Raybot

by Adam F. Watkins, Kristin Kalbli (Read by), Andrew Bates (Read by)

Overview

When an inquisitive robot named Raybot begins to explore Earth, he knows he is supposed to find the thing that goes "bark." But try as he might, all he can find are things that go "roar" and "oink" and "moo." Still, Raybot keeps searching, and on the way, he discovers that Earth is full of interesting, friendly creatures. Children will relate to Raybot's wonder as he discovers new sounds and animals in the world, and adults will appreciate the detail and beauty in the hand-painted illustrations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399543845
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	03/22/2016
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	119 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Adam F. Watkins lives in southern Ohio with his wife, Amy, and daughter, Lucy. He graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design in 2004, where he majored in illustration, studying under C. F. Payne his junior and senior years. He worked for an advertising agency in Cincinnati after graduation and is now a full-time freelancer. He loves children's books and the outdoors.

Editorial Reviews

2016-01-09
A junkyard robot ventures out into the wide world in search of a friend. Watkins lavishes considerably more care on his illustrations and sound effects than on the trite storyline and prose. He sends his lonely bot out on the road knowing only (from a found advertisement) that a "Best Friend" says "Bark." The trip becomes an odyssey as farm animals ("BAAAAA"; "OINK"), woodland creatures ("GROWL!"), jungle residents ("OO-OO AH-AAAH!"), and even fish ("GLUB!") disappoint him. When at last a gaudily feathered rain-forest parrot repeats his "BARK?" Raybot is delighted: "A puppy!" The pleasure is compounded as the "puppy" comes with a wagging, four-footed companion that says, "WOOF!" Off the three go together, Raybot realizing that "puppies and friends come in all different shapes and sizes." How Raybot makes the conceptual conclusive leap is quite unclear. A close visual cousin to the lanky, lantern-jawed mechanicals in Watkins' R Is for Robot (2014), Raybot poses with a great many big, open-mouthed, mostly friendly-looking animals. Their sometimes-unexpected utterances—a beaver's "SKWEEP," "BARAAG!" from a giraffe, a hippo's bellowed "HU-HU-HURUUGH!"—are likely to be all that will catch the attention of, and tempt responses from, young audiences. A bland take on a heavily used plot that nevertheless has some potential as a high-volume storytime choice. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews