Tobor the Carry-On Robot is a middle-grade novel for ages nine and older; it is not only an entertaining adventure but also extremely educational. Included are current photographs of various sites in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Hong Kong, as well as several taken during the Vietnam War.
IT JUST ISN’T FAIR. Kids have to go to school while adults get to travel to all sorts of cool places. For example, young Sean Maclure’s grandparents have planned an awesome Asian trip. Sean ponders this situation and comes up with a plan. He asks his grandfather to build a robot—one that can collapse into a carry-on bag for airline travel. The robot could take pictures and supply narrations of the trip, which could be transmitted to him and his sisters via the Internet. Sean’s older sister, Carolyn, scoffs at his totally lame idea. His younger sister, Allison, offers Plan B: she is yet to enter elementary school and can accompany the grandparents on the trip. Sean’s plan comes to fruition on Christmas morning when the grandparents show up with Tobor. The kids spend a few weeks with Tobor and become the envy of the children in their neighborhood and their schools. The goodbyes are tearful when the grandparents depart for the airport with Tobor, bound for Singapore. After a few days in the fine city (Tobor explains the adjective), they board a cruise ship that stops at ports in Thailand and Vietnam. They disembark in Hong Kong, where they spend several days in the fascinating city before returning home.
Each day, Tobor transmits a narration and a series of photographs to Sean and his sisters; this information gives the kids an up-close-and-personal peek at the travel experiences. Tobor not only gives the children a glimpse of foreign lands but also provides information on a variety of topics, such as why flamingos are pink, the nuances of the Chinese calendar, and the Thai greeting, known as the wai. Although Tobor has an extensive on-board database, which can be enhanced by searching the Internet, he initially is extremely naïve. However, as the story progresses, he becomes less robotic and more human. Furthermore, his learning experiences develop his unique personality. In addition to visiting many fascinating places, Tobor and the grandparents become acquainted with each country’s equally fascinating residents.
Not uncommonly, travelers experience bumps in the road, and this trip is no exception. Several misadventures occur, one of which almost results in the destruction of Tobor.
