The Robobots

Matt Novak writes at his all time best. The Robobots is my class' favorite book. We must have read it 20 times this year! Matt Novak's story of prejudice then acceptance paints the picture of contemporary life situations through the eyes of a robot family. Kids can relate to the Robobots' discrimination and root for them throughout the story. Matt Novak is a wonderful, nice man who sent my class autographed bookmarks. We love you Matt!!!

I teach preschoolers every Sunday, and each year the lesson where we read "The Robobots" is a smash hit. Young children (ages 3-4) pick up on relatively abstract concepts, prejudice and intolerance, through Novak's effective use of the Robobot family. In the book, the crazy, zany Robobots move to town and teach their neighbors a little bit about tolerance and acceptance. Even kids who don't sit through storytime are enraptured by the Robobots' attempts to talk with the street lamp and their less-than-typical household furnishings.

My 5 year old son loves this book. We're learning not to pre-judge people (or robots) by what they look like or by the unusual, but harmless, things they do. The Robobots could be any new family in town (we're military and often that's us!), misunderstood at first but not really so different once the neighbors get to know them. The flying furniture and vocal kitchen appliances are ones we'd like to have! I'd recommend this book to help teach tolerance and not to make snap judgments.