Zoobots

January 15, 2014
Becker introduces a handful of "zoobots," mechanical contrivances inspired by creatures from the animal kingdom. This is a not-altogether-surprising collection of robotic tools serving a variety of tasks that humans may not be able to do or would rather not do even if they were able. The machines are touted as the "creepiest, crawliest" creatures, but in fact, it is the natural animals that the robots evolved from that rate the "downright weirdest" label: the black ghost knifefish, the Etruscan pygmy shrew and, of course, the snake. Becker provides specifications, applications, inspirations from the animal kingdom and "special operations": how they actually might work. The Octobot, for instance, is a silicone-covered cabled "tentacle" that can flex and tighten. While Ries' artwork is suitably futuristic--and the design features lots of black, signaling an intergalactic milieu--only a few of the robots really pack much wow; the fact that none has moved past prototype stage is a bit deflating. The bots can be used for military applications, crawling through fire, reaching nooks inaccessible to humans, fixing deep-sea oil spills, monitoring pollution and, of course, surveillance. Though the premise is cool, what's delivered is too short on the shock, mind-boggling and bizarre-originality factors. (Picture book. 7-10)

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April 1, 2014

Gr 3-6-Twelve futuristic robots are introduced on spreads. Each one is given a name, team, realm, super skill, specifications, and applications. Also included are the animal that inspired the bot and its special ops. The status for all is either working prototype or prototype in development, making this a soon-to-be dated title. But the idea behind the book is a fascinating one. For example, the Ghostbot evolved from observations of the black ghost knifefish. The bot mimics the real fish's fluttering fin to achieve incredible flexibility. Its planned purpose is to be an all-powerful surveillance tool that can hover over rough terrain underwater. On each spread, white text is set on a black background. Illustrations are large, colorful, and appealing, and the glossary and index are extensive. While brevity rules here, the cover and content will find an audience among young robotics enthusiasts. For interested browsers.-Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2014
Grades 3-6 Zoobots? What exciting first generation inventions this book introduces! Scientists are making science fiction come alive in research and university labs around the world, from the nanobot that can move around in human blood vessels to the 200-pound Ole Pill Bug designed to withstand temperatures up to 1850F and aid in fighting forest fires. These animal-inspired robots will only spawn newer, even stranger robots in the future. For now, though, all but 4 of the 12 robots featured have working prototypes; the others are in development. Using scientific headings, a black background, and a larger-than-life Photoshop illustration of each zoobot (along with a smaller illustration of the animal on which it is based), this ought to engage the imagination of future scientistsand who knows what they might create? This one won't stay on library shelves for long.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)