But it’s easy to forgive these moments because the cast is so delightfully unpredictable (such as the King of Dogs, wearing a crown of bones), and because of the almost parental pride that emanates from this motley crew. Ages 4–7. Author’s agent: James Catchpole, Catchpole Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"An excellent selection for any collection, especially those with fans of robots and noisy interactive stories." —SLJ "Adults reading to large groups will get great mileage out of this uniquely mechanical medley..."—Kirkus Reviews "...delightfully unpredictable..."—Publishers Weekly "Preschoolers will love shouting out all the sounds, and a semi-poignant, semi-funny ending provides opportunities for discussion." —Horn Book —

From the Publisher

06/01/2017
PreS-Gr 1—Nosy Fox looks in a box and starts off a chain of repeated attempts to rebuild a disassembled robot. As new characters are introduced, they add new parts, but the robot still sputters and fails to function. Finally, "Me," a young blonde girl, appears with the key and cranks the robot to life, and off it goes. The text is playful and creative and a great way to introduce challenging vocabulary and the concept of rhyming words (eager beaver pulls a lever, blue gnu twists a screw). The repetition is reminiscent of that of "The House That Jack Built." The story is a mouthful but fun to read aloud. Ruzzier's illustrations are exciting and enticing. VERDICT An excellent selection for any collection, especially those with fans of robots and noisy interactive stories.—Kaitlin Malixi, Bucks County Free Library, Doylestown, PA

School Library Journal

2017-03-06
Teamwork + trial and error = a happy robot and an ear-splitting racket. A curious fox starts the proceedings when it looks in a box and a robot head inside says, "Boooo." In cumulative fashion, the Nosy Fox's tinkering sets off a chain of events in which it is emulated by other creatures, such as a Wicked Witch who "flicked a switch," a Crocodile who "turned the dial," and a Blue Gnu who "twisted the screw." With each modification the robot emits wilder and wackier sounds. Adults reading to large groups will get great mileage out of this uniquely mechanical medley, which cumulates on verso following each interaction: "Clang! Flash! Tippa-tappa! Ooh! Zap! Click! Bang! Boooo." Finally nothing works, until a small white child arrives, armed with a skate key. The kid quickly takes charge, instructs the others what to do, and after a cacophony of clinking and clanking, a grateful, tearful robot takes its leave. Gentle rhymes add a great deal of pleasure to the reading, and most scan beautifully, though some American readers may stumble over "the Eager Beaver pulled the lever." The conclusion too is not free from confusion. Was this reconstruction the point all along or a happy end product of these creatures' collective curiosity? Ruzzier's art, given free rein, offers no answers but enlivens the fiasco, unapologetically ratcheting up the chaos. Satisfying robot high jinks. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews