Boy + Bot

From bestselling author Ame Dyckman comes a simple and charming story sure to entertain readers of all ages. One day, while collecting pinecones, a boy encounters a lost robot. The two become fast friends, and the boy’s creativity and adventurous spirit delights the pragmatic robot. However, the pair’s fun comes to an abrupt halt when the robot bumps his off-switch. Concerned for his friend, the boy takes the deactivated robot home. There, he treats and cares for the robot in the only way he knows how: he feeds him applesauce, reads him a story, and tucks him in for bed.   

That night, the power switch bumps again and awakens the robot. Assuming that the sleeping boy is deactivated, the robot carries the boy to his home: a laboratory belonging to the robot’s kind inventor. There, the robot treats and cares for the sleeping boy in the only way he knows how: he reads him an instruction manual. He prepares a battery for him. When the robot’s inventor returns home, the boy finally awakens. The boy and robot are delighted to see that the other is perfectly okay. The inventor drives the boy back to his parents, but the boy and robot agree to play tomorrow. 

Boy + Bot is a very easy read, with only one to seven short sentences per page and no challenging vocabulary. The book is illustrated by prolific illustrator Dan Yaccarino. An author himself, Yaccarino matches the book’s simple story with illustrations that do not draw the reader’s focus away from the narrative. The main characters’ outfits are drawn with vibrant colors that catch the reader’s eye. Meanwhile, the backgrounds are limited to no more than two muted colors, and many pages have no background at all. Through this, the reader is able to focus on the Boy and Bot’s story without getting distracted by details of their environment. 

While not a challenging read, Boy + Bot is a warm and comforting story that teaches young readers the value of accepting and uplifting their friends. Boy and Bot could not be any more different on the surface, but their mutual love of play and exploration forms a quick and tight bond. If you are looking for a fast and easy read that tells an enjoyable story with a strong message, Boy + Bot is an excellent choice. 

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None 

Language  

• None 

Supernatural 

• None

Spiritual Content  

• None