The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown, Kate Atwater (Read by)

Overview

Wall-E meets Hatchet in this New York Times bestselling illustrated middle grade novel from Caldecott Honor winner Peter Brown

Can a robot survive in the wilderness?

When robot Roz opens her eyes for the first time, she discovers that she is all alone on a remote, wild island. She has no idea how she got there or what her purpose is—but she knows she needs to survive. After battling a violent storm and escaping a vicious bear attack, she realizes that her only hope for survival is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the island's unwelcoming animal inhabitants.

As Roz slowly befriends the animals, the island starts to feel like home—until, one day, the robot's mysterious past comes back to haunt her.

From bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator Peter Brown comes a heartwarming and action-packed novel about what happens when nature and technology collide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781549175435
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	04/07/2020
Series:	The Wild Robot , #1
Sales rank:	404,402
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 5.80(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Peter Brown is the author and illustrator of many bestselling children's books, including Children Make Terrible Pets and The Curious Garden. He is the recipient of a Caldecott Honor for Creepy Carrots!, two E.B. White Read Aloud Awards, a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book award, and a Children's Choice Award for Illustrator of the Year. Peter's website is www.peterbrownstudio.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Wild Robot:


A New York Times Bestseller
An Entertainment Weekly Best Middle Grade Book of the Year
An Amazon Best Book of the Year Top Pick
An IndieBound Bestseller
ALA Notable Book for Children
New York Public Library Best Books for Kids Pick
Kirkus Best Children's of the Year Pick
School Library Journal Best of the Year Pick
Bank Street College of Education 2017 Best Children's Book of the Year
2018 Sunshine State Young Readers Award List Pick

"Brown has written a lively tale that is sure to engage young readers."—The New York Times

"Roz may not feel emotions, but young readers certainly will as this tender, captivating tale unfolds."—The Washington Post

* "[Peter] Brown's picture books are consistent bestsellers and critically acclaimed. Expect readers to go wild for his robot-themed novel."—Booklist, starred review

* "While the end to Roz's benign and wildlife is startling and violent, Brown leaves Roz and her companions—and readers—with hope. Thought-provoking and charming."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "This strong debut middle grade novel by the acclaimed picture book author/illustrator is a first purchase for most middle grade collections."—School Library Journal, starred review

* "Brown's middle-grade debut, an uplifting story about an unexpected visitor whose arrival disrupts the animal inhabitants of a rocky island, has a contemporary twist...Brown wisely eschews a happy ending in favor of an open-ended one that supports the tone of a story that's simultaneously unsentimental and saturated with feeling."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Roz is not easy to forget."—The Horn Book

From the Publisher

Brown has written a lively tale that is sure to engage young readers.

The New York Times Book Review - Adam Rubin

★ 01/18/2016
Brown’s middle-grade debut, an uplifting story about an unexpected visitor whose arrival disrupts the animal inhabitants of a rocky island, has a contemporary twist: the main character is a robot. A hurricane deposits Roz (short for ROZZUM unit 7134) on the island, where she is accidentally activated by a group of sea otters, who are terrified by the shiny monster awakening before their eyes. At first, Roz struggles to survive in an environment where she is treated as a frightening intruder, but after she adopts an abandoned gosling, she slowly becomes part of the island community, learning animal language and taking on motherhood and a leadership role. Brown (Mr. Tiger Goes Wild) convincingly builds a growing sense of cooperation among the animals and Roz as she blossoms in the wild. The allegory of otherness is clear but never heavy-handed, and Roz has just enough human attributes to make her sympathetic while retaining her robot characteristics. Brown wisely eschews a happy ending in favor of an open-ended one that supports the tone of a story that’s simultaneously unsentimental and saturated with feeling. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

12/01/2016
Gr 3–7—Though Roz, a robot, is initially viewed with suspicion when she finds herself on an isolated island, she soon becomes part of the natural order, parenting an orphaned gosling and providing shelter for the animals. But is there really a place for her within this ecosystem? Interspersed with charming black-and-white illustrations, this sweetly quirky fish-out-of-water tale will have readers contemplating questions about life, death, consciousness, and artificial intelligence.

School Library Journal

07/01/2016
Gr 3–7—Brown makes his chapter book debut with this story about a robot who finds herself shipwrecked on an island. ROZZUM unit 7134—Roz for short—uses her computer brain to gather information about her unfamiliar surroundings and quickly realizes that she must learn to adapt to her new environment and be wild in order to survive. The animals of the island are initially suspicious of the strange visitor and refer to her as "the monster." However, they begin to change their minds when she adopts an orphaned gosling and they see not only her kind and gentle nature but also the benefits her intelligence and strength have on the entire island community. Roz doesn't have emotions exactly but "something close to it," and listeners are left to judge for themselves whether or not Roz experiences feelings. The story is full of important messages without being preachy and doesn't shy away from the harsh truths of being a wild creature. Although the story is sweet and simple, it has the potential to be a great springboard for more serious discussions about the environment and the role of technology in society. Narrator Kate Atwater skillfully transitions from Roz's robotic voice to a variety of animals voices, including lively ChitChat the squirrel and grumpy Rockmouth the fish. VERDICT The open-ended conclusion will leave listeners hoping for more stories about this lovely robot. ["This strong debut middle grade novel by the acclaimed picture book author/illustrator is a first purchase for most middle grade collections": SLJ 1/16 starred review of the Little, Brown book.]—Theresa Horn, St. Joseph County Public Library, South Bend, IN

School Library Journal - Audio

★ 2016-01-20
A sophisticated robot—with the capacity to use senses of sight, hearing, and smell—is washed to shore on an island, the only robot survivor of a cargo of 500. When otters play with her protective packaging, the robot is accidently activated. Roz, though without emotions, is intelligent and versatile. She can observe and learn in service of both her survival and her principle function: to help. Brown links these basic functions to the kind of evolution Roz undergoes as she figures out how to stay dry and intact in her wild environment—not easy, with pine cones and poop dropping from above, stormy weather, and a family of cranky bears. She learns to understand and eventually speak the language of the wild creatures (each species with its different "accent"). An accident leaves her the sole protector of a baby goose, and Roz must ask other creatures for help to shelter and feed the gosling. Roz's growing connection with her environment is sweetly funny, reminiscent of Randall Jarrell's The Animal Family. At every moment Roz's actions seem plausible and logical yet surprisingly full of something like feeling. Robot hunters with guns figure into the climax of the story as the outside world intrudes. While the end to Roz's benign and wild life is startling and violent, Brown leaves Roz and her companions—and readers—with hope. Thought-provoking and charming. (Science fiction/fantasy. 7-11)

Kirkus Reviews