Why aren’t there more awesome kids’ books about robots? Kids love robots! More kids love robots than probably love farm animals, and yet we’re subjected to billions of books about cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, and ducks. But I have been ransacking the Austin Public Library system and pickings are very slim. Folks, if there’s a city in Texas that should have a library full of robot books? It’s high-tech Austin. And yet there’s a shortage!
Here are our picks for excellence. Four books. That’s it. Four little lonely awesome robot books. If you have any robot book suggestions for us, please leave a comment! We have read so many dull ones, any lead on something that shines is greatly appreciated.
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Cookie Bot, by Katie Van Camp, and illustrated by Lincoln Agnew>
Of course if you build a robot to get you cookies, it will run amok! What else would happen! This is a funny little story with super-bold kind of retro art that I really enjoyed. This is more for younger kids, but well worth tracking down.
Robot Zombie Frankenstein, by Annette Simon, is a book that geeky parents will probably flip over. It’s the same humor that powers the funniest parts of the geeky internet – by which I mean ridiculous escalation and combining as many nerdy things as possible. Robots? Sure! Robot zombies? Even better! Robot zombie frankenstein! Bring it on! Also, there’s pie. How can you lose?
Atomic Ace and the Robot Rampage by Jeff Weigel is the second Atomic Ace book, but I found this one far more compelling. The old-style comic book inspired art, rhyming text that avoids the dreaded sing-song, and a nice surprise ending all combined for a very satisfying tale. That might just be because I’m a comics fan, but my guess is no. Try it and let me know what you think.
Oh No!: Or How My Science Project Destroyed The World. Dan Santat is one of my favorite children’s illustrators. He’s outdone himself here illustrating Mac Barnett’s perfectly understated text oozing with science-fiction-y goodness and girl inventor power. “Everything was going so well… until the rampage started, that is.” Fans of robots, comics, and monster movies should flat out buy this one. You can thank me later.
And that’s the list of our favorite kids’ books about robots!