If the shirt fits, so the saying goes, buy it in all colours. Around here, we apply that to books. If we like an author, then we buy all the books. So my kids were delighted to get their hands on the next three Alottabotz adventures from Lynn Johnston.
I received these books for review courtesy of the author; all opinions expressed remain my own. This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Meet the Bots
In the first three Alottabotz books, we met Timbot and his grandbot and mombot. They’ve moved to a new town and Timbot gets a new pet. Timbot learns about problem solving, pet care, making friends, and more.
In The Big Trip, we meet Timbot’s dad, who is a spacecraft commander. He was absent in the first three books because he was away for work. When his planned vacation gets cut short, Dadbot asks his company if he can bring Tim and Mombot along on his next assignment. Tim gets to experience space travel, from the anxiety of take-off to seeing that other planets are different than his own, and travels for long enough to get homesick.
A Little Kindness sees Timbot back at school. One of his friends is a tiny robot with no landing gear, so she cannot stop flying during classes and struggles to learn. When Timbot tells his Grandbot about this, Grandbot has an idea to help. Their solution not only causes Pella to be able to learn better, but also reduces the bullying she’s received because of her inability to stop flying.
He knew he was clever; he was a smart boy.
But there’s more to this life than the learning of facts.
It’s learning to care and learning to act
in a way that is helpful and thoughtful and kind.
The Best Prize is a fun story about a fishing derby. Timbot, Dadbot and Grandbot get to spend the day together at the local park, trying to catch the funniest fish. When Tim’s catch doesn’t win the competitions, he’s disappointed at first. Then he learns something else about his fish, and the story has a happy ending after all.
It’s perfectly fine if a contest you lose–
winning’s just luck, it’s not something you choose.
Sometimes you have to go home empty-handed.
My thoughts on these books
Once again, Lynn Johnston has created three fantastic kids’ books. From the bright, quirky artwork to the rhyming, touching stories, we loved each of these books. Johnston not only creates a likeable family, she also touches on topics that will speak to a lot of kids.
The Big Trip addresses how much a child misses a parent who travels for work. Timbot gets the chance to travel with his dad and see some of what his dad does for work. I liked how this book also introduces kids to the idea that not everyone is exactly like we are. Timbot encounters other planets where people look and speak differently. When he comments on how strange the residents of Zorpatron are, his moms asks, “I wonder what they think of us?”
A Little Kindness was honestly my favourite book. Maybe robots can’t have ADHD or be neurodiverse, but Pella’s struggles resonated with the research I’ve done to support my children in their learning needs. Too often, children react to others who are different in the way that the bullies did in this book. We need more kids like Timbot, who show compassion and look for solutions, because often, the solutions are simple adaptations like the one offered to Pella.
The Best Prize addresses the idea of winning. I have a couple very competitive kids in my home and one child who often gets very upset at “losing.” We’ve had a lot of conversations about playing games for fun, competing against yourself instead of others, and losing well. This book helps reinforce that idea. Timbot doesn’t win the competition as he’d wanted to, but he learns that winning isn’t everything.
I highly recommend checking out Lynn Johnston’s Alottabotz series. Her books are available on Amazon, her website, and your favourite bookstore. The Alottabotz website also includes some fun bot-themed kids activities. And when you order the books there, grab a couple of the sticker sheets too.
No Responses Yet