Doll-E 1.0

by Shanda McCloskey

Overview

A STEM-friendly tale of a girl and the doll she upgrades to be her new friend, for fans of The Most Magnificent Thing and Rosie Revere, Engineer.

Charlotte's world is fully charged! With her dog at her side, she's always tinkering, coding, clicking, and downloading. She's got a knack for anything technological—especially gadgets that her parents don't know how to fix! Then, she receives a new toy that is quite a puzzle: a doll! What's she supposed to do with that? Once she discovers the doll's hidden battery pack, things start to get interesting...while her faithful canine sidekick wonders if he'll be overshadowed by the new and improved Doll-E 1.0! With a little ingenuity and an open mind, everyone can be friends in this endearing, modern tribute to the creative spirit of play.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316510318
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	05/01/2018
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	298,161
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Shanda McCloskey was inspired to develop the determined, creative character of Charlotte by the entrepreneurial spirit of her family members and by watching her inventive daughters play with their toys. She studied art in Atlanta and New York City, and Doll-E 1.0 is her first book for children. Shanda lives near Atlanta, Georgia, and invites you to visit her at shandamc.com.

Editorial Reviews

…a vigorous, witty and valuable addition to the still too-small shelf of books about girls and engineering. Where titles like Rosie Revere, Engineer feature characters struggling to find the confidence to experiment and build, Charlotte wears her technical prowess with brisk nonchalance, which allows McCloskey to tell a more complex and surprising story. Charlotte's power is a given. The fact that it stems from her facility with things electrical—literal power—is underscored by McCloskey's animated illustrations.

The New York Times Book Review - Julia Turner

03/12/2018
Charlotte is a little tech whiz (her “head was always in the cloud”), but while her parents appreciate having the personal IT support (“Easy fix, Mom. Just press this, this, and this”) it’s clear they’re worried, too; readers see them watching an alarmist news report, “Are Your Kids Too Techy?” They surprise Charlotte with the lowest-tech doll possible, which, to her mind, is like giving her a “human shaped pillow.” Then Charlotte learns that the doll has a battery-driven voice box—even if the doll only says “Mama.” This discovery, coupled with an unfortunate doll dismemberment by Charlotte’s terrier, enables the heroine to discover the fun to be had in the middle ground between analog and digital. Debut author McCloskey overcrowds her book with a few too many tech-themed nudges and winks (even Charlotte’s dog is named Blutooth). But her pencil and watercolor cartoons have a fetching exuberance, and the bespectacled, brainy Charlotte, who never doubts her talents, is an admirable whirlwind of energy and ideas. Ages 4–7. Agent: Erica Rand Silverman, Stimola Literary Studio. (May)

Publishers Weekly

A LITA Science Fiction Notables List Selection 2019
A National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and Children's Book Council (CBC) Best STEM Trade Book 2019
CCBC Choices 2019
Charter Oak Children's Book Award Winner 2019


"A vigorous, witty and valuable addition to the still too-small shelf of books about girls and engineering."—The New York Times Book Review

"An enjoyable romp for readers, whether they're plugged in or not."—Booklist

"Charlotte is an engaging character, expressive and thoughtful in equal measure."
—Kirkus Reviews

"McCloskey's picture book debut is not one to miss."—School Library Journal

"McCloskey finds the sweet spot between respect for a child's nerdy passion and the need to connect tinkering with life."—BCCB

"A fun read aloud for parents and great for conversation starters regarding technology in the home."—School Library Connection

"Charlotte exudes a can-do attitude that kids will find appealing, and that can only lead them to want to know more about building and coding....For 3-to-7-year-olds who've never known a world without technology, Doll-E 1.0 will be a delight—especially if they're the take-things-apart type. And if they'e not, but they like a funny story, this book will be just right."—Marco Eagle

From the Publisher

04/01/2018
PreS-Gr 2—Parents and children will enjoy this original take on the wired generation. Bespectacled Charlotte always has her head "in the cloud" as she tinkers with coding and downloading, teaches her parents how to use technology, and frolics with virtual reality, along with her faithful terrier, Blutooth. Concerned with her obsession, Charlotte's parents gift her an old-fashioned "mama" doll. When the "human shaped pillow" only sits and says one word, Charlotte takes it apart, discovers a power supply, and begins planning upgrades. Gradually getting more and more frustrated with lack of Charlotte's attention, Blutooth shreds the doll. Persistent Charlotte dons goggles and gloves, uses her spare parts collection, and creates Doll-E 1.0. Once the doll is more interactive, Charlotte enjoys her modified toy and Blutooth is happy it can take him for a run and offer biscuits. McCloskey's watercolor cartoons were edited in Photoshop. The pages are loaded with elements of Charlotte's zany collections. Her long electric blue hair, plaid dress, and yellow pearls are eye-catching. VERDICT McCloskey's picture book debut is not one to miss. A fun addition.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

School Library Journal

2018-02-13
A young girl receives a puzzling gift.Young Charlotte has always been the most tech-savvy member of her family, helping her mother with a tablet and her father with the smart TV. After Charlotte's parents observe a news report cautioning against letting kids get "too techy," the couple presents Charlotte with a doll. The doll doesn't move or think—it simply sits and utters the word "Ma-ma." Charlotte reasons that for a doll to talk it must have a power supply, and with a few modifications and a little imagination, Charlotte's doll becomes Doll-E 1.0. The STEM-friendly narrative is brought to life with charming pencil-and-watercolor illustrations, edited in Photoshop. The scratchy lines are reminiscent of the pictures children like Charlotte sketch at their drawing boards, and the dynamic compositions burst with energy. Charlotte is an engaging character, expressive and thoughtful in equal measure. Charlotte's doll is adorably rendered, looking mostly like any other common doll but just unique enough that little ones may want one of their own. Charlotte and her family present white; little dog Bluetooth is a scruffy, white terrier.An engaging story arguing for the marriage of technology with creativity and play. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews