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ihonkfordragons's review
5.0
I LOVED this little book! It think it had a great story that would be relatable to any middle-grader. The struggle to belong in a group, the difficulties of making friends, and coming to terms with one's mistakes were big themes in this. I loved how the book never once cornered the children into binary roles and embraced a diverse cast of characters while still being vague enough for any kid to see themself in the story. The ending was a little tear-jerker!
kelleemoye's review
4.0
Thank goodness books like this exist out in the world. I cannot wait to see what this new generation of kids are like as adults now that they all have these amazing stories of smart girls to read. Even the characters who fit a certain stereotype for Penny Rose ended up proving her wrong. This book shows that there is more to everything than anyone can imagine: more to science, more to friendship, more to imagination… What a fantastic world that Penny and Lark’s story can be told!
And the story itself is one that is fun to read. Not only do you get to read about robots, engineering, ornithology, and even decorating, but the book includes a story that many kids will connect with: do you abandon one to join the others even if the one is your best friend and the others is giving an opportunity that is hard to refuse. That is something that everyone faces more than once in their life. And told in a lyrical and a bit quirky narrative, the story is just fun to read.
Full review: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=19960
And the story itself is one that is fun to read. Not only do you get to read about robots, engineering, ornithology, and even decorating, but the book includes a story that many kids will connect with: do you abandon one to join the others even if the one is your best friend and the others is giving an opportunity that is hard to refuse. That is something that everyone faces more than once in their life. And told in a lyrical and a bit quirky narrative, the story is just fun to read.
Full review: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=19960
rkiladitis's review
4.0
Two girls discover their mutual love of tinkering and science in this quirky, fun, illustrated novel. Eleven-year-old Penny Rose is new in town, and doesn’t really have any friends yet – unless you count the little robots she makes in her shed. She makes them out of found objects, and tinkers lovingly with them, giving them names and looking after them every day. Lark, her neighbor, is a quirky girl next door who loves birds and tinkers with found objects given to her by the crows; she makes birdhouses to keep her friends safe from the elements. The two girls become friends and create an entire town for the little robots… and when a mysterious wind sweeps through their town, it brings some surprises with it! But while Penny and Lark enjoy one another’s company, a secret science club at school offers Penny membership in their society. Penny feels the tug between her new best friend and a group of like-minded science friends, but making the wrong decisions for the wrong reasons could cost Penny her best friend and the robots that she loves so much.
This is such an unconventional, enjoyable book! I love the idea of making creations out of found objects, and the touch of magical realism infused in this story makes it a joy to read. It’s a STEM story, a friendship story, and a comforting story about second chances. The little robots have their own personalities, each reflected in their names, bestowed on them by Penny. Penny is more tech-focused, while Lark prefers the world around her, showing that making and tinkering presents endless creations. The black and white illustrations throughout give life to the story and keep readers interested as they move through the book.
There’s a downloadable guide with discussion questions and activities, making this a good idea for an ELA/Science partnership or book club/Discovery Club program. I can’t wait until my library’s copy arrives, so I can start telling kids how much they need to read this book. Maybe it’s time for a secret science society at MY library… hmmmm…
This is such an unconventional, enjoyable book! I love the idea of making creations out of found objects, and the touch of magical realism infused in this story makes it a joy to read. It’s a STEM story, a friendship story, and a comforting story about second chances. The little robots have their own personalities, each reflected in their names, bestowed on them by Penny. Penny is more tech-focused, while Lark prefers the world around her, showing that making and tinkering presents endless creations. The black and white illustrations throughout give life to the story and keep readers interested as they move through the book.
There’s a downloadable guide with discussion questions and activities, making this a good idea for an ELA/Science partnership or book club/Discovery Club program. I can’t wait until my library’s copy arrives, so I can start telling kids how much they need to read this book. Maybe it’s time for a secret science society at MY library… hmmmm…
mikahmae's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
foosreadsandwrites's review against another edition
4.0
My girls and I really enjoyed this as a bedtime book! Sweet characters and a great plot surrounding the way secrets can complicate friendships.
aliciaellen's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to the Kid Lit Exchange network and Candlewick Press for the review copy of Weird Little Robots by Carolyn Crimi and illustrated by Corinna Luyken. All opinions are my own.
