Perfect Picture Book Friday/ Robot Zot

Title: Robot Zot

Written by: Jon Scieszka

Illustrated by: David Shannon

Published by: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009, fiction

Themes: Humor, Robots, Action and adventure,

From the Jacket: Robot Zot— Wham Bot! Robot Zot crush Lot! Robot Zot will conquer Earth… unless he finds true love. The jacket summary says: Arriving in a suburban kitchen, their first stop on a mission to conquer planet Earth, tiny but brave Robot Zot and his mechanical sidekick, Bot, battle fearsome kitchen appliances.

Why I love it: I have the pleasure of introducing another gift to boys from Jon Scieszka. *Yay!*

Boys and reluctant readers will relate to the humor in this book. As it says on the bio that Jon Scieszka is the “first ever National Ambassador for young people’s literature. He is the founder of a literacy initiative for boys ( guysread.com ), which helps him carry out his mission on Earth: getting kids to read.” This book’s text is easy enough for first graders and early readers and the illustrations explain the battle plan. One thinks the Robot is alive until the very end when it is seen with a toy phone rigged up to look like a girl, and it is carried away on a garbage truck to conquer other galaxies.

Resources:  http://authors.simonandschuster.net/tagged_assets/robotzotactivities_6427.pdf  Robot Zot faced many fearsome foes on Earth, including a blender, a vacuum, and a TV. Can you think of something in your home that Robot Zot might think was an enemy—for example, a lamp? Draw a picture of it. There are also pages of mazes and spot the difference. Other activities parents can do is to talk about Robot Zot’s  view of Earth. Found here: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/robot-zot  Why does he see such ordinary things as monsters? He doesn’t seem to know much about Earth. Do you think he would have attacked so ferociously if he knew more about Earth before landing? In the end Robot Zot escapes safely with his queen. Do you think he’s really a hero? What makes someone brave or heroic?  

For more books with resources please visit Perfect Picture Books at Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog. And if you’d like to be whisked away through cyber space to the resource page and the list of more marvelous recommended perfect picture books just click on the perfect picture book badge on the right.

I am so happy to announce that the winner of the post Taconi And Claude –Double Trouble was “This kid reviews books”.  *Yay!*

*Throws confetti* and *throws charms* (just thought I’d throw something extra in there to see if you were awake.)

Erik, please send me the snail mail address you’d like the book to go to  and I’ll make sure it gets to you. Send it to Clarikebowmanjahn at yahoo dot com. That address is my business address and I will be sure and get it.

 

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  Jon Scieszka at the 2009 Texas Book Festival, Austin, Texas, United States. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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