Little Robot - Ben Hatke

When a little girl finds an adorable robot in the woods, she presses a button and accidentally activates him for the first time. Now, she finally has a friend. But the big, bad robots are coming to collect the little guy for nefarious purposes, and it's all up to a five-year-old armed only with a wrench and a fierce loyalty to her mechanical friend to save the day!

Ben Hatke is a fantastic illustrator, storyteller, and speaker (and he's pretty darn adorable, too!) Perhaps best known for Zita the Spacegirl, Hatke has constructed a beautiful and heartwarming story of friendship between a young girl and a newly awoken robot. The colour palate is rich and warm, even in night time scenes.

Perhaps what I love most is the development of the little girl, who goes from being a bit of a loner, to becoming confident in herself by acting as a sort of parental figure or educator for the little robot. I also love that she is mechanically inclined and, well, not white! As the little girl develops personality-wise, the robot also becomes more humanized. And as the adventure and danger increase, the bond between the two becomes more concrete.


There is excitement, adventure, humour, chase scenes, suspense, and mechanical ingenuity. This book has it all, including adorable robots! What more could anyone ask for? 

Highly Recommended

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