Betty Builds It

July 1, 2019
A talented robot girl named Betty experiments with building her own mechanical friend. Betty lives with her "parental unit," depicted as an ENIAC-type computer with a giant screen, and her little brother, Toby. Betty is shaped like a person, with a separate head, long arms and legs, and human-style facial features, but she doesn't come across as a visually compelling main character. Toby looks like a round barbecue grill with short appendages and a large mouth in a perpetual grin, and he has more personality. As Toby is still a baby, he can speak only in single sounds and can't be much of a friend to Betty. She builds her new friend from a toaster supplemented with an engine and a recorded voice. When the toaster friend malfunctions and chases Betty, Toby intervenes, proving his worth to his big sister. She upgrades Toby with parts from her previous project, resulting in a new and improved brother who can now run, jump, talk, and make toast as well. A subdued palette of gray, peach, and green fails to create an energetic atmosphere, and the story's language is rather stilted. Despite these drawbacks, a female character with robotic engineering skills will be a welcome addition in many classrooms and library collections. You go girl--use those mechanical skills. (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 24, 2020

K-Gr 2-Betty the robot is incredibly talented-she can jump, talk, and, most important, build. Given her abilities, she decides to build a friend that's more like her, much to the dismay of her annoying little brother. But her new friend isn't working out quite as expected, so Betty must keep tinkering away to create the perfect companion. The focus on engineering and troubleshooting could make this a great addition to a STEAM-powered storytime, and its traditional ending about learning to get along with your siblings makes the book well rounded. Illustrations are solid; character design is not overly cute or cartoonish, giving the work a pseudo-realistic look. The neutral palette and backgrounds also help ground the piece and give it a somewhat lifelike feel, which for some may shift the tone and make it less enjoyable. On the flip side, readers will like watching Betty use everyday materials and tools, like skateboard wheels and speaker components, to alter her friend to her new specifications, showing the everyday applications of building and inventing. VERDICT A solid STEAM-inspired addition.-Peter Blenski, Hartland Public Library, WI

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.