Penny Rose is nine years old and has just moved to a new town. She has struggled to make friends and spends most of her time building robots in the shed in her backyard. After spending her birthday alone, she makes a wish for a friend. The next day things begin to change. Her robots come to life and start moving on their own. She also befriends a girl named Lark, and they begin to work together on the robots. Then one day Penny Rose finds an invitation in her locker to join a secret science club. Penny Rose must choose between her only friend and joining the club.
This is a heartwarming story about friendship, loyalty, and promises that I feel many kids will be able to relate to. I also love that this book focuses on girls interested in science and STEM. With a few beautiful hand-drawn illustrations sprinkled throughout, this would be a good book for readers that love graphic novels. This book would be ideal for grades 3 – 6.
Penny Rose is nine years old and has just moved to a new town. She has struggled to make friends and spends most of her time building robots in the shed in her backyard. After spending her birthday alone, she makes a wish for a friend. The next day things begin to change. Her robots come to life and start moving on their own. She also befriends a girl named Lark, and they begin to work together on the robots. Then one day Penny Rose finds an invitation in her locker to join a secret science club. Penny Rose must choose between her only friend and joining the club.
This is a heartwarming story about friendship, loyalty, and promises that I feel many kids will be able to relate to. I also love that this book focuses on girls interested in science and STEM. With a few beautiful hand-drawn illustrations sprinkled throughout, this would be a good book for readers that love graphic novels. This book would be ideal for grades 3 – 6.
sandraagee's review against another edition
3.0
Weird little story about weird little robots. And friends.
This book maybe isn't quite as tightly written as, say, an Andrew Clements novel. But the characters have really authentic kid voices. You know how sometimes kids in books seem very aware of what's happening, are able to predict what the consequences of their actions might be and therefore act strategically, and/or are super mature for their age? That's not something that most 9-year-olds are actually super good at, and it's not something that this book struggles with. These characters make decisions in the moment. They act authentically like kids. In a way this seems to weaken the quality of the writing (which is fine, but not extraordinary), but it does feel more likely.
This book maybe isn't quite as tightly written as, say, an Andrew Clements novel. But the characters have really authentic kid voices. You know how sometimes kids in books seem very aware of what's happening, are able to predict what the consequences of their actions might be and therefore act strategically, and/or are super mature for their age? That's not something that most 9-year-olds are actually super good at, and it's not something that this book struggles with. These characters make decisions in the moment. They act authentically like kids. In a way this seems to weaken the quality of the writing (which is fine, but not extraordinary), but it does feel more likely.
ljrinaldi's review
4.0
This is such a clever little book about making friends, losing friends, and then making them again.
Mean girls are not what they seem.
And weird girls are more fun then they seem.
Penny has no friends. She decides she wants to change that. She loves making little robots out of discarded bits of trash. She notices her neighbor Lark makes birdhouses from little bits of trash.
This is a charming story of wanting something, and working to it, and, with the help of a little magic getting it.
I was worried, as one should be, when Penny didn't recognize what a good friend she had in Lark. I was worried she would ruin her friendship.
Which I suppose is how books pull at your heartstrings.
Lovely moral which would be, don't throw away good friends, even if other friends look better.
The one quibble I have with the book is although I love the illustrations, they are not drawing the right phone for the robot called iPam, which is supposed to be based on the iPhone, but looks like a much older phone.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Mean girls are not what they seem.
And weird girls are more fun then they seem.
Penny has no friends. She decides she wants to change that. She loves making little robots out of discarded bits of trash. She notices her neighbor Lark makes birdhouses from little bits of trash.
This is a charming story of wanting something, and working to it, and, with the help of a little magic getting it.
I was worried, as one should be, when Penny didn't recognize what a good friend she had in Lark. I was worried she would ruin her friendship.
Which I suppose is how books pull at your heartstrings.
Lovely moral which would be, don't throw away good friends, even if other friends look better.
The one quibble I have with the book is although I love the illustrations, they are not drawing the right phone for the robot called iPam, which is supposed to be based on the iPhone, but looks like a much older phone.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
rhodesee's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was very cute. I loved the friendship between Penny Rose and Lark. Their ups and downs felt very authentic. I also love that it is about science loving girls. Having a science and robot loving girl myself I know that she will be able see herself in this book.
canderson's review against another edition
4.0
This cute middle-grade novel is about friendship, acceptance, and girls in science.
I loved these smart, creative characters! I’m also super jealous of their cool backyard “lab”. I wish my shed was as exciting as theirs was growing up.
I loved these smart, creative characters! I’m also super jealous of their cool backyard “lab”. I wish my shed was as exciting as theirs was growing up.