Bitty Bot

What happens when robots wind down? Do they actually sleep?Yep, they do, according to this charmer with a mechanical twist. Told in jaunty, rollicking rhymes that are enlivened by colorful, humorous digital illustrations, this robot version of a bedtime story demonstrates that, no matter how energetic a little "bot" may be, there inevitably comes a time when "batteries are running low!" Filled with personality, Bitty is one imaginative, enterprising--and not tired--droid, first building a nifty spaceship, then rocketing to the moon and, in comical scenes reminiscent of the iconic cantina in the first Star Wars movie, cavorting in a rousing lunar dance-a-thon. The final scene shows Bitty building...who knows what, but this bot is clearly ready for another out-of-this-world adventure. Readers will have already seen, though, that sleep must inevitably follow a day of raucous activity. Vocabulary-enriching rhymes scan well, making this a fine read-aloud choice. The lively, action-filled illustrations with their retro look feature smiling, mostly gender-neutral robots of myriad colors, body shapes, and sizes, bearing varied whirring accoutrements. Young audiences will also chuckle at illustrations depicting young bots clutching favorite sleepy-time must-have toys--in one case, a tiny human. Young techies may or may not want to zoom into bed right after listening, but they'll be more than a little "bitty" ready for repeat readings. (Picture book. 3-7) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2016

PreS-K-Bitty Bot is a young robot who just isn't ready to power down when bedtime comes. Instead, Bitty Bot grabs some tools, builds a rocket, and travels to a faraway place with new creature friends and an all-hours dance party. When Bitty Bot does finally fall asleep-clearly in bed at home under the loving eye of parents-it's suggested that these rocket-fueled adventures may just have been the imaginings of a child trying for a later bedtime. The robotic adventure, real or imagined, makes for a fun, fanciful bedtime tale. McCanna refrains from using any gendered pronouns to refer to Bitty Bot, allowing all young readers to clearly see themselves in the creative characters. The nighttime hues of the majority of the spreads-lush teals, ceruleans, and lavenders-create a lovely, calming visual experience made all the richer by the contrast of the warm, bright colors of the daytime world. VERDICT Those looking for more preschool bedtime stories will find this a great addition to your stacks.-Amy Koester, Skokie Public Library, IL

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2016
Preschool-G It's time to power down in Botsville, and robots everywhere are packing it in, but not Bitty Bot. Little Bitty Bot springs into action, gets his power tools, builds a spaceship, zooms to the moon, and joins a festive celebration there before growing tired and blasting back to Botsville just in time for a quick snooze and a new day. The brief rhyming text moves quickly with plenty of action words (banging, clanging, zooming, vrooming) before finally winding down. The digital illustrations in a retro styleparents, at least, might be reminded of The Jetsonsfeature a large cast of characters and ample background details in angular and chunky shapes, which can sometimes crowd the pages. A few less-populated scenes are interspersed to give some relief from the frenetic activity, although bold colors, which further enhance the retro feel, completely fill each page. While this might be too exciting to power down young ones, it's a lively fantasy that will make for a fun read-aloud.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)