Robot Zot!

With fanfare, high melodrama, and enthusiasm, narrator James Naughton brings Scieszka's zany robot, Zot, to Earth and to an exuberant exploration of this planet. Zot lands in a kitchen, where he explores cabinets, countertops, and appliances; falls in love; and faces an enormous challenge. As Zot, Naughton overflows with bold and boisterous confidence As narrator, Naughton is theatrical, and his zest for repetitive refrains such as "Robot Zot never falls, Robot Zot conquers all!" is loud and begs for listener participation. An interview with illustrator David Shannon, which highlights the origins of the book and his dynamic working relationship with Scieszka, concludes the production. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

August 10, 2009
Scieszka and Shannon take a detour from their Trucktown series to pay homage to another object of childhood fascination. Robot Zot, a malevolent red contraption, crash lands “into the heart of the dangerous Earth Army” (a backyard) and makes his way into a fully equipped kitchen. There, it’s revealed that Zot is about the size of an iPod. After fending off “attacks” from a toaster and a television, Zot faces his toughest challenge yet: rescuing the amazing “Queen of all Earth” (an attractive toy cellphone). He and his sidekick (a cross between a snail and a conquistador’s helmet—one of a few references to the Quixotic nature of Zot’s mission) save the queen and escape while a bewildered homeowner surveys the aftermath and blames his dog. Scieszka laces his action-filled narrative with rhymes and repetitive robot phrases (“Robot Zot—never fall./ Robot Zot—conquers all!”). Shannon’s acrylic artwork offers bright colors and plenty of humor (a slightly anthropomorphized blender’s white buttons fall out like teeth under Zot’s attack). This comically self-deluded protagonist proves that fierce warriors of any size can still be brought to their knees by love. Ages 3–7.