Monday, November 5, 2012

Picture Books -- Day 4


Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman is one of my kids' favorite picture books from this year.  I think that its popularity at our house may have something to do with the corny voice I use for the robot, but really, when a character says things like, "Affirmative!" and "Did-you-malfunction?" his voice begs to be read in "robotspeak".

When a boy and a robot meet, they become instant friends and spend the day playing outdoors until a rock bumps the robot's power switch and he shuts down.  Concerned, the boy takes his new friend home and tries to help him.  Another accidental bump turns the robot on in the middle of the night, but now the boy is asleep, so roles are reversed as the robot takes the boy home to fix him.  All is put right in the end, and we see a joyful double-page spread filled with scenes of the two together.

Dan Yaccarino's bright gouache paintings bring the robot to life, giving depth to the friendship.  And I love the humor in the details: the boy sipping his soda, while the robot sips his oil; and the robot trying to oil the boy's ear.

With short snappy sentences and only a handful of words per page, this energetic picture book can be enjoyed by early independent readers as well.

Boy + Bot
by Ame Dyckman
illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
published by Alfred A. Knopf
April 2012

2 comments:

  1. This one is a favorite of mine, too. I love books that let you do silly voices - and a robot voice is actually something I can manage. It is a really simple, fun story that kids love.

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  2. I think most of my kids favorite books have to do with a silly-voiced mama! We'll definitely have to pick this one up!!

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