The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown.  Published (2016) 277 pgs. L.740 R.L. 5.8 Level 3-6. What would happen if a robot awoke for the first time on an island inhabited by only wild animals? In this delightful read aloud, students explore some interesting questions.

Kirkus Reviews starred (February 1, 2016)

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)

With it's short but action packed chapters, The Wild Robot is a fast-paced read aloud.  Unlike other books I have read aloud, I found myself stopping and asking my students to imagine what might happen next and then discussing the event.  My students loved discussing how they imagined a robot might react to the way Roz reacted.  

Posted by Kellie Hale