Raybot

January 15, 2016
A junkyard robot ventures out into the wide world in search of a friend. Watkins lavishes considerably more care on his illustrations and sound effects than on the trite storyline and prose. He sends his lonely bot out on the road knowing only (from a found advertisement) that a "Best Friend" says "Bark." The trip becomes an odyssey as farm animals ("BAAAAA"; "OINK"), woodland creatures ("GROWL!"), jungle residents ("OO-OO AH-AAAH!"), and even fish ("GLUB!") disappoint him. When at last a gaudily feathered rain-forest parrot repeats his "BARK?" Raybot is delighted: "A puppy!" The pleasure is compounded as the "puppy" comes with a wagging, four-footed companion that says, "WOOF!" Off the three go together, Raybot realizing that "puppies and friends come in all different shapes and sizes." How Raybot makes the conceptual conclusive leap is quite unclear. A close visual cousin to the lanky, lantern-jawed mechanicals in Watkins' R Is for Robot (2014), Raybot poses with a great many big, open-mouthed, mostly friendly-looking animals. Their sometimes-unexpected utterances--a beaver's "SKWEEP," "BARAAG!" from a giraffe, a hippo's bellowed "HU-HU-HURUUGH!"--are likely to be all that will catch the attention of, and tempt responses from, young audiences. A bland take on a heavily used plot that nevertheless has some potential as a high-volume storytime choice. (Picture book. 5-8)

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April 1, 2016

PopPreS-Gr 1-Raybot is lonely in his junkyard home until he sees something that provides him with a plan to find a best friend. He heads out on a global adventure, looking for a puppy that can bark. Traveling from farm to forest to jungle and even beneath the sea, he meets all sorts of friendly animals with their own unique sounds. Some moo, and others growl or hiss, but Raybot won't give up until he finds one that can bark. This charming story about a hopeful robot is done in pen and ink and oil paint on board. It begins with lively orange striped endpapers that parallel Raybot's body. From there, readers step into bright, spacious landscapes that star an expressive character with a hinged jaw and wide-set eyes. It's an engaging and participatory story, with text suitable for beginning readers. VERDICT A silly and delightful read-aloud with the positive message that puppies and friends come in all shapes and sizes.-Gaye Hinchliff, King County Library System, WA

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