Love, Z

October 1, 2018
A young robot learns what love is.Out playing, Z finds a message in a bottle, but all that's legible is "Love, Beatrice." Z asks the older robots what "love" is as they help the young one through the bedtime routine, but: "DOES NOT COMPUTE." So Z sets off to find both Beatrice and the meaning of love. Journeying in a boat that's captained by a cat, Z asks everyone they meet. But the crow's, baker's, and school children's ideas of love don't help Z understand. As night falls, the duo sail to an island. Who should live there but Beatrice, an old woman who thinks about her answer as she and Z bake cookies, play chess, and dance: "It's warm. And cozy. And safe. You'll know it when you feel it." Just as Z is ready to power down, the worried older robots arrive. And as they read a story, leave a light, and give a good-night kiss, Z finally has a word to go with the feeling that's been there all along. Sima's robots are gray 3-D shapes with oval glowing eyes, elongated or nonexistent noses, and line mouths. Their emotional expressions are limited to what their mouths and articulated arms are doing. The spring-bright colors surrounding the metal robots keep the book from feeling too heavy. Beatrice presents white; the other humans are notably diverse, including one child who uses a wheelchair.A good springboard for kids and their caregivers to talk about what love means to them. (Picture book. 4-8)

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December 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 3-A young robot named Z finds a message in a bottle signed "Love, Beatrice" and is determined to find Beatrice, hoping she will help reveal the meaning of this mysterious word: love. Along the way, Z encounters many people and animals, none of whom are Beatrice, but they all are happy to help Z figure out the meaning of love. "Love is sharing your food even when it's delicious" says the crow. "Love is wishing on a star" says a child at recess. "Love is lawn gnomes!" says another. Absolutely none of these answers compute for Z. Just when Z is about to give up, they finally meet Beatrice and she explains that "love is difficult to explain" but that "you'll know it when you feel it." With a little help from the other robots, Z finally understands. They find their way back home, where love was waiting all along. Sima's cheerful, digital illustrations radiate warmth as they depict adorable Z's journey. This sweet and humorous story reminds readers that love can be found in familiar things like a bedtime story, a night light, and a goodnight kiss. VERDICT This tender and entertaining story is recommended for all libraries.-Elizabeth Blake, Brooklyn Public Library

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2018
Grades K-2 One afternoon, Z (a young robot) stumbles upon a green glass bottle containing a smudged message with the curious closing, Love, Beatrice. Love is a word that doesn't make sense to the little bot, and when Z asks their family what it means, the older robots' eyes flash green and Does Not Compute glows largely above their heads. The next day, Z strikes out into the peachy sunrise, determined to find this Beatrice, who must know the answer to the question. The robot teams up with feline boat captain, and the pair make their way down a winding river, asking everyone they meet whether they are Beatrice (negative for the beaver, turtle, and scarecrow), though a number offer their take on love. Finally, they come to a cozy house in the middle of a lake, home to none other than Beatrice. Z explains their quest, and the trio spends a lovely evening together, but it's not until Z's robot family arrives in a panic looking for them that love finally computes. A gentle, uplifting adventure about love's many incarnations.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)