Bitty Bot

by Tim McCanna, Tad Carpenter (Illustrator)

Overview

“Told in jaunty, rollicking rhymes that are enlivened by colorful, humorous digital illustrations, this robot version of a bedtime story demonstrates that, no matter how energetic a little ‘bot’ may be, there inevitably comes a time when ‘batteries are running low!’” —Kirkus Reviews

A little robot would rather go on an intergalactic adventure than go to sleep in this rhyming romp that breaks all the bedtime rules.

In a busy robot town
bots begin to power down.
All except for Bitty Bot!
Feeling sleepy?
Maybe not!

Charming text in rhyming verse tells the story of energetic Bitty Bot, who, instead of going to bed decides to build a rocket and go on a space adventure! Sweet and fun to read aloud, this bedtime book is perfect for tots and bots of all varieties.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481449298
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Publication date:	10/04/2016
Series:	Bitty Bot Series
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,289,041
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.40(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Tim McCanna is the author of Bitty Bot, Bitty Bot’s Big Beach Getaway, and Watersong, which was called a “joyful, gorgeous book” by Booklist. When he’s not writing books for children, Tim enjoys volunteering for SCBWI and taking trips to the beach. Tim has worked in advertising, written musicals, and played accordion in several bands before becoming a children’s book author. He lives in San Jose, California, with his wife and two kids. Visit him at TimMcCanna.com.

Tad Carpenter is a designer, author, teacher, and illustrator of many books for young readers. The New York Times Book Review raved of his Zoom! Zoom!, “Any child obsessed with trucks or backhoes or trains or steam shovels should get a jolt of pleasure from the vehicular energy on display here.” He lives in Kansas City, Missouri. Visit him online at TadCarpenter.com.

Editorial Reviews

Carpenter’s palette of blues and purples and greens conjures a vivid and unusual world of nighttime technology. . . . The book’s storyline will be a hit with kids and parents alike.

December 4, 2016 - USA Today

A lively fantasy that will make for a fun read-aloud.

Booklist

12/01/2016
PreS-K-Bitty Bot is a young robot who just isn't ready to power down when bedtime comes. Instead, Bitty Bot grabs some tools, builds a rocket, and travels to a faraway place with new creature friends and an all-hours dance party. When Bitty Bot does finally fall asleep—clearly in bed at home under the loving eye of parents—it's suggested that these rocket-fueled adventures may just have been the imaginings of a child trying for a later bedtime. The robotic adventure, real or imagined, makes for a fun, fanciful bedtime tale. McCanna refrains from using any gendered pronouns to refer to Bitty Bot, allowing all young readers to clearly see themselves in the creative characters. The nighttime hues of the majority of the spreads—lush teals, ceruleans, and lavenders—create a lovely, calming visual experience made all the richer by the contrast of the warm, bright colors of the daytime world. VERDICT Those looking for more preschool bedtime stories will find this a great addition to your stacks.-Amy Koester, Skokie Public Library, IL

School Library Journal

2016-07-20
What happens when robots wind down? Do they actually sleep?Yep, they do, according to this charmer with a mechanical twist. Told in jaunty, rollicking rhymes that are enlivened by colorful, humorous digital illustrations, this robot version of a bedtime story demonstrates that, no matter how energetic a little “bot” may be, there inevitably comes a time when “batteries are running low!” Filled with personality, Bitty is one imaginative, enterprising—and not tired—droid, first building a nifty spaceship, then rocketing to the moon and, in comical scenes reminiscent of the iconic cantina in the first Star Wars movie, cavorting in a rousing lunar dance-a-thon. The final scene shows Bitty building…who knows what, but this bot is clearly ready for another out-of-this-world adventure. Readers will have already seen, though, that sleep must inevitably follow a day of raucous activity. Vocabulary-enriching rhymes scan well, making this a fine read-aloud choice. The lively, action-filled illustrations with their retro look feature smiling, mostly gender-neutral robots of myriad colors, body shapes, and sizes, bearing varied whirring accoutrements. Young audiences will also chuckle at illustrations depicting young bots clutching favorite sleepy-time must-have toys—in one case, a tiny human. Young techies may or may not want to zoom into bed right after listening, but they’ll be more than a little “bitty” ready for repeat readings. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews

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