Robot Zot!

by Jon Scieszka, David Shannon (Illustrator)

Overview

From the minds of Scieszka and Shannon comes a tale of a quixotic robot determined to conquer the earth. The only problem is that the earth he lands on is a suburban kitchen and he is three inches tall. Robot Zot, the fearless and unstoppable warrior, leaves a trail of destruction as he encounters blenders, toasters, and televisions. But when he discovers the princess...a pink cell phone...his mission takes a new course. Robot Zot must learn how to be a hero - in the name of true love.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781416963943
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Publication date:	09/22/2009
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	404,699
Product dimensions:	9.16(w) x 12.36(h) x 0.46(d)
Lexile:	AD530L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Jon Scieszka is the creator of Trucktown, including the New York Times bestselling Smash, Crash!, and the author of The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!, the Time Warp Trio series, Caldecott Honor Book The Stinky Cheese Man, and many other books that inspire kids to want to read. He has worked as an elementary school teacher and is the founder of GuysRead.com, a literacy initiative for boys.

David Shannon has written and illustrated numerous award winning picture books including Duck on a Bike, the Caldecott Honor Book No David!, How I Learned to be a Pirate, and Good Boy Fergus. He is also one of the collaborative illustrators in Jon Scieszka’s Trucktown series. David lives with his wife and his daughter in Los Angeles.

Editorial Reviews

Robot Zot is eager to conquer new worlds, but unfortunately, this pint-sized Napoleon is only about three inches tall. In this mission, Zot risks a dangerous foray into deep enemy territory; namely, a nicely equipped suburban kitchen. In the midst of vigorous battle with toasters and television, our robot hero falls head-over-tiny-heels in love with an astonishingly beautiful "Queen of all Earth," more recognizable to us as a toy cellphone. With renewed purpose, he vanquishes all the common household monsters, saves the day (and, of course, his queen), and departs for his next intergalactic adventure. A thoroughly enjoyable picture book sci-fi fantasy.

Scieszka and Shannon take a detour from their Trucktown series to pay homage to another object of childhood fascination. Robot Zot, a malevolent red contraption, crash lands “into the heart of the dangerous Earth Army” (a backyard) and makes his way into a fully equipped kitchen. There, it’s revealed that Zot is about the size of an iPod. After fending off “attacks” from a toaster and a television, Zot faces his toughest challenge yet: rescuing the amazing “Queen of all Earth” (an attractive toy cellphone). He and his sidekick (a cross between a snail and a conquistador’s helmet—one of a few references to the Quixotic nature of Zot’s mission) save the queen and escape while a bewildered homeowner surveys the aftermath and blames his dog. Scieszka laces his action-filled narrative with rhymes and repetitive robot phrases (“Robot Zot—never fall./ Robot Zot—conquers all!”). Shannon’s acrylic artwork offers bright colors and plenty of humor (a slightly anthropomorphized blender’s white buttons fall out like teeth under Zot’s attack). This comically self-deluded protagonist proves that fierce warriors of any size can still be brought to their knees by love. Ages 3–7. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Robot Zot invades Earth, vowing to destroy all earthly enemies-mostly kitchen appliances, as Zot measures a whopping four inches high. Scieszka and Shannon combine forces to deliver an hilarious, action-packed picture book characterized by grandiose face-offs, monosyllabic robot rants and wham-bam-boom pacing. Boys finally get the unadulterated action, hyperbolic humor and punchy language (Zot challenges, Zot blasts, Zot scans!) they love. Boys and girls will giggle as the little robot misinterprets a familiar world, the suburban home, calling the toaster the "Earth's shiny Captain" and a baby's toy phone "the Queen of all Earth." They will identify with the diminutive droid as he alters the scope of everyday surroundings. The kitchen morphs into a vast battlefield, the backyard into a beast-infested wilderness. The vibrant illustrations capture Zot's skewed perspective and misguided heroics in freeze-frame shots. Bright oranges, reds and yellows dominate the otherwise metallic palette and provide tough colors for tough kids. Sophisticated comedy, challenging vocabulary and pithy writing offer undetectable, beneficial learning opportunities, like zucchini hidden in a yummy cupcake. Must...Have...Robot...Zot! (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews

With fanfare, high melodrama, and enthusiasm, narrator James Naughton brings Scieszka’s zany robot, Zot, to Earth and to an exuberant exploration of this planet. Zot lands in a kitchen, where he explores cabinets, countertops, and appliances; falls in love; and faces an enormous challenge. As Zot, Naughton overflows with bold and boisterous confidence As narrator, Naughton is theatrical, and his zest for repetitive refrains such as “Robot Zot never falls, Robot Zot conquers all!” is loud and begs for listener participation. An interview with illustrator David Shannon, which highlights the origins of the book and his dynamic working relationship with Scieszka, concludes the production. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

NOVEMBER 2011 - AudioFile