Even Robots Aren't Perfect!

October 25, 2021
Thomas’s (The Chicken Who Couldn’t) early reader graphic novel in three sections centers on mishaps and misunderstandings that test the friendship of two robots whose eager eyes, round schnozzes, and tendency toward slapstick brings to mind circus clowns. The first story, “Magnificent Paintings,” finds pals Red Robot and Blue Robot squabbling about each other’s paintings: “THE TREE IS NOT CHASING A ZEBRA!!!” Red Robot yells when Blue Robot proffers a well-meaning but evidently inaccurate description. (Red Robot, meanwhile, fails to recognize that Blue Robot’s seemingly empty canvas depicts a portrait of a gnat.) In “Nobody Likes to Rust,” an umbrella that Blue Robot gives Red Robot picks up a gust of wind and drops the latter right into a puddle. And the final vignette, “The Perfect Plan,” finds Red Robot’s intentions for a dinner party foiled when it accidentally sits on the main course. But no matter how much things veer from the optimal, the two robots end each story affirming their friendship. The jokes and message may be slightly on-the-nose for older readers, but Thomas achieves a nice comic balance between dialogue and pratfalls, and younger readers will be tickled by the good-natured humor. Ages up to 8.

January 1, 2022
Two robot buddies navigate the ups and downs of friendship in a series of three stories. Red Robot and Blue Robot enjoy spending time together, but something always seems to go wrong. In the first anecdote, an art session turns sour when the pair can't understand each other's paintings, leading to some hurt feelings. In the second short tale, Blue Robot's attempt to use an umbrella to protect Red Robot from rusting on a rainy day leads to a squabble. The closing episode sees the two preparing to have "the perfect lunch" of parsnip pie (robots eat pie?), but their plans repeatedly go awry. All of the stories end with the pals fessing up to their faults and reminding each other that though each of them isn't perfect, and neither is life, their friendship certainly is. Although the text contains some clever quips, the robots' lengthy exchanges make for a breathless pace that can be exhausting. Nevertheless, the book imparts some good lessons about the futility of seeking flawlessness and the importance of resolving disagreements in a constructive way. Thomas' digital illustrations, rendered using primary colors only, are presented in a simple comic-book format. The robots are imbued with life; their facial expressions and body language are spot-on in every panel. While not all of the banter is sparkling, the affection Blue and Red have for each other comes across clearly, and their outsize personalities win the reader over. Not a perfect book...but that's precisely the point. (Picture book. 1-8)

